The student spotlight this month shines on 2 NOVA students who are also military members pursuing a data center career. Read below for engaging and instructive conversations with Kody Karman and Ayrial White:
Kody Karman - Army
Tell us a little about yourself.
I am from Kansas City, Missouri. I am wrapping up a brief career in the Army and taking with me many lessons gained from unique teams and opportunities across the Army.
Thank you for your service! What led to joining the Army?
Thank you for your support. Joining the military was something that I always felt compelled to do. It was an itch in the back of my head that no amount of Xbox: Call of Duty could ever scratch. I was constantly reminded of this calling through my father who was a police officer for Kansas City Police for 25 years. I often looked up to his service of something greater than himself. I’d always wanted my own version of this. After high school and leaving college very early empty handed, I began to work all sorts of jobs, from building houses and working at Harley Davidson to waiting tables. It was here, knee deep in polishing silverware, that I was confronted with an old dream that I thought was sufficiently buried. An old football teammate of mine came in fresh off an enlistment and selection to the 75th Ranger Regiment. I didn’t sleep for days after this interaction. The itch had turned into a dotted line I couldn’t wait to sign.
Why did you come to NOVA for your education?
I was finishing up my degree with Southern New Hampshire University in Data Analytics and signed up for a Veterans job fair. Afterwards, I had a meeting with Mrs. Robin Baker and was incredibly impressed and interested in the Data Center world. That’s when I learned that NOVA is smack dab in the middle of it.
Tell us about the AWS Skillbridge Program and how it has benefited you?
The AWS Skillbridge program allows service members within their last six months of service to go to state-of-the-art classes at NOVA and learn everything you need to start a career in the data center world. In addition to the job opportunities afterwards, it ignited a passion for engineering and helped build the confidence I needed to make an effective transition from the military.
How does your experience in the Army translate to skills needed for a data center career?
It’s no wonder there is such a vast network of veterans in the data center field. Many of the skills you learn in the military being at the right place, at the right time, in the right uniform, with the right attitude are paramount in being an effective contributor in a data center. It takes focus, communication, and strict adherence to regulations. Working for something critical that millions of people rely on is second nature for service members and hard to find after you leave.
How have NOVA professors helped equip you?
Dr. Amir has stood out, not only is he way overqualified but the mark of a great teacher is someone that can take a complex topic and make it digestible for people that have little to no understanding. He does exactly this in refusing to use the projector, instead writing every single lesson on the whiteboard, tailoring each lesson to the needs of his class. He offers invaluable wisdom gained from a lifetime spent in the electrical engineering world and always ensures that timelines and expectations are clear.
What’s the easiest and hardest thing about the career transition?
The easiest and hardest part about transitioning out of the military is two sides of the same coin. Freedom is something that I won’t ever look at the same way again, it is exciting in the same way it is exhausting. Something as simple as deciding what to wear is a perishable skill that you lose. Choosing where to live, what to do, who to associate with. It is stepping into a whole new world where all your peers are going in different directions, and you need to pick one for yourself.
How do you balance your time and energy between work and education?
I lock up the distractors, and I am very selfish with my personal time. Deleting social media apps and turning my phone into a dumbphone has bought months of time back. Instagram and YouTube are not nearly as fun to use on a browser and so I end up spending less time on them. I also prioritize exercise daily; this is my time to recharge and depressurize. Over months these choices have become habits and have brought me efficiency.
Where do you see yourself in 5-years?
In 5 years, I will be innovating in the data center space with a degree in mechanical engineering. I will have contributed to veteran organizations, donated my time coaching football for youth organizations, build a sweet Jeep Gladiator with a 392 Hemi, and preparing for my most important mission: raising children.
What is your advice to NOVA students or fellow active-duty service members who are wondering if a career in data center operations is right for them?
Never self-select. If you have interest in it, then do it. NOVA has the tools and the personnel to get you where you need to be, in a career with growth and opportunity.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I enjoy being outdoors and anything with a motor, often at the same time. I like working on cars of all types from sports cars to trucks. Riding dirt bikes, going on the lake, and shooting sports.
Other thoughts? Anything important we missed with the other questions?
More information on getting to this program as a veteran:
If you’re interested in getting into the AWS Skillbridge program through NOVA you can reach out to an AWS recruiter on LinkedIn and apply to the Hiring Our Heroes program. If you are already out and interested in joining as a veteran, reach out to Compass Tech
Ayrial White - Army National Guard
Tell us a little about yourself.
I joined the Tennessee Army National Guard in August 2011. I have served for 14 years and am still serving as a SSG in section 6 of the 35th DSB.I have traveled to Poland, Kuwait, and Iraq during my journey in the military. I was working in G6 for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a contractor before I moved from Tennessee to Virginia for this amazing opportunity.
Thank you for your service! What led to joining the Army?
Honestly, I was shopping in the mall and saw a recruiting office. I thought "Ehh, why not." and was shipped to basic within a month. While at basic, one of my Drill Sergeants told me that I needed a purpose to survive within the military. Throughout my career, I created multiple missions for myself to accomplish. The greatest mission I've completed was assisting Chattanooga's fire department after a terrible tornado destroyed a major area in Chattanooga.
Why did you come to NOVA for your education?
I came to NOVA for a data center program that supports veterans.
Tell us about the AWS Skillbridge Program and how it has benefited you?
The AWS Skillbridge program is a paid program that prepared me to become a data center engineer.
How does your experience in the Army National Guard translate to skills needed for a data center career?
My military career has prepared me for this program in a variety of ways. I work with UPS, generators, racks, and servers. Understanding power configurations is extremely critical when working in an isolated location.
How have NOVA professors helped equip you?
The NOVA professors set realistic expectations on what it will be like working in AWS data centers. The NOVA professors have also invited AWS directors, trainers, and others for additional training and networking opportunities. We were able to ask as many questions to the AWS employees about the work environment and expectations as well.
What’s the easiest and hardest thing about the career transition?
The easiest thing was showing up; the hardest thing was transitioning my mentality from white-collar to the blue-collar side of IT.
How do you balance your time and energy between work and education?
Balancing work and education isn't difficult in the Skillbridge program. You are being paid to study and focus on completing all tasks within NOVA before touching anything data center equipment.
Where do you see yourself in 5-years?
In five years, I'm hoping I will be an AWS trainer or assisting a major data center project (like helping a project manager with configuring a new data center).
What is your advice to NOVA students or fellow active-duty service members who are wondering if a career in data center operations is right for them?
My advice is that demand for data center engineers and technicians is going to increase every year. Working in data centers will provide job security and higher wages.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
In my spare time, I play video games, go on walks, or find a random class out in town that interests me. The last class I took was a blacksmithing course. Probably going to do glassware next.