Military Transition Academy Podcast by Vets2PM

How Jason Mazzoni Used the PMP to Translate His Military Experience When Jason Mazzoni left the Navy in 2016, he wasn’t sure how his experience translated to the civilian world. A Naval Academy graduate with a naval architecture degree, he assumed his options were limited to shipyards until a job fair pushed him to interview outside that lane. That decision changed everything. In this episode, Jas...

Episode 165: How Project Management Shows Up in the Security Profession Project management is embedded in the security profession — from planning and risk mitigation to execution and stakeholder coordination. In this episode, we sit down with Eric Kready , U.S. Army (Retired), corporate security professional, and ASIS member, to explore how project management shows up across the security field and...

In this episode, we spotlight Juniper Communities , a DoD SkillBridge provider offering meaningful career pathways for service members transitioning to civilian life. Juniper operates hospitality-focused retirement communities where teamwork, structure, and service remain central to the mission, making it a natural fit for veterans. We break down what it’s really like to work in senior living, why...

Episode 163 | Interview Insights from Recruiters and Hiring Managers What actually matters in an interview? In Episode 163 of the Military Transition Academy Podcast, we share short, real-world interview insights from recruiters, hiring managers, and career professionals who are directly involved in hiring and career transitions. This episode features expert snippets from: Bobby Aragon – Global Ta...

Inside the Army-Approved CSP: The Master Project Leadership Workshop In this episode, we take a closer look at the Master Project Leadership Workshop (MPLW), an Army-approved Career Skills Program designed for service members preparing for life after the uniform. If you have heard about MPLW but were not fully sure what actually happens inside the program, this conversation breaks it down. We talk...

Episode 161 marks the start of Season 4 of the Military Transition Academy Podcast. This episode sets the foundation for what Vets2PM does and why project management is one of the most practical career paths for military service members, veterans, and spouses. If you’ve led people, managed timelines, coordinated resources, or delivered outcomes, you already have the core skill set of a project man...

As we close out Season 3 of the Military Transition Academy Podcast and wrap up 2025 , we’re ending the year with a conversation many service members can relate to — transitions shaped by med boards, medical retirements, or unexpected discharges that leave little time to prepare. In this episode, Craig Jones shares how a sudden medical retirement from the Marine Corps forced him to face the questi...

Episode 159: How Veterans Should Evaluate and Negotiate a Job Offer Guest: Dan McCall, Strategic Military Placement Recruiter Getting a job offer is exciting. It’s also where a lot of veterans make decisions too quickly or without the full picture. In this episode of the Military Transition Academy Podcast , Vets2PM is joined by Dan McCall , a Strategic Military Placement Recruiter who has coached...

You’ve identified your transferable skillset. You’ve validated it with a certification. Now comes the part most service members feel unprepared for, the job search. In this episode of the Military Transition Academy Podcast , we sit down with Tiffany Bradbury , a former Air Force recruiter with 15 years of experience who has navigated two military transitions and now works as a recruiter with Reli...

In this episode, we talk with Robert Medlock , a civilian professional who has spent over 20 years with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers , leading projects in Iraq, Afghanistan, Korea, and across the U.S. Robert shares how project management shaped his career, why the PMP is essential for mega projects and GS-14 roles, and how earning his certification through Vets2PM helped him level up professio...

What if the work you did in uniform is already project management but you just haven’t called it that yet? In this episode of the Vets2PM Military Transition Academy Podcast , Dr. Joshua Cunio breaks down exactly how veterans can translate their military experience into a successful project management career. Dr. Cunio, Army veteran, PMP®, PhD, and founder of P3M Strategies, shares the moment he r...

In this episode, we sit down with Navy veteran Jon Clark to talk about one of the biggest hurdles service members face after separation: translating military experience in a way that communicates the unique value add they bring to the organization. Jon served eight years as a Corpsman, stepped out of the Navy in 2018, and like many transitioning veterans, quickly realized that having the experienc...

Are you prepared to answer the common interview questions? Stepping into a civilian interview after years of military service can feel unfamiliar, and many veterans struggle with how to talk about their experience in a way that matches what employers expect. This episode breaks that down in a clear, practical way. Join Cathy and Misty as they share the common interview questions and how you should...

