With our partners, we are building industry capacity to advance a nationwide pipeline of talent at all levels of the solar workforce.
Military service provides the leadership abilities and technical skills that solar companies value highly. While some veterans begin with entry-level jobs and move up the ranks, others transition directly to advanced leadership roles within this rapidly growing industry.
In the News: From Battlefields to Solar Fields
A Spectrum News documentary talks with U.S. military veterans who made the transition to a career in solar. Watch the video which includes an interview with Solar Ready Vets Program Director Richard Lawrence.
Explore the Solar Ready Vets Network
How We Work
Solar Ready Vets Fellowships
Transitioning service members are placed with solar employers for 12 weeks of on-the-job training in management & professional roles.
Workforce Development
We initiate partnerships to advance industry-led workforce development goals and strengthen talent pipelines in high-demand markets.
Career Connections
We connect veterans to opportunities for training, credentialing, professional development and employment.
Solar Industry Apprenticeships
We will formalize and standardize work-based learning opportunities for veterans.
GI Bill Expansion
We are expanding GI Bill benefits to cover additional costs associated with credentialing (NABCEP certification) and solar training programs.
Fast