Navigating New Waters: Coast Guard Veteran Starts Next Mission With Career Forward
For Coast Guard Veteran Rhys Campbell, telecommunications and military service run in the family. Rhys’s father served in the military before transitioning to the telecom industry and when he was 14, Rhys and his dad built a computer together. This sparked his curiosity and led Rhys through a technical high school, the U.S. Coast Guard, and eventually to a role at Verizon with support from the Hiring Our Heroes Career Forward program.
Early Passion, Lifelong Purpose
Rhys pursued his technical interests early, enrolling in a computer systems program at a technical high school. He later went on to study at the North Carolina School of Telecommunications and launched his career in the field.
Despite his growing career, Rhys felt a call to serve. He answered it by joining the U.S. Coast Guard and served as an information systems technician. Rhys was able to continue developing his expertise in telecom and earned several additional certifications.
After moving to the reserves, he made an impact volunteering for hurricane response operations, large-scale training missions, and improving IT infrastructure across his region.
A standout project took him to Poland, where he installed satellite communication systems for morale and wellness cafes supporting deployed service members. The hands-on effort brought a connection to home to those serving far from it.
Finding a New Mission With Career Forward
Back at home and ready for his next challenge, Rhys met a Verizon recruiter who pointed him toward Hiring Our Heroes (HOH) and the Career Forward program. Career Forward offers veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses the opportunity to earn a Google Career Certificate (GCC) in high-demand fields. The program proved to be the perfect next step for Rhys.
Related: Military Couple Pursues Professional Goals Together Through Career Forward
Motivated by new opportunity, Rhys finished his Google IT Support certificate well ahead of the anticipated completion timeline of six months. Through Career Forward, he participated in a 12-week fellowship with Verizon and leveraged the experience to land a full-time position.
“The whole team at Hiring Our Heroes was great,” he recalls. “They moved mountains to help me on my special journey…and provided tons of resources.” The camaraderie and support in Rhys’s Career Forward cohort also stood out to him. “The support we provided to each other and the commitment to success HOH had for all of us helped.”
“The whole team at Hiring Our Heroes was great. They moved mountains to help me on my special journey…and provided tons of resources.” -Rhys Campbell
Bringing Experience to Verizon
Rhys’s current role as a senior engineering consultant at Verizon is a natural continuation of his professional journey. In this position, Rhys applies his technical expertise along with skills he developed during military service. These skills include a deep understanding of mission-driven work and a passion for building systems that connect people.
At Verizon, he found a company that values his service. “Verizon didn’t just look at my resume. They looked at the veteran in front of them and how my experience translated to their culture,” Rhys says. “My military skills help me do what my team trusts me to do every day.”
