I’m proud to nominate CPT Elijah Forbes for the Protégé Spotlight. From day one, Eli has approached this mentorship with genuine curiosity, humility, and a clear drive to grow. He consistently shows up prepared, takes feedback seriously, and applies it immediately — whether it’s translating military experience into civilian terms or fine-tuning his approach to job applications.

Eli takes the initiative, asks thoughtful questions, and isn’t afraid to get uncomfortable in the pursuit of growth — the hallmark of someone who’s going to thrive in the civilian world. Even while navigating the life-changing experience of becoming a new dad (he and his wife recently welcomed a baby girl!), he’s remained committed and engaged.

He’s the kind of veteran who will inspire others in this program — not just because of what he’s done, but because of how he keeps showing up.

Mentor: Boris Clayton, Greenville, SC, Hearst Corporation

When transitioning from military service to the civilian workforce, having the right mentoring relationships can make all the difference. For Luis Juarez, a former U.S. Marine Corps Avionics Chief Master Sergeant, ACP’s program provided the key support he needed to navigate his next career move successfully.

Luis and I began our mentorship in March 2024, as he was preparing for his retirement from the Marine Corps. His goal was clear—he sought a career in quality engineering within the aircraft industry. From the very beginning, I was impressed with Luis’s professionalism, unwavering dedication to learning, and laser-focused career aspirations.

Over the course of the year, we worked together to refine his resume, develop his job search strategy, and practice interview skills to effectively showcase his extensive experience and technical expertise. Understanding the importance of networking, we ensured his online presence reflected his skills and aspirations, making him a standout.

Mentor: Jeff Miller, Peachtree City, GA, General Motors

I am pleased to report on a very successful mentorship of Calvin Davies, a Navy veteran, who has made remarkable strides in his pursuit of a career in the financial industry. Over the past several months, Calvin demonstrated significant growth and increased understanding of the valuable skills learned during his service as he embraced and applied key lessons from our mentorship sessions.

Drawing on his disciplined military background, Calvin effectively translated military principles such as leadership, strategic thinking, and project management into tangible examples that showcased his value to prospective employers. His ability to prepare and communicate these experiences clearly and effectively during interviews was a great outcome, making him a stronger candidate for the competitive positions he was seeking.

Through hard work, persistence, and the application of the lessons from our collaborative sessions, Calvin successfully navigated the competitive job market. His focus on the adaptability of his military skills to the finance sector has proven invaluable in his career transition, culminating in positive outcomes from his interviews.

Calvin’s journey reflects a strong commitment to professional development, and his success serves as a testament to his drive, discipline, and ability to pivot into a new field.  I look forward to seeing him succeed in his new career. 

Mentor: Sean Andersen, Somerset, NJ, Aon

I've had the chance to get to know Chardonnay ‘Char’ Scarset over the past couple of months, and I have to say, she's a total rockstar - a classic superwoman who's still figuring out just how capable she is. We've been working together to help her make the transition from military to civilian life, which has involved everything from tweaking her resume to coming up with a comprehensive job hunting strategy. It's been really fun to see her take charge of her career and start making plans for her future by calling in all the experts, including ACP.  When you’ve got a specific skills set like hers, cybersecurity, you need to know who to ask for assistance.

One thing that's really stood out to me about Char is her positive attitude and motivation - she's got a great energy about her, and she's always looking on the bright side. She's already started making plans for her next chapter (even though there are plenty of folks who say “you’re too early”!), and I'm excited to see where she ends up because there’s no time like the present to plan for the future you want. She knows that and I’m glad the initiative is clear. Through her suggestions, I've also been introduced to some cool new spots, like a great coffee shop in Fredericksburg, VA called Agora, which has been a fun bonus of our time together.

I'm looking forward to continuing to support Char as she navigates the job market - we're even going to hit up a job fair together that focuses on her background specifically, where I'll get to be her wing woman and help her show off her skills. I've got no doubt that she's going to knock it out of the park and find a job that's a new cultural fit. It's been an honor to work with her, and I'm expecting that our paths will cross again in the future - maybe even at Lockheed Martin, where I think she'd be a fantastic addition to the team.

Mentor: Leslie Wilson, Fredericksburg, VA, Lockheed Martin

Corey Wingate has exhibited exceptional dedication to the mentoring program.  We first met in May of this year to discuss entering the workforce after being a stay-at-home mom for over a decade. She knew she wanted to find a job that was remote with flexible hours but wasn’t sure where to start.

We worked together on creating a resume & LinkedIn profile from scratch, discussing the many relevant skillsets her work at home could bring to a potential employer, and interview skills. Through the ACP network, she learned about Squared Away and Freedom Makers, organizations that hire military spouses at Virtual Assistants.

Over the summer, Corey was hired by both organizations and has been working part-time as a virtual assistant for two companies. She has been receiving great feedback, and the companies have increased their utilization of her services since she has made such an impact already.

It has been a privilege to work with Corey throughout the program, and I’m looking forward to seeing how her career progresses from here.

Mentor: Danielle Spar, Berkeley Heights, NJ, Scotiabank

Kellie and I began our mentorship in October 2023. Kellie is adaptable, brilliant, companionate, and driven. She spent over a decade working within the DoD before deciding to take time to focus on family

In the year that we’ve worked together, Kellie’s continued to grow and thrive – she found employment, has been recognized by her employer receiving their company's Positive Impact Award, and she’s preparing for her PMP certification exam in December. She’s amazing and truly dedicated in all aspects of her life.

I’ve enjoyed working with Kellie this past year and continuing our mentorship and friendship beyond the one-year commitment. Thank you, Kellie!

Mentor: Stephanie Fitzsimmons, Melbourne, FL, Northrop Grumman