Tom Farrell, Chairman, President and CEO of Dominion and Chairman of the Edison Electric Institute, today announced the national launch of Troops to Energy Jobs, an important new initiative to connect military veterans to rewarding energy careers.

With nearly 40 percent of the nation’s energy workforce either eligible for retirement or departing their jobs because of attrition during the next five years, electric and natural gas companies and the nuclear power industry are facing a potential worker shortage. Meanwhile, many military veterans are returning home after tours of duty without a clear path toward jobs or ready access to apply skills learned in the armed services.

Troops to Energy Jobs is managed by the Center for Energy Workforce Development (CEWD) and is designed to establish an ongoing process of outreach, recruiting, education, and training to create a pathway for military personnel to transition from the service into civilian careers in the energy field.

“The extensive military training, strong work ethic, and leadership skills endemic to success in the military make veterans highly desirable employees for energy companies,” Farrell said. “The goal of Troops to Energy Jobs—working with five pilot companies—is to develop and perfect a robust national model for more quickly and effectively connecting this stream of qualified veterans to jobs that will be opening in the energy sector.”

The five pilot companies are American Electric Power, Arizona Public Service, Dominion, Southern Company, Pacific Gas and Electric Company. 

For more information, please visit www.cewd.org or www.getintoenergy.com/military.