In this episode of The Military Transition Academy , Vets2PM sits down once again with author and productivity expert Donna McGeorge to talk about her newest book, Red Brick Thinking: Make Space. Find Focus. Move Forward. Together, we explore how the principles of Red Brick Thinking can help veterans simplify complex decisions, manage the noise and urgency of change, and design a clearer, more int...

This week, we sit down with Sara Seck , Army National Guard veteran and project management professional, to talk about how she turned hands-on experience into a thriving civilian career improving telehealth services at the VA. Sara’s story is proof that you don’t need a four-year degree to build credibility and climb in project management. With experience, grit, and her PMP certification, she move...

Episode 151: How to Build Your Civilian Career Before You Take Off the Uniform In this episode of the Military Transition Academy Podcast , we sit down with Michael , a 31-year Army veteran who proves that preparation truly pays off. Now serving as a Project Controller at TIG , supporting the Defense Health Agency (DHA) , Michael shares how his path from military operations to IT project managemen...

Episode 150: What Vets2PM Does to Help Military Members, Veterans, Spouses, and Companies Succeed In this episode, Cathy Miclat and Misty Moreno share exactly what Vets2PM does to support the military community and the employers who hire them. Vets2PM helps military service members, veterans, and spouses become project managers. Through programs like the Master Project Leadership Workshop (MPLW) a...

In this episode of the Vets2PM Military Transition Academy Podcast , Misty talks with Mike about how he used AF COOL , SkillBridge , and his PMP® certification to build a strong foundation before leaving the service. Today, he leads a Project Management Office and manages a team of project managers. They discuss how preparation, mentorship, and mindset can make all the difference when moving from...

In this episode Air Force veteran Jesse Dieter talks about his path from seven years in combat weather and as a gray beret to building a career in project management. He shares how SkillBridge opened the door to civilian work and how veterans can use what they already know to succeed in this field. What you’ll hear about: SkillBridge as a launchpad Jesse’s internship and how it led to his first ro...

Ep. 147 – How to Build a Project Management Career After the Military (with DJ McCord) Making the jump into project management after the military isn’t always straight forward but it is possible. In this episode of the Military Transition Academy Podcast, we sit down with DJ McCord , whose path took him from an engineering degree to an unexpected stop in IT, and ultimately into project management....

🎙️ Episode 146: How to Land Your First Role After the Military with a PMP – Josh O’Neill Transitioning out of the military doesn’t have to mean starting from scratch if you prepare while you’re still serving. In this episode of the Vets2PM Military Transition Academy Podcast, Misty is joined by Josh O’Neill, former Infantry Officer and now Project Engineer/Project Lead at Lockheed Martin Space, wh...

What does project management really look like once you take off the uniform? In this episode, we sit down with Mike Falcho , a retired Air Force Loadmaster who used AF COOL to earn his PMP through Vets2PM before transitioning into his civilian career. Today, Mike works at the Navy Nuclear Laboratory alongside engineers and scientists, helping to make the business more effective and efficient. Mike...

🎙️ Episode 144: How to Use the PMP® to Transition from the Military to Project Management This episode features Sam Swindle, former paratrooper, civil engineer, and contracting professional, who shares how he built a successful career in federal projects and design-build work after the military. How military skills translate into project management and contracting Lessons in risk management and th...

In this episode of the Vets2PM Military Transition Academy Podcast , we’re sharing a testimony from Kristin Fogle, a graduate of the Master Project Leader Workshop (MPLW) at Fort Bliss. The MPLW is designed with one mission in mind: to help service members translate their military leadership into civilian career success. Through this program, participants earn three professional project management...

Episode 142: Is PMP Certification Worth It? – Testimonials For many service members and veterans, one of the biggest questions is: Is earning the PMP® certification really worth it? In this special episode of the Vets2PM Military Transition Academy Podcast , you’ll hear directly from three veterans who answered that question for themselves. Each testimonial shares how Vets2PM trained and prepared...