As a company with a strong veteran presence, we recognize the unique challenges that come with the shift from military to civilian work. Often the transition is paired with confusion, stress, anxiety, and pressure. Veterans may lack the resources to help them, access to job opportunities when they transition out, or both. Amongst the difficulties that veterans face when leaving the military, AVIAN upholds the principle of doing the right thing and provides opportunities to transitioning veterans. One way we do that is through partnering with SkillBridge, a DoD-authorized internship program for active-duty service members to gain civilian work experience during their final 180 days. Recently, AVIAN was able to provide a work experience and a permanent position for transitioning airman, Benjamin Dwyer.
About Ben
Ben Dwyer, an MQ-9 Reaper Pilot, started with AVIAN in March of 2025. Prior to joining AVIAN, Ben served in the United States Air Force where he began his career in 2016. After serving at Randolph Air Force Base in Texas, Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico, and Creech Air Force Base in Nevada, he transitioned to Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri
Originally, Ben’s passion for flying began with a desire to pilot a fighter jet, however, due to unforeseen circumstances he was unable to. Despite what he thought was a lost aspiration, he was able to find hope to achieve his passion of being a pilot within the Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Community.
He found an opportunity at Whiteman Air Force Base where he was an Instructor and Evaluator of the uncrewed system MQ-9 Reaper and rose to the position of Assistant Director of Operations. After nine years of serving in the Air Force, it was time for a transition to the civilian workforce, and he did so by utilizing the SkillBridge program.
About SkillBridge
SkillBridge is a program that helps transitioning veterans gain civilian work experience. Service members are paid by the military and trained by a company such as AVIAN. The program benefits both the transitioning individual and the organization. SkillBridge provides the opportunity for the individual to gain experience while providing the civilian company with the ability to invest in transitioning service members with the intent of hiring them.
Ben’s Transition Experience
Transitioning from the military naturally brings significant stressors, including searching for a new job, relocating, and adjusting to a major life change. To be proactive, Ben started his search to find a position where he could apply his Air Force experience. When searching, he came across the exact position he was looking for on AVIAN’s website for an MQ-9 Reaper Pilot.
Originally, Ben applied for the position like any normal candidate would do. It wasn’t until he discovered that AVIAN was a SkillBridge participant that his situation changed and became simpler. With the assistance of SkillBridge and helpful members of AVIAN’s Human Resources team, Ben was able to come to AVIAN to utilize his skills and gain additional experience. It wasn’t long after his time at AVIAN that the AVIAN team recognized Ben was a great fit and he realized how much he enjoyed working with AVIAN.
Why AVIAN?
When Ben came to AVIAN, he was surprised by how welcoming everyone was to him on his first day and how that still continues now. Ben said that when he came to AVIAN people made him feel like he belonged. He felt as if he was a part of the family, even before he was officially hired. To Ben, the culture of care spoke volumes and heavily impacted his decision of whether he was going to choose AVIAN as a post-service employer. When asked what AVIAN principle stood out to him the most, he responded,
“Doing the right thing. I experienced this principle when I first came to AVIAN. When I walked through those doors everyone went out of their way to welcome me and to make me feel important and valued. Not only that, but everyone already knew my name! That had a lasting impact and is what everyone should experience when joining a company.”
Ben’s feedback on his transition to AVIAN through the Skillbridge program is a testament to AVIAN’s core value of taking care of each other. Supporting transitioning service members is an incredible win-win situation and allows us to demonstrate what life after a uniform can be. Ben had a positive time participating in SkillBridge as they helped him gain the needed experience and facilitated this great opportunity with AVIAN. This opportunity provided him with a smooth transition into the civilian workforce, a way to apply his expertise, and a work culture that genuinely cares about him. We are grateful to Ben, his positive experience, and our partnership with SkillBridge. We are happy he is part of the team and cannot wait to see the great ways he applies himself here at AVIAN.
