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Network members and the leadership of
Uptime Institute recognized that the data
center industry needs the discipline,
leadership, and flexibility skillsof veterans to
serveasa foundationonwhich itcanbuildthe
nextgenerationofdatacenteroperators.
Uptime InstituteandThe451Groupaskedme
to take on a full-time role within the
organization, while also maintaining my
leadershipof Salute Inc. At Uptime Institute
I’mworkingonavarietyofprograms focused
on Facility Management and Operation. In
addition toenhancingdatacenter efficiency,
quality, and effectiveness, these programs
also hold the potential to open up more
opportunities in the industry forveterans.
InNovember 2013, Uptime InstituteNetwork
announced
the
establishment
of
a
subcommittee and called for volunteers to
helpdefine the fundamentals thatwouldbe
required to have an effective onboarding,
training, and development program in the
industry. Thisgroup is addressingeverything
from jobdescriptionstoclearlydefinedcareer
paths for bothentry-level trainees aswell as
experienced technicians transitioning from themilitary.
The focusof theUptime Institute initiative isnot toduplicate
existingactivityofothergroupsworkingtohelpveterans,but
to leverage programs that are already available, and add
focus specific to the data center industry. Our Veterans
Subcommitteegoal istoconnectveteranstoour industryand
educate data center employers about the value of hiring
veterans. In avery short amount of time the subcommittee
hasmadegreatprogress:
•The first step was to determine an effective means of
promoting jobopportunities toveterans transitioning from
activedutyand reservecomponents.Wehaveworkedwith
theU.S.DepartmentofDefense(DoD)toestablishchannels
for gettingdata center jobopenings in front of allmilitary
branch placement organizations as they transition
personnel.
•Weareestablishingaweb sitewhere jobopenings canbe
posted by employers in the industry and be visible to
veterans transitioning from active duty and reserve
components,withback-end integration to theDoD.
Assoonasthesite is launched(anticipated inearly2014), the
next step will be an outreach marketing campaign where
Uptime Network members work with their respective
companyHRdepartments to register on the siteandbegin
posting jobs openings. Simultaneously, we will encourage
Networkmemberstoasktheirsupplierstodothesame, since
many manufacturers and service providers also offer
excellentopportunities for industryworkexperience.
Additionally,Uptime Institutewillprovidemarketingsupport
withacommunicationsprogramto informthe industryabout
thisprogram. Togain furthermomentum, weare looking to
otherorganizations—suchas7x24—tosupport theseefforts
andhelpexposetheveterans initiativetotheirmemberships.
It is important tonote that this initiative isnot acommercial
exercise; there is “no cost to use” for either employers or
veterans. Uptime Institute believes that there is enormous
mutualbenefit inattractingmoreveterans to thedatacenter
industry and is providing this service to support military
veterans and promote the development of solutions to
address the industry’scriticalpersonnel shortage.
CONCLUSION
I’ve spent most of my adult life balancing a civilian and a
military career. I now find it deeply rewarding tomaintain a
similar balancingact betweenmyduties atUptime Institute
as the SVPof Management Services andmy role as Salute
FounderandEvangelist. I am fortunate tohaveaplatform to
helpmy fellowveteranswhilealsobenefittingthe industryto
which Ihavededicatedmyciviliancareer.
If you would like to contribute to the Salute mission, are
interested indevelopingaveteran-focused initiative inyour
organization, or if you’re ready to see thedifferenceagroup
of highlymotivatedveterans canmake inyour data center,
pleasecontactme.
Onehourbefore3days battle, LeeandColin,Afghanistan2009
LeeKirby is theFounderandCEOof Salute, Inc., inaddition tobeingUptime InstituteSeniorVicePresident,Management Services.
He canbe reachedat
.
