Why Hiring Veterans Is Good for Business: Lessons from Air Force Veteran Kristen Eby

One thing I love about my work is the variety of people I get to work with. And everyone has a story to tell. In honor of Hire a Veteran Day (which is tomorrow), I thought I would connect with one of our own P4P consultants who is also a veteran, Kristen Eby, and hear more about her background. After talking to her, I really wanted to share her story. 

In my experience, when we talk about hiring veterans, it can be easy for employers to overlook the depth of valuable experience these professionals bring with them. Many times, that experience shows up in ways a resume can’t fully capture. 

In Kristen’s case, she didn’t enter the Air Force with a long-term military career mapped out. Like many veterans, her decision to join was rooted in practicality. She was offered a full ROTC scholarship to Georgetown University – a tremendous opportunity that meant she would get an excellent education and graduate debt-free.   

After college, Kristen worked in satellite command and control under Space Command. On the surface, you might think that kind of role is far removed from most civilian careers. Yet, in reflecting on her day-to-day job functions, Kristen told me that the complexity of the role sharpened her skills in important areas while giving her experience working in extremely high-stakes environments. 

When I asked her about leaving the military and transitioning into a completely different field, she was matter-of-fact. She explained, “You know how to be a professional, how to figure out challenges, how to manage people. It’s all transferable.”  

That idea of transferability becomes even more powerful when you understand the kind of challenges she faced while an officer. She spent over two years working through satellite interference issues with high-profile international partners, including the European Space Agency. That required a host of skills beyond solving problems: negotiation, technical communication, stakeholder management, strategic agility, resilience and tactical coordination across different organizations and cultures. It also required the commitment and dedication to teamwork to see the project succeed through to the end. 

It’s clear that mindset has carried forward into the rest of her life.  

Kristen’s career path hasn’t been linear. After the Air Force, she spent 14 years raising her family. When she returned to professional life, she entered a completely different field, moving from engineering into accounting. 

On paper, that looks like a dramatic career shift! But in reality, the professional foundation that she built working in the Air Force never left her. She stepped into an accounting assignment well-equipped for the transition. 

When I asked her what she wished employers better understood about veterans, her answer spoke volumes: “When you’re in the military, you have a lot of responsibility very early on… [if you hire a veteran,] you’re going to get somebody who can take responsibility from Day 1, someone who’s not afraid of the challenges put in front of them.”  

I want employers to hear this perspective – it’s one that reframes how the experience of veterans should be evaluated. Responsibility in the military is not something gradually introduced. As with Kristen’s experience, it’s immediate, and often the circumstances are critical. That kind of experience shapes professionals who are comfortable stepping into uncertainty, figuring things out as they go, and making a positive impact sooner rather than later. 

Kristen also spoke about the importance of working across teams and perspectives, something that defined her military experience and continues to influence her work today. Reflecting on that, she shared, “I’ve always been in a role where you have to work cross-functionally… being able just to work across the aisle.”  

I am really impressed at the range of experience that Kristen discussed in our conversation. As she said, her skills can transfer across so many industries, and that puts her in a position to add value with so many P4P clients.  

I wanted to know what Kristen thought about other qualities developed during military service that employers often overlook. In response to my question, she didn’t hesitate. “I would say loyalty; a team mentality of we’re in this together and working on a shared and common goal.”  

It is a simple statement, but it carries weight. 

Loyalty and teamwork are deeply ingrained in military life, and should be seen as two  key values that a veteran can bring to a role. Consider your own experience – how much better are we at work when we act as a team towards a shared and common goal? 

Kristen’s story is a good reminder that hiring veterans isn’t about finding someone whose resume checks every box in the description. Veterans bring resilience, adaptability, and a steady perspective that comes from leading through uncertainty, solving tough problems, and embracing change throughout their careers. Sometimes the best candidate isn’t the one with the most linear background – it’s the one with the ability to learn, lead, and grow. 

At P4P, we believe the best hiring decisions begin by seeing people for what they can contribute – not just where they’ve been. Every veteran has a story of service, resilience, and growth that deserves to be viewed for what it truly is – a foundation for future success. By recognizing that potential, we don’t just create opportunities for veterans; we build stronger organizations and communities for all of us.