Opening pathways for veteran talent
At a glance
Leaving military service often means stepping into a completely different environment, learning new ways of working and building confidence in an unfamiliar profession. For Michael Gibbons, the transition from Marine Corps Officer to graduate civil engineer was a chance to start a new chapter while drawing on the skills and experiences that had shaped his career already. Through the Department of Defense SkillBridge program, he joined GHD as a graduate civil engineer and began building a new career in environmental and infrastructure consulting.
Starting over, with experience behind you
After serving as an Air Support Control Officer in the Marine Corps, Michael was accustomed to working in environments where decisions were critical, teamwork was essential and leadership was expected. But moving into consulting meant entering a profession with different systems, different expectations and a different technical foundation.
As he prepared to leave active duty, he knew he wanted to approach the transition deliberately. He started planning early, focusing on where he wanted to live and the kind of organization he hoped to join.
“I saw other officers use the [SkillBridge] program successfully to move into civilian roles. Once I made the decision to leave active duty, securing a placement became a priority.”
Finding your footing
Michael spent his first few weeks at GHD understanding new systems, meeting colleagues and gaining an appreciation for how projects and teams worked together. There was a lot to absorb, but support from leadership and his mentor early on made a difference.
Rather than spending months observing from the sidelines, Michael found himself gradually taking on more responsibility as his confidence grew. For someone building a new career, that balance of support and trust made a difference.
“GHD will treat you like a full-time employee and give you responsibility that you can show you’re capable of handling.”
The skills that come with you
While the technical aspects of engineering were new, many of the qualities Michael had developed during military service remained just as relevant. These were skills he had spent years developing and they continued to shape how he approached his work.
“I felt the military, particularly my time as an Officer, did most of the leg work in teaching me how to be successful in the civilian workforce. . In fact, a Marine Corps core value is commitment, the same as GHD. Communication, teamwork, leadership and reliability are all learned skills that are in many ways just as important as technical skills.”
Building a new career
The SkillBridge program provides space to test assumptions, gain experience and understand what a future career in consulting could look like. For Michael, it also reinforced the value of being open to learning, even after years of professional experience.
Today, the confidence, discipline and leadership skills Michael developed in the Marine Corps continue to shape how he approaches his work as an engineer. New technical capabilities are building on that foundation. And for others considering a similar path, his advice is to start early, seek opportunities to learn and be purposeful in your career transition.