AmeriCOM’s Donna Smith, Science Educator Liaison, and Magda Hernandez Otero, Community Liaison, visited Fort Drum in Upstate New York to attend the Career Fair through its Transition Assistance Program (TAP) for service members planning to transition from military service into new careers. As Donna and Magda explained, the optics industry is a natural fit for many veterans, as the equipment they have been trained to use contains many optical components. There is a growing need for optics technicians, and veterans can benefit by using the GI Bill to pay for training. Our team showed service members viable and fulfilling career paths in optics, and shared information about optics training programs in our ecosystems around the country.

AmeriCOM Community Liasion, Magda Hernandez Otero, meets with soldiers to discuss future careers in the optics and photonics industries.