JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville company is championing its growing network of veterans leaving the military and getting jobs in the tech industry.
Friday marks National Hire a Veteran Day, a day that encourages employers across the country to recognize the unique value former service members bring to the workforce. For Jacksonville-based tech company SkillStorm, it’s more than a one-day observance—it’s part of their mission every day.
SkillStorm specializes in training and placing U.S.-based talent—including veterans—into high-demand fields like cloud computing, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. COO Joe Mitchell says veterans thrive at the company because the skills they bring from the military directly translate to tech and corporate environments.
“They come with leadership skills, discipline, and a mission-focused mindset,” Mitchell said. “Those are all key attributes in the marketplace, whether it’s engineering, HR, or legal.”
One of those success stories is Kal Vaughn, a former Special Operations combat veteran who now serves as SkillStorm’s Corporate Paralegal and Director of Security and Contracts Management. Vaughn brings experience from sensitive national security missions and has earned certifications in everything from Arabic language and warfare to AWS DevOps.
“SkillStorm saw something in me and invested in that,” Vaughn said. “They gave me the runway to do what I was good at, and then gave me the tools and training I needed to keep growing.”
That investment in growth is a cornerstone of the company’s culture. Mitchell says many veterans don’t just fill a role—they flourish into leadership positions.
“You may start out as a technologist, but you may end up head of sales, HR, or legal,” he said. “Kal is actually pursuing a law degree right now with plans to stay and grow here.”
According to Veteran.com, nearly 200,000 service members transition out of the military each year, and National Hire a Veteran Day is a reminder that their skill sets—from critical thinking to adaptability—are exactly what many industries need.
In the past two years alone, SkillStorm has trained and hired hundreds of veterans, earning both platinum and gold medallion honors from the Department of Labor for its hiring efforts.
“We didn’t set out to win awards,” Mitchell added. “We did it because veterans bring the qualities employers are looking for, and we have the network to connect with them.”
For Vaughn, it’s not just about a job—it’s about finding purpose and support after military service.
“I felt the same values at SkillStorm that I did with my military team,” he said. “That kind of support, loyalty, and trust—it’s rare. And I found it here.”
For SkillStorm, every day is Hire a Veteran Day, and they’re proud to bring veterans on board weekly because of the leadership, discipline, and mission-driven mindset they offer.
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