NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — Navy Lt. j.g. Jen Fishbein is in transition. She has a baby due in August, she’s studying for a master’s degree in executive public management and she’s scheduled to separate from the military in two years — so, it made sense that she was visiting the Transition Connection Job Fair Monday afternoon.
The second annual Sea-Air-Space hiring event focused on providing job opportunities to members of the military and their families. More than 50 employers offered information and advice to attendees who were investigating civilian careers.
“I want to see what’s out there if I were to get out of the military,” says Fishbein, who currently works at the National Reconnaissance Office. “I’m looking at where life can take me.”
Marine Sgt. Owen Budd was also taking a proactive approach to his post-military career. He’s separating in 2023, but he’s already looking to the future. He’s studying for an undergraduate degree in sports and health science at the American Military University, and hopes to parlay his work in human resources with the Marine Corps Embassy Security Group into a civilian career.
Budd was interested in ClearanceJobs, the country’s largest career network for professionals with U.S. federal government security clearances. ClearanceJobs’ online networking platform lists more than 60,000 defense and intelligence jobs, along with free advice on military transitions and services like resume-building templates.
“We have over 1 million users who can connect with pre-screened employers and communicate directly with recruiters,” said Katie Keller, ClearanceJobs editor. “We’ve served the cleared community since 2002.”
Other exhibitors included the Penn State University Applied Research Laboratory, a Navy University Affiliated Research Center focusing on defense science, systems and technologies.
Many of the laboratory employees are ex-military or their spouses. “They understand what we do,” said laboratory representative Tina Kephart.
Northern Virginia also had a presence at the Transition Connection Job Fair. The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority recruits military veterans for careers at a variety of employers, said representative Rod Williams. There are over 90,000 job listings available at workinnothernvirginia.com, with a median salary of $115,000 per job, he said.
Some of those jobs are in air traffic control, which appeals to Staff Sgt. Abigail Scott. Scott, who has been with the Marines for seven years and works as an air defense controller at the Marine Corps Embassy Security Group. Her service doesn’t end until January 2024, but she was at the Transition Connection Job Fair as part of her post-military networking strategy.
“I’m looking for a career where I can transfer my skills in security and air traffic control,” said Scott, who has provided physical security at U.S. embassies in Kazakhstan and the Central African Republic.
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