We often think of Memorial Day as a time for backyard barbecues, family vacations and some well-deserved rest and relaxation, but it is much more than a day off. It is a special day set aside to honor the memory of our fallen soldiers, those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in service and protection of their fellow Americans. According to U.S. Census reporting, military veterans are less than eight percent of the total population and less than one percent are actively serving. No one understands the sacrifice our fallen heroes have made more than our veterans, active military members and their families.
Our military personnel are deserving of our upmost appreciation and support. Military members decide to join for a number of reasons, including continuing a family legacy of military service. We are lucky to have some of those dedicated veterans continuing their legacy of service and leadership here at Gordian.
Gordian Senior Engineer Matthew Doheny’s father was a paratrooper in the Marine Corps during World War II which influenced Doheny’s decision to enlist. Doheny described his father’s service: “He would talk about how he was 16 years old when he joined, how he lied about his age to get in, the camaraderie and lasting friendships he still had with guys. I was half way through my senior year in high school when I told my parents I was enlisting in the Marines.”
VP and General Manager of Enterprise Business Scott Smith served in the U.S. Navy. His father served in the Army and Army Reserve for 30 years and had a major impact on his own decision “My father’s sense of duty and public service has always been an influence on my life. When it came time to chart a course after high school, seeking a commission through NROTC just made sense to me.”
David Haas, Systems Administrator, served in the U.S. Air Force. “I wanted make a difference both for my family and my country. My decision to enlist in the USAF was the best decision I ever made.”
John Castillo, Southcentral Region Account Manager, said he enlisted because, “It seemed like the right thing to do.”
At the core of our military lies that common theme, a desire to do the right thing through selfless sacrifice and to make a real difference that reverberates across the country.
Gordian’s veterans express their military appreciation as only they are able. Scott Smith shared the following sentiment: “I most appreciate the sacrifices that our young soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen make every day. Nearly half of our armed forces are under the age of 25. It is a hard lifestyle – often deployed far from home, apart from their families and spouses and children, for not nearly enough pay. And sadly, some make the ultimate sacrifice. Yet, they do so with commitment and courage. Can’t help but make you feel thankful and proud.”
John Castillo said, “I appreciate the guts and discipline that is instilled in every soldier to protect this country. Most people don’t know the feeling when it’s time to protect. It’s a sense of pride, courage and payback along with a little fear of the unknown.”
Military service can deeply affect the future and day-to-day life of veterans. David Haas managed a computer program in the last three years of his service that was recognized by leadership as “cutting edge.” This directly inspired his passion for web server and application management. Matthew Doheny expressed that he believes his military service helps him to make quicker adjustments and find better solutions.
Scott Smith has taken a lot of valuable leadership lessons from his military service. “Less than 20 percent of the armed forces are actually in a designated combat role. Yet, if you ask anyone in the military what their role is, they will tell you it is to ‘support the warfighter.’ So my military experience has made me mission-focused. I’ve learned that it is possible to get an organization perfectly aligned around a common goal, and if you do, it can achieve anything regardless of the complexity and challenge.”
Gordian honors our military veterans and our company’s military history. Gordian’s founder and Chairman, Harry H. Mellon invented the method of construction procurement known as Job Order Contracting (JOC) in 1981 while serving as Chief Engineer, Army Corps of Engineers for NATO operations in Europe. After 21 years of active service, Mellon retired from the Army Corps of Engineers and realized that other public agencies could benefit greatly from the advantages of JOC. In 1990, he started Gordian to provide data, software and expertise necessary to develop, implement and support JOC programs.
Senior Analyst for Sightlines, a Gordian company, Talis Vitols served in the U.S. Army and believes: “The world is a safer place because of what our military does.”
Gordian expresses gratitude and appreciation for military veterans and active duty women and men, acknowledging the eternal debt owed to those who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice.
Thank you for your service!
Together as one unit, reporting to CENTAF in Qatar. Hahn AB alone flew 1,372 combat sorties into Iraq.
And a special thank you to our veterans who shared their stories with us:
John Castillo
Southcentral Region Account Manager at Gordian
Infantry, 11 Charlie/11 Bravo
Service in Saudi Arabia and Somalia
U.S. Army
8 years of service
Matthew Doheny
Senior Engineer at Gordian
Aviation Operations Specialist
Desert Shield/Storm
U.S. Marine Corps
23 years of service
David Haas
Systems Administrator, Technology
F-16 Avionics Technician
Desert Shield/Storm
U.S. Air Force
20 years of service
Scott Smith
VP, General Manager, Enterprise Business at Gordian
Naval Aviator flying the A-6 Intruder
Desert Shield/Storm
U.S. Navy
16 years of service
Talis Vitols
Senior Analyst at Sightlines, a Gordian company
98G Cryptologic Linguist
Service in U.S. and Bavaria, Germany
U.S. Army
4 years of service
