Meet Jaysen Yochim, the new director of our U.S. Marine Corps Aerial Logistics Program. He is a retired U.S. Army Colonel with 25 years of service as an army aviator and the first Hiring Our Heroes Corporate Fellow to be hired at Airbus U.S.

When he decided it was time to retire from the U.S. Army, Yochim heard about the Department of Defense SkillBridge program from a few friends and decided to pursue it further.

Yochim said that the SkillBridge program is a great way for service members to think more about what they want to do post-military-retirement and where their passions are.

“SkillBridge is a great opportunity to consider what the possibilities are for your next chapter, and then experiment a little bit.”

Yochim describes his fellowship experience with Airbus U.S. as a win-win for both him and the company.

“By taking me in as a fellow, Airbus U.S. gained someone who had a great understanding of the current environment within the Department of Defense,” he said.

“And I was able to better prepare myself for my transition by having that opportunity to come over to Airbus and learn how the defense sector and DOD intersect.”

A short time after his fellowship with Airbus U.S. ended, an opportunity for a full-time position opened up for Yochim. He credits the Hiring Our Heroes Fellowship program for providing him with the opportunities to prove himself as the right choice for the role.

When asked why he chose to return to Airbus U.S. rather than pursue other opportunities, he said, “Relationships are everything.” During his fellowship, he built strong relationships with the entire team, especially Brian Zarchin, a former U.S. Army Colonel and Airbus U.S. employee who mentored him through his fellowship.

Zarchin encourages more companies to utilize the SkillBridge and Hiring Our Heroes program.

“When you talk about hiring veterans, a lot of people don’t understand the value they bring and how quickly and deeply they can learn,” Zarchin said. “That, to me, is a huge value to companies. You get people who are ambidextrous and can learn very quickly. I knew Jaysen would do that.”

Yochim is excited about the future of his new position and leading a team to work on the aerial logistics connector.

“At this point in my life, a job is all about the stamp you are making on the world around you.”

And in his current role, working towards developing an aircraft to save lives, Yochim said he knows he is making his mark.