A new program that seeks to connect U.S. military veterans with jobs at the nation’s airports could soon be introduced in the Upstate.
Tom Murphy, an author, consultant, and director of the Human Resiliency Institute at Fordham University, introduced the program Edge4Vets Monday, April 3, to a crowd of airport officials.
The officials were in town for Airports Council International North America’s Boards and Commissioners Conference held in partnership with Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Greenville.
Murphy, author of “Reclaiming the Sky: 9/11 and the Untold Story of the Men and Women Who Kept America Flying,” said the program will be introduced April 20 at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
He said he crafted the program through his work at the institute to help bridge the gap between veterans and industry.
“I’ve had vets who were serving in the desert and then 30 days later they were back in the civilian world trying to find a job,” Murphy said. “Vets don’t know how good they are, they don’t know how badly industry needs them, and they don’t have any networking support available to them.”
Murphy said the program is geared to help veterans returning from service make the transition from the “we culture” of the military to the “I culture” of the civilian world.
“They’re taught to sublimate self and think about the team instead of themselves,” he said.
Edge4Vets provides a platform for veterans to map out the values and skills honed during their military service and come up with an action plan that will help them accomplish the vision they have for their long-term career and life goals.
Murphy said pilots of the program have had an approximate 80 percent success rate in helping veterans find gainful employment.
In some cases, veterans might need additional counseling and support before they enter the workforce. Murphy said Edge4Vets also has access to those services.
He said the goal is to create an ongoing pipeline of talent between all branches of the U.S. military and airports by expanding the program nationally in partnership with ACI.
Murphy said he is working on a second installment that will be introduced in Houston, Texas, possibly later this year.
He is exploring the possibility of bringing the program to South Carolina in one combined effort that would include airports in the Upstate, Columbia, and Charleston.
“I think South Carolina would be a great place to have it because of the population of veterans and the strength of the industry,” Murphy said. “Vets come with training in emergencies and stress. They enhance the quality of your workforce. They enhance safety. They raise the level of work and that increases the enjoyment of travelers.”
About 90 airport officials attended the ACI-NA conference. It was the first time the event was held in the Upstate.
Attendees participated in a range of activities that included presentations by the Federal Aviation Administration, a government affairs presentation by officials with the American Association of Airport Executives, workshops, discussions, and a spate of other opportunities for learning and networking.
“It’s a big deal for ACI to have our conference here in the Greenville-Spartanburg area because it’s a vibrant community,” said Kevin Burke, president and CEO of ACI North America. “The main terminal renovation at Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport is nearly complete. It’s a great testament to the impact that these regional airports have on the local economy.”
