Keith Sherer

Great companies strive for growth regardless of market conditions and thus are always looking for great talent to fill the void. I am sure most of you have heard of the philosophy of hiring the right kind of people. If you find a person with an ideal set of traits you may want to bring them on board and then find the ideal spot for them within your organization. Essentially, the exact business experience may be may not be nearly as important as finding the desired personal characteristics. This person will quickly learn and master the necessary business processes and provide the leadership required to accomplish the mission.

Look to veterans to help fill this talent void. Granted, a certain level of similar experience is often required, and the translation of a veteran’s past military experience is essential. This translation process can be difficult, not only for the transitioning veteran, but also equally hard to interpret by employers. I believe bridging this gap is the key.

We have to ensure that our HR personnel and hiring managers know whom they can reach out to within GE to ask for help when needed. The members of the GE Veterans Network (GEVN) are that resource. They have seen life on both sides of the fence and if they are not familiar with a veteran’s background, they will know who to reach out to for help. Bridge the gap!

For more information about GE veterans can help candidates bridge the gap, see our GE Military and GE Veterans pages.

Keith is the Program Manager for Research in the Quality organization. He joined GE in 2010 after retiring from the United States Navy with 21 years of active-duty service. He spent his first 9 years managing operations, maintenance, quality assurance, and training programs for nuclear propulsion plants. His last 12 years he served as a Naval Aviator amassing nearly 3,000 flight hours in the E-6Band seven other models of aircraft. During this time he served as the Chief Instructor Pilot for two different platforms, Aviation Safety Manager, and as an Assistant Professor at Marquette University. He has a MS in Engineering Management from Marquette University and a BS in Professional Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.