Why Veterans Belong in Sustainability Leadership

What does leading operations for 63 U.S. Navy ships or directing daily operations for a U.S. Air Force engineering squadron have in common with running large-scale clean energy and transportation programs? 

More than it might seem. 

Both require disciplined execution, accountability and leadership of complex, mission-driven work across diverse teams. 

That is why the Center for Sustainable Energy (CSE) partners with Hiring Our Heroes to bring U.S. military veterans into leadership roles supporting $4 billion in state and utility programs for solar, battery storage, electric vehicles (EVs) and EV charging. 

Skills that translate 

At CSE, leadership shows up in how work gets done and how teams can operate efficiently and effectively. Veterans are trained in this environment, with experience emphasizing follow-through and accountability under pressure and in changing conditions. Their skills translate to clean energy and transportation programs, where policies and technologies can change quickly.  

How CSE built a veteran recruiting pipeline 

We hire for skills, experience and shared values.  

Early veteran hires came through direct recruiting and transition programs like the Department of Defense SkillBridge program. More recently, CSE has partnered with Hiring Our Heroes, a nonprofit initiative of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. Through this program, participants complete fellowships that help both sides assess long-term fit. 

CSE also connects veteran employees with new hires to support their transition. 

Voices from our veterans at CSE 

CSE’s work depends on integrity, curiosity and respect, qualities veterans bring from their service.

Meet Devine “DJ” Johnson  

DJ spent 21 years in the Navy, rising to commander, serving as commanding officer of a $2 billion naval warship and concluding his service as chief of staff at Naval Station Norfolk, where he led executive operations supporting 63 ships and 78,000+ personnel.  

After leaving the military in 2024, DJ transitioned through Hiring Our Heroes to the City of Norfolk and then to CSE. He now serves as a director overseeing EV and EV charging incentive programs across multiple states. 

“When it's time to take off the uniform and pursue a job in the civilian sector, often military personnel don't know what they can do,” DJ said. “They just focus on their hard skills, which may not have directly transferable job duties outside the military.” 

He says veterans who focus on teamwork, problem solving and communication can apply those skills across industries. And he encourages other former military personnel to consider joining CSE.   

“I tell them they have the opportunity to work at a place where they will find the camaraderie and teamwork they are used to in the military and align themselves with a worthy mission to decarbonize our environment.” 

Meet Brad Ball 

Brad spent 21 years in the U.S. Air Force, rising to chief master sergeant and overseeing complex engineering, environmental and emergency management operations across North America, Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific. In his final traditional assignment, he led daily operations for a 735-person engineering squadron and managed base infrastructure: “not unlike managing a small city,” he said.  

After the military, Brad brought his operational leadership to the private sector, including EV infrastructure. While the work was valuable, he was drawn back to environments with strong teams, accountability and mission focus.  

“That’s what I value about CSE: working across teams to deliver decarbonization outcomes that matter,” he said. “The work is complex and the expectations are high, which is what makes it worthwhile.”  

Today, as director of distributed energy resources at CSE, Brad leads nine teams focused on solar, energy storage, EV charging and related technologies. It’s work he considers a natural extension of his military experience.  

As the clean energy sector grows, Brad believes veterans are well positioned to contribute.  

“Veterans are trained to operate in complex environments, manage risk and execute at scale,” he said. “Skills in operations, project management, finance and engineering translate directly to areas like infrastructure deployment, grid buildout, renewable energy and building electrification.” 

Advancing the mission through leadership 

As clean energy and transportation scale, organizations need leaders who manage complexity and build strong teams. Veterans at CSE bring these qualities and help deliver better results for programs, clients and communities.