Community
Select to view content in your preferred language

FAQs from Veterans Entering GIS Careers

342
0
06-30-2025 09:00 AM
Logan_Stevens
by Esri Contributor
Esri Contributor
3 0 342
‎06-30-2025 09:00 AM

Esri Young Professionals Network recently hosted a webinar Charting Your GIS Career: Insights from Veterans who Transitioned to GIS Professionals with three veterans who shared how they transitioned from military service into GIS-related careers. They spoke about the challenges they faced, how they applied their skills in new ways, and offered advice for others considering a similar path.

From that webinar, we received a flood of meaningful questions from the webinar attendees, both veterans and civilians, we felt would be very useful to turn into an FAQs blog post. 

We teamed up with the webinar panelists, Isaac Smith GIS Analyst and US Marine Corps Veteran; Justus Eckstrom, Business Manager at Dewberry and US Army Veteran; and Gus Wright, Senior Geospatial Innovations Advisor at INSCOM and US Army Veteran to answer these questions.

 

Table of Contents:

 

Q: For someone with a background in the military, public safety, and now GIS, are there conferences or networking opportunities that connect GIS with emergency management or meaningful public service work?

A: I learned about Esri’s emergency management capabilities through a YPN chapter meeting, and I encourage anyone interested to explore their extensive resources. I also attend GIS department talks at my university, which led to an emergency management internship with my local county. Proactively reaching out to local government teams can also connect you with passionate GIS professionals willing to share valuable insights. 

A: I try to make it a point to attend the Esri Federal GIS Conference, Esri User Conference and the GEOINT symposium annually. These have been instrumental for me in terms of network building and learning opportunities.

Q: How long did it take you to determine what you wanted to do?

A: My career journey has looked more like a polygon than a straight line. While I’m grateful for the path I’ve taken, I believe that with more knowledge earlier on, I could have moved into GIS more quickly. Knowledge is power, and sometimes the best first step is simply asking questions. Find someone doing what you aspire to do and ask if they’ll share some advice, it’s worked well for me!

A: I spent four years as a Combat Engineer before I reclassified to the geospatial Industry. It was challenging and simultaneously rewarding. I knew within a year or two after transitioning that I wanted to learn and grow in this industry.

Q: As a civilian with a background in GIS and prior education, are there opportunities to work with the military or GEOINT field?

A: Yes there are opportunities. Many of those opportunities require a clearance. A good resource for collaborative opportunities is https://vulcan.navy/about-us/vulcan-page/faq-gov202/. 

Q: Do you have any tips for shifting your mindset from just executing tasks to thinking more about creating solutions or identifying where your time can have the most impact?

A: The world is full of problems, you could toss a stone in any direction and find one that needs solving. But chances are, you’ve already made more of an impact than you give yourself credit for. I’ve found it helpful to list problems I see in my community and keep that list visible, like on the fridge. When a potential solution comes to mind, I jot it down. As you learn more about GIS, you’ll start to see how its capabilities can be applied to real-world challenges. That’s been my experience. With a heart for service and a willingness to learn, there are countless ways to make a difference in the world of GIS.

A: My mindset shifted to computational thinking after I spent a year doing a fellowship called “Training With Industry” as a part of the ENVI software team. This shift happened as I began to deepen my skills in object oriented programming. With that in mind, know what’s possible is a key factor in the mentality shift.

Q: What do you wish you had known before becoming a warrant officer in GIS or GEOINT?

A: A warrant officer is a subject matter “smart” expert (SMSE) that makes recommendations. I wish I had known that leadership don’t always take your recommendations and that is not something to take personally. Always make your recommendations verbally and in writing, because usually they will figure out later that you were right. Lastly, being a SMSE versus a SME will ensure you understand the importance of lifelong learning for technicians. You don’t have to know everything, but you need to be willing and able to learn anything necessary to advise well, succeed, and maintain expertise.

Q: What types of projects did you include in your portfolio to help with your transition from the military to the civilian workforce?

A: I was a little outside of the norm. I managed geospatial projects in the military, so instead I focused on the skills that enabled that. My ability to understand SOPs, change-management, QA/QC, ext. If you are able to have 3-5 different projects where you are showing different tools, data types, software that will show a hiring panel your breadth across multiple technologies. Also if you include one where you just show off your favorite, it lets the board see your personality.

Q: What new technology are you currently learning or planning to learn next?

A: As someone new to GIS and Esri technology, I’ve been actively learning about their tools while also exploring data tools like Power BI and programming languages like Python and JavaScript. When you surround yourself with people in the GIS field, you start to see what they are using and can learn by following their example. That’s how I discovered Survey123, which I was able to implement in a real-world project that now benefits my community.

Q: How would you recommend practicing and applying geospatial skills outside of work to sharpen your abilities and spot areas for improvement?

A: If you have access to Esri software through school, work, or other means, take advantage of Esri’s excellent learning platform to grow your skills. You can also explore open source applications to deepen your understanding. Many local libraries offer free access to platforms like Udemy or Coursera, which can help you discover your passion and develop valuable expertise.

A: Learning and teaching others about GIS is one of the best ways to practice and apply your skills, in my opinion. This creates a self-correcting forcing function to stay current by taking on tough questions. There are also crowdsourcing opportunities such as https://openstreetmap.us/news/appearances/2022/08/public-domain-map/ . These are opportunities to keep your hands moving and help the greater good.

Q: Are there any specific certifications or courses you think make someone more competitive for entry-level roles?

A: Many universities offer courses in GIS, software, geography, and related fields. While not required, attending a school that partners with Esri can provide more tailored educational opportunities and may even lead to internships that help you gain experience, network, and land interviews. Also, don’t overlook the value of your military experience. A well-crafted resume and the right connections can take you a long way.

A: I think Python is a great skill to have, even though many would advise against seeking the certification in lieu of having a demo portfolio. Programming skills will set you apart. I also think the COMPTIA Data+ certification is growing in popularity.

Q: What do you think are the most important priorities for making a smooth transition to the civilian workforce?

A: I think it’s important to stay flexible. Sometimes plans A through E don’t work out, and you have to adapt on the fly. Having the right support system and building a network in the field you want to enter can make a big difference. In the GIS community, there are many people willing to help if you take the initiative to reach out.

A: I think that resume building and strong Social Media presence on platforms like LinkedIn are very important. I also think that ensuring you are ready to work and contribute should be uppermost in your mind. Even though you may be leaving the military, readiness is still important.This includes, but are not limited to physical readiness, mental readiness, spiritual, family and financial readiness. These factors will not only ensure you get the job, but also help you to keep it.

Q: If you're choosing between a degree in GIS and one in data analytics, which do you think offers better long-term opportunities and why?

A: I’m currently pursuing a master’s in Computer Science and Data Analytics, which helped me land an internship that combines GIS and data skills. If you want to specialize, choose what you’re passionate about, but also consider supplementing your education with affordable or free certificates from platforms like Google or IBM. For example, I’m studying Computer Science and Data Analytics, but adding a GIS certificate would complement my degree well. The same is true if you have a GIS degree and pursue certifications in data analytics or related areas. You can list them all on your resume to show a strong and versatile skill set. There are many cost-effective ways to build your education, especially if you are a veteran.

A: Personally, I think all data can be mapped and eventually the geospatial and spectral components of data will be implied. Therefore I would seek the GIS degree with a flavor of object oriented programming to ensure you get the best of both worlds.

Q: Are there any resources you recommend for veterans or service members who are about to transition out of the military and need help with their resumes?

A: I’ve had good experiences with Esri’s Young Professionals Network and VetsInTech who offer free training for veterans, along with using the GI Bill and other military-funded resources. Veterans also receive one year of LinkedIn Premium as a thank you, which can be a valuable tool during your transition. There are also local government programs that will help veterans write their resumes in an effective manner for free.

A: The Army Transition Assistance Program (ATAP) is a great resource for resume help and more.

Q: How useful is the GISP certification in the GIS field?

A: Many of our line leads, QA/QC, and absolutely program managers have GISP. A GISP does a few different things for you and your company. First it shows the hiring board you have a strong foundation in GIS, but having that credential also helps your company because when its time to produce resumes during a proposals, that certifications strengthen it.

Q: If you find yourself in a "GEOINT desert" after transitioning (i.e. somewhere with limited GEOINT opportunities) and relocating isn’t an option, how would you recommend pivoting?

A: I would first look for local opportunities to do GIS work with a county or state office. If you cannot find any, look at small businesses who might have more remote opportunities and will be more flexible if you bring the right talent. 

A: I would pivot to data science under those circumstance. GIS personnel are uniquely adept to handle data in terms of wrangling, curation, analytics, visualization and so on. Transitioning this direction would be a natural move.

Q: Is Esri part of the DoD CSP program?

A: While Esri is not currently participating in the DoD CSP program, we recognize its importance and are actively exploring opportunities to engage with the initiative in the future.