By Josh D., F-35 Subject Matter Expert

"My Purpose Was Never Tied to the Uniform"

Today, I'm proud to serve as an F-35 Subject Matter Expert with BAE Systems, Inc. But for 14 years, the U.S. Air Force wasn't just my career, it was my identity. I served as an Air Force crew chief, traveled, deployed, and went wherever they needed me, continuing the job I loved. When a medical separation ended that chapter years earlier than I had planned, it felt like I had lost more than a career. I had lost my purpose.

However, I realized my mission never ended when my military career did. It evolved. Although I'm no longer turning wrenches on the flightline, I can still support the men and women serving today by helping ensure the training, technical guidance, and software they rely on accurately reflect real-world operations. That sense of purpose is what drew me back to the defense industry, and it's one of the reasons I'm proud to be part of the BAE Systems team.

Serving Was Always Part of Who I Am

Growing up, the Air Force wasn't just something I admired, it was part of my family. My father served in the Air Force for 20 years before beginning a 24-year career in law enforcement. Watching him dedicate his life to serving others left a lasting impression on me. I grew up around aircraft, fascinated by aviation, and knew from an early age that I wanted to work on them someday. That passion eventually led me to become an Air Force crew chief.

It's funny how life came full circle. My brother was actually my Air Force recruiter, and years after navigating his own difficult transition to civilian life, he founded a non-profit organization called The KEY Community. Neither of us knew that years later I'd lean on that same organization to find my footing as a civilian.

Earlier in my career, a retraining flight physical identified a medical condition I didn't know I had. It never prevented me from serving. Then, in 2020, changes in policy led to another evaluation, and that same condition ultimately ended my military career through a medical separation. I felt healthy. I still wanted to serve. I wasn't ready for my time in uniform to end.

Finding the Community I Needed

My career ended years earlier than planned, and to make matters more challenging, it happened during the pandemic. The job market was uncertain, and despite 14 years maintaining some of the world's most advanced fighter aircraft, I struggled to find a civilian role that matched my experience. After what felt like hundreds of applications, I realized I couldn't wait for the perfect opportunity. My family depended on me, so I accepted the opportunities that said, "yes."

During the week, I became a law enforcement officer for the state of Florida, and on the weekends, I worked at a large home improvement store. Neither job was the career I had envisioned, but both helped prepare me for the next chapter. At the home improvement store, I was surrounded by fellow veterans who welcomed me warmly and taught me skills I never expected to enjoy. Working in law enforcement gave me the chance to encourage fellow veterans facing their own difficult transitions. Both experiences reinforced what the Air Force had already taught me: resilience, service, and taking care of people.

About a year later, one of my closest friends at BAE Systems reached out. Having served alongside me in the Air Force and knowing my background with the F-35 program, he encouraged me to return to the defense industry. Wanting to be as prepared as possible, I leaned on The KEY Community, a nonprofit dedicated to helping transitioning service members, veterans, military spouses, and military families navigate life after military service. Through mentorship, networking, career resources, and genuine relationships, they helped me strengthen my resume, prepare for interviews, and build confidence. They didn't find me a job, they helped me believe I could earn one.

Two photos left to right: Josh's F-35's Instructor Photo circa 2018. Josh delivers the keynote address at the KEY Conference in San Antonio, Texas, in 2024, sharing insights to help fellow service members and veterans navigate their military transition.

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The Rejection That Changed Everything

Eventually, I interviewed with BAE Systems. I left feeling confident, but I wasn't selected. Looking back, that rejection became one of the most important moments in my transition. Rather than simply moving on, the hiring managers saw potential in both my technical background and the person they had gotten to know. They believed I would be a better fit for a more technical role and recommended me to the program's prime contractor.

I'm grateful for that hiring manager's investment in my career. I know it couldn't have been easy to put in a reference for me at a different company, but they cared about me and the fit. That recommendation completely changed the direction of my civilian career. Over the following years, I grew into increasingly technical roles supporting the F-35 enterprise, solving complex problems and continuing to develop professionally. Eventually, another opportunity opened at BAE Systems that aligned perfectly with my experience and long-term goals, allowing me to finally come full circle and join the company.

The Work I'm Proud to Do Today

My role bridges engineering, technical documentation, and training by validating courseware and technical manuals against live F-35 mission environments. I work alongside engineering teams to validate software updates, identify technical issues across complex interconnected systems, and collaborate directly with operational F-35 units to ensure our training and technical guidance accurately reflects real-world operations.

As a former F-35 maintainer, I'm also fortunate to maintain relationships with active-duty personnel across the global F-35 enterprise, whose candid feedback keeps the work we deliver practical, relevant, and focused on the needs of the warfighter. Knowing that my military experience continues to contribute to the readiness of today's warfighters reminds me every day that service doesn't always require wearing the uniform.

Because Others Invested in Me

My transition wasn't successful because I figured everything out on my own. It was successful because people chose to invest in me. My father showed me what a life of service looked like. My brother created an organization to help veterans after experiencing his own difficult transition. My friend at BAE Systems encouraged me to return to the defense industry. The hiring manager showed me that true leadership isn't about keeping talent for yourself; it's about placing people where they can make the greatest impact by opening another door when the first opportunity didn't work out. And The KEY Community gave me the confidence and mentorship to prepare for opportunity. Together, those experiences taught me something I'll never forget: Sometimes the greatest impact you can have on someone's life isn't by giving them a job; it's by giving them an opportunity.

Because others invested in me, I've made it a personal mission to invest in others. When I'm not supporting the F-35 mission at BAE Systems, I serve as the Panhandle Chapter Director for The KEY Community, where we host networking events, career workshops, panel discussions, and mentorship opportunities that bring together defense companies, nonprofit organizations, community leaders, and veterans. I've also had the privilege of mentoring veterans and speaking with organizations like Hiring Our Heroes, FourBlock, Vets2Industry, the Military Influencer Conference, and many others. Each has offered unique opportunities to learn, serve, and give back. Much of my focus is on helping service members translate their military experience into civilian careers, particularly within the defense industry, while connecting them with people who are willing to open doors for them, just as others once opened doors for me. Every event I help organize, every resume I review, every introduction I make, and every conversation I have is my way of paying forward the investment others made in me.

Never Fly Alone

If I could leave one piece of advice for anyone preparing to transition from military service, it would be this: Don't be afraid to ask for help. I wish I had understood sooner that asking for help isn't a sign of weakness. Transition isn't something you have to navigate alone. There are people, organizations, mentors, and employers who genuinely want to see you succeed. Sometimes all it takes is one conversation, or one opportunity, to completely change the direction of your career.

I didn't get to retire from the Air Force the way I had planned, and for a long time I thought that meant I had lost my purpose. I now know it was always tied to serving others and helping them discover their own path forward. The Air Force taught me how to serve. The people who invested in me taught me how to transition. Today, I have the privilege of doing both. Whether it's supporting the warfighter through my career at BAE Systems or helping veterans discover that life after military service isn't the end of their story, I know the mission never ended. It simply changed.

The Mission Continues

Want to write the next chapter of your career alongside leaders like Josh? At BAE Systems, your military experience isn't just valued, it's the foundation we build on and want to protect. Visit our Military and Veterans page to use our military skills translator, explore our transitional programs, learn about our partnerships, and connect directly with our military hiring team.

Your mission isn't over. The story continues.