Time for a Celebration

Six years ago, I was given an opportunity to help launch a new SkillBridge program at Ft. Carson. At the time I didn’t realize how important that program would ultimately become to me, and what a huge part it would play in my life. Being a part of the Microsoft Software and Systems Academy (MSSA) team is the highlight of my professional career. The participants are one of the reasons I get up in the morning, and my teammates are some of the most incredibly supportive people I’ve had the pleasure of working with. ??

As MSSA celebrates 10 years of unprecedented success, I am reminded of the 14 cohorts and almost 200 graduates that have enriched my life with their determination, their laughter, and their passion for technology. They all gave me a sense of purpose I had never experienced before, and over the years I developed lasting relationships with many of them. I’d like to share a couple of their stories as we reflect on the impact this program has had. It’s truly a life-changing experience.

In early 2018, a young soldier came to my office for information on MSSA. His military job was focused on chemical operations, so he had no IT background at all. He had just received news that the Army was medically retiring him because he was diagnosed with a condition that left him unable to deploy. His plans to serve 20+ years were suddenly dashed, and he was facing a swift transition to civilian life. He had several other difficult situations weighing on him, so this news hit hard, and clearly, he was not prepared.

He told me that he knew nothing about computers or networking, but he wanted to try taking the Microsoft Technology Associate exam, just to see if he could do it. We started the MSSA admissions process, and he took the study material home to work on. A few weeks later, he had his MTA certification in hand and was admitted to Fort Carson Cohort 3.

I was so excited for him, but that’s not where his story ends. Before he graduated from the program, he earned his MCSA and MCSE and secured a fantastic job that set him on a path of amazing growth. Today, he is a hiring manager for General Dynamics IT, and he pays it forward by helping current participants with interviewing and networking. His success is a testament to the impact MSSA can have!

I’ve been fortunate to work with hundreds of MSSA participants since I started this journey, and they all have incredible stories to share, but some stand out because of their perseverance and drive to succeed.

As we were building the program’s first cohort at Fort Carson, there was a lot of interest. Dozens of people applied but passing the MTA exam as a prerequisite eliminated many of them. One applicant missed a passing score by two points and came to see me about a retake. Although I couldn’t help him with the cost of a retake, I gathered more study materials that I shared with him.

As the deadline approached to have all documents submitted, I contacted him to see if he had passed the exam. “Not yet,” he told me, “But I’ve got it scheduled. I’ll pass it this time.” A couple of days later, he sent me the certification and was admitted. It wasn’t until the first day of class that I found out he had taken the MTA exam four times, and each time he only missed passing by a few points. The last time was number five, and even though he was suffering from a stomach virus that day, five was the winning number. He became part of Fort Carson’s inaugural cohort.

In the years since he graduated from MSSA, his determination to reach his goals has not waned. First, he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Technical Management while working as a helpdesk technician for a small company in Florida. Then he completed his Master’s Degree in Information Security and Assurance while working as a systems engineer in Virginia. Today, he is a Cloud Engineer with AWS and has never stopped growing and learning. For me, he is the definition of “never give up!”

I could go on for days telling stories about the graduates of MSSA and their impact, not just on me, but on their peers, their companies, and the entire tech industry. The program has evolved just like the technology at its heart, but our purpose and passion for veterans remains the same. That is why I am so excited about the 10th Anniversary salute and the launch of our MSSA Alumni program. Our mantra, “Once MSSA, Always MSSA,” is real, and I hope every single graduate of the program will feel it in their hearts and join the celebration!

Click on this link to visit the 10 Year Celebration site! https://aka.ms/mssa-10

Eric zu Hone , Chris Cortez , Merrick Van Dongen , Joe Wallis , Megan Opincarne , Candina Janicki , CMCS, GCDF, CCSP, CPRW