Lee Kirby, Salute Co-Founder and retired Army Colonel, interviewed Kathy Miller, a US Marine Corps Veteran and current Data Center Operator.
Before we dig in, our readers would love to get to know you a bit. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood “backstory”?
I was born and raised in Ohio to an Amish family, when I was around 7 my family left the Amish community and started our journey. At 18 I joined the United States Marine Corps and served 5 years as an Aviation Electronics Technician on Camp Pendleton California.
Can you tell us a bit about your military background?
I left for bootcamp in March of 2019, after graduating and checking into my unit in Sept 2020, I served as an Aviation Electronics Technician (Communication, Navigation & Countermeasures Systems Technician) at MALS-39, I became a Collateral Duty Inspector and took on a second MOS as Micro-Electronic repair technician, I finished my contract as a dual qualified Avionics Technician.
What are you doing today?
I am currently a DCO, supporting Compass Datacenters at the IAD-E site.
Can you share an interesting experience from your military career? What lesson did you take from it?
I was at work teaching a Marine some admin duties and we had a question for a supply warehouse, every number we were provided did not work or no one answered, so my Marine asked me if he could call the CWO, I shrugged my shoulders and he tok that as ‘yes’ and made the call. Needless to say, the CWO was upset that he had a Lance Corporal calling him about the status of a part we were waiting on! He gave us the answers we needed and a few minutes after we got off the phone with the CWO the both of us were called in to speak to our Captain about it. My takeaway from that was/is never take no for answer, someone somewhere will have an answer you just have to keep asking and eventually you will either figure it out or get the answer you were looking for. Be persistent, and, for lack of better words, be as annoying as you need to be to get the help/assistance you need.
Did your military experience help prepare you for business and leadership? How?
My military experience helped prepare me by teaching me patience, to analyze a situation and make safe, sound and rational decisions when needed.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?
GySgt Rolon Garcia made a lasting impression on me with his leadership and compassion. There was 1 time (I have a bad habit of interrupting people when I have an idea) and I interrupted him and he let me do this the entire conversation and then steered the conversation back to that and said he has the same habit but he told me to have more patience. He always had so much patience with me and allowed me to make mistakes and gave me direction afterwards, that helped me think more critically and make rational decisions.
If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most good to the most people, what would it be?
Being neighborly. Give a neighbor the extra cookies or rake their leaves for them. Anything to help out when you can and if you’re able
How can our readers follow you online?
Facebook @ Kathy Miller
LinkedIn @ Kathy Miller