Since 2012, we have led the effort to ease the transition of veterans to meaningful, sustainable careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math. Now, we offer the same program to a wider range of majors to include business or social sciences that support the energy industry.
Why?
America continues to have a shortage in the STEM workforce. While our universities are producing more STEM graduates, many of these students are here on temporary visas.
To address this shortage, the Energy System Technology Evaluation Program (ESTEP) was established in 2012. ESTEP is a workforce development program funded by the Office of Naval Research serving student veterans throughout Southern California and Hawaii. The program provided paid internships in alternative energy research to supplement their education. In addition to the internship, veterans received one-on-one mentorship and career development to assist them through academic and transition challenges that arose. The internships, coupled with one-of-a-kind mentorship, resulted in 99%+ job offers before graduation! Our alumni moved on to careers in the Department of Defense as well as the private sector and defense industries. The success of ESTEP served as a catalyst for Veterans To Energy Careers (VTEC).
Launched in 2018, VTEC is part of a Department of the Navy initiative to develop the nation’s STEM workforce with the leadership and experience of our military veterans.
Our Mission
To facilitate the transition of military veterans into sustainable energy careers through a collaboration between higher education, government and industry.
Our Vision
To provide veterans who wish to pursue a STEM career with the resources and guidance to obtain meaningful and sustainable careers.
“This unique program merges academia, naval commands and industry to advance energy technologies and develop the nation’s STEM workforce by leveraging the resources of the triad. ”
What We Do
We get veterans from where they are to where they want to be. Whether their goal is to be a technician or an engineer, we leverage our partnerships with institutions of higher learning, the government, and private sectors to provide veterans with mentorship and internship opportunities while developing their soft skills and career readiness.
What We've Achieved
The internships, coupled with one-on-one career development, resulted in 99%+ job offers before graduation!
Our alumni have moved on to careers in the DOD as well as the private and defense industries.