As Redwire honors Veterans Day, we recognize that supporting those who have served isn’t an annual occasion but an ongoing personal commitment our company must make a priority. In the case of Alex Drouin, he was still a requirement lead with the U.S. Army’s Futures Command when he first engaged with Redwire Defense Tech—during some the most difficult circumstances imaginable.

“Not long after I met with Redwire’s team in my active-duty role, my teenage son was hit by a drunk driver while running with his cross-country team,” Drouin explained. “He is okay now but spent eight days on life support in the hospital.”

The night after this tragedy, Drouin received a call from members of Redwire’s executive leadership team, some former military themselves, who cut to the chase: “We heard what happened. What can we do to help?”

“The way Redwire leadership treated me back when I was still in the Army really stuck with me,” said Drouin. “I decided that if my son pulled through, I would retire from military service to spend more time with him. So, when the opportunity arose, I applied to do a SkillBridge internship with Redwire Defense Tech—because if they treated me with that much humanity when there was no obligation to, how would they treat their own employees?”

U.S. Veterans Can Transition to Civilian Careers Through SkillBridge

DoW SkillBridge is an initiative of the U.S. government that provides servicemembers in the last 180 days of their military career with the opportunity to gain real-world job experience through training and internships that help them transition to civilian life.

As an authorized SkillBridge partner organization, Redwire recognizes the invaluable skillsets, diverse life experiences, and unparalleled leadership qualities that former servicemembers bring to the workplace and is honored to provide this additional pathway for hiring U.S. veterans.

While full-time employment with a partner organization following an internship is not guaranteed, it is a goal of the program. And in Alex Drouin’s case, his SkillBridge experience paved the way for his post-military career as a Redwire Program Manager working directly with U.S. Army customers.

Redwire holds long-standing programs of record with the Army, and Alex’s direct experience and deep knowledge of program needs helps the company serve as true partners who meet each unique mission challenge.

“I know how to speak the language soldiers speak,” said Drouin. “More importantly, I’m able to empathize with their situation because I have walked in their shoes. Leaving the military is daunting and filled with anxiety about all the unknowns. You don’t know if the skills you’ve learned over two decades are even going to translate to the civilian world, but SkillBridge set me up for success.”

Redwire Space also participates in the SkillBridge program, and in September 2026 the Strategic Programs and Initiatives (SPI) team – which helps develop mission critical solutions for national security space missions – gained a new team member in Skillbridge participant Jason Casey. An active-duty U.S. Space Force officer, Casey is currently working at the National Reconnaissance Office Headquarters in support of the Intelligence community.

“Everyone at Redwire has been welcoming and have treated me as part of the team from day one,” said Casey. “Coming from a Space Operations background, SkillBridge has allowed me to have direct exposure to processes, tools, and mission areas, and has given me more clarity on how I can apply my years of operational experience to real-world space industry problems. It has also allowed me to expand my professional network and meet potential employers or colleagues as I transition into civilian life after twenty years in the military.”

While the skill development and hands-on experience is certainly valuable, Redwire’s mission-driven culture is another reason former servicemembers are drawn to Redwire’s team at every level of the company—and why Redwire supports hiring veterans who have a unique understanding of what Made for the Mission means.

“Redwire’s culture has been a great fit for me as a soon-to-be veteran,” explained Casey. “The company’s mission focus, teamwork, and outlook are qualities that resonate with me. I’ve found that my background has granted me insight into customer priorities and the ability to speak their language, particularly when working with government partners. Redwire is a place where veterans can thrive, contribute meaningfully to the mission, and feel appreciated for the unique perspective that they can provide.”

Serving Those Who Serve

With many veterans on Redwire’s team – including CEO Pete Cannito, a former U.S. Marine Corps officer – supporting those who serve isn’t just a recruiting slogan, it’s a solid part of a corporate culture that prioritizes recognition and appreciation. Redwire veteran employees were recently given a chance to attend the Washington Commanders’ “Salute to Service” football game on November 8, as well as an exclusive dinner with the Commanders Legends.

This game day experience was part of Redwire’s multi-year partnership with the Washington Commanders to recognize active duty servicemembers, veterans, and their families. Redwire volunteers also co-hosted a youth football clinic for kids from military families with Commanders coaches and staff at Marine Corps Base Quantico. The partnership supports the care and training of TJ, the Commanders’ team dog— a service dog in training with the Warrior Canine Connection who will provide companionship and support for a veteran.

“It’s really the people who make Redwire special,” said Alex Drouin. “And that’s what makes me smile every day when I go to work—because I work in a place where the ethos feels familiar to what I experienced in the military and where people are valued.”

Learn more about opportunities to join Redwire’s Made for the Mission team at RDW.com.