The SAME Orange County Post’s PMP Program helps equip transitioning service members with the tools necessary to successfully enter the civilian workforce. Lt. Col. Jason Spindler, USAF (Ret.), earned his PMP credential with a scholarship provided by the program, which directly translated into landing a high impact position at BAE Systems.
Transitioning from military service to the civilian workforce is often one of the most challenging phases in a veteran’s life. Recognizing this, the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) Orange County Post partnered with industry leaders to create a powerful initiative: helping military members earn their Project Management Professional (PMP) certification to boost their marketability and open doors to new career opportunities.
One of the most compelling success stories from this program is that of Lt. Col. Jason Spindler, USAF, (Ret.), whose journey exemplifies the transformative power of certification and community support. After serving over two decades in the U.S. Air Force, including roles such as Materiel Leader for the F-35 Maintenance Logistics Program, Commander of a flight test operations location, and Military Assistant to the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Air Force Acquisition, Spindler knew that it would be difficult to communicate how his Air Force leadership experience and technical expertise would fit the private sector. He reasoned that a PMP certification, a widely recognized indicator of program management mastery, would be a valuable tool to address that challenge.
While the rigors of active duty military service had prevented him from working toward the PMP sooner, upon retirement he was thrilled to apply for the SAME Orange County Post program, which provided funding for the high-quality (and costly) training certification program. “Being able to attend a top-tier training course empowered me to translate my military program experience into the civilian environment and helped me pass the exam on my first attempt.” Spindler noted. Having a PMP was a minimum requirement for many of the roles he was pursuing, and it opened a much wider array of options for job applications. Within just one month of achieving PMP certification, he landed a prestigious role as Director of Government Relations (Legislative Affairs) at BAE Systems, Inc., where he now leads legislative engagement for the Space and Mission Systems portfolio. “The PMP helped me communicate my skills to hiring managers, since they expect applicants to show how they can lead complex projects and deliver business results,” said Spindler. “It was a major turning point in my career transition, and I’m so thankful to SAME Orange County Post for their support.”
Being able to attend a top-tier training course empowered me to translate my military program experience into the civilian environment and helped me pass the exam on my first attempt.
Lt. Col. Jason Spindler, USAF, (Ret.)
Before joining BAE Systems, Jason completed a Skillbridge Fellowship at Google, where he worked in the gTech Strategy and Operations portfolio. There, he led coordination of a multi-billion-dollar budget plan, streamlined cross-functional inputs across five business units, and helped shape their go-to-market strategy for 2025. His journey, from modernizing logistics for the F-35 to influencing tech strategy at Google and now to shaping legislative affairs at BAE Systems, demonstrates the versatility and value of military leadership when paired with the right civilian credentials.
The SAME Orange County Post’s PMP program is more than a certification pathway it’s a launchpad for veterans to translate their service into success. Through mentorship, exam preparation, and industry connections, the program empowers transitioning service members to step confidently into the next chapter of their careers.
In 2024 the Orange County (OC) Post started an initiative to help provide scholarships for veterans and Enlisted/Junior Officers that are seeking professional certification to advance their career in fields that are considered to have an intrinsic value to SAME’s mission and the architecture, engineering, and construction professions. The OC Post reimburses the costs of the certification or training course up to $3,000.
The program supports training for certification, credentialing or prep course to take the PE exam, and others including:
- Project Management Professional (PMP) training
- Professional Engineer (PE) training
- AIA, AICP or NCARM training
- LEED-Green Associate or LEED Accredited Professional (AP)
- Others on a case-by-case review by the Selection Committee
SAME 2026 Career Transition Workshop Prepares Veterans for Their New Career
The Career Transition Workshop is a live, in-person event that welcomes all levels of professionals preparing for a change in their career. Primarily geared toward veterans transitioning out of the service and into industry, the program has been enhanced to also offer valuable information and connections for other individuals who are looking for new career opportunities.
Did you know the SAME Career Center is a member benefit for both interested job seekers as well as employers looking to hire skilled professionals from the A/E/C sector and related fields. In a crowded job search marketplace, take advantage of the one where you stand out!
Discover more about how SAME is connecting talent with opportunity!
Post Best Practices
Post Best Practices focuses on exemplary programming, events, and outreach conducted by SAME’s local Posts. Through these interviews, Post leaders share their insights, lessons learned, and knowledge on how they are making an impact on the engineering needs of the communities where they live and work.
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From Fighter Jets to Fortune 500: How the Orange County Post Helped Launch A New Career
The Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) Orange County Post partnered with industry leaders to create a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification program to help open doors to new career opportunities for military members. -
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