The Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE hereafter) has been selected by the Department of Defense (DoD hereafter) as an industry partner in their nationally recognized and noteworthy program, SkillBridge. The DOD SkillBridge program pairs Servicemen and women with companies and organizations in various industries for internship opportunities and further civilian training.
The program is an opportunity for those with six months or less of active duty service remaining and have an approved separation date under honorable conditions. Currently, there are more than 250 industry partners participating in the program, including Home Depot, Boeing and Lockheed Martin.
“Opening the doors of CAE and welcoming in members of the military after they’ve served our country is a special privilege,” said CAE Executive Director, Mike Gula. “So far, two participants have successfully completed the SkillBridge program at CAE. This mutually beneficial program is one CAE is proud to support.”
CAE is the only airport in South Carolina currently participating in the SkillBridge program.
SkillBridge Spotlight from CAE:
Chris Davis was a participant of the SkillBridge program at CAE beginning in the summer of 2021. Davis started in CAE’s Operations Department as an intern, learning the day-to-day routine, logistics and inspection protocol of airport operations. After sharing with the airport he had a Masters in Human Resources, Davis did double duty, supporting both the Operations and Human Resources teams at CAE.
Toward the end of Davis’s time as an intern with the SkillBridge training program, there was coincidently a retirement of a longtime member of CAE’s Human Resources team. Davis applied for the Human Resources manager position and the rest is history.
“I was fortunate to be able to take advantage of the Department of Defense SkillBridge program prior to my military retirement,” said Chris Davis, Human Resource Manager for CAE. “This program provided me an invaluable opportunity to transition from a uniformed Senior Noncommissioned Officer overseeing six military airfields from a strategic standpoint, to wearing slacks and a collared shirt navigating my way through life in a civilian labor force. On my first day at CAE I had no idea it would turn into this full-time opportunity and I’m so grateful for this program and CAE. SkillBridge is definitely a win-win for all involved”.
Two new SkillBridge program participants are starting their internships this week at CAE, working in the Engineering Department and on the Human Resources team.
For more information about the SkillBridge program at CAE please email info@flycae.com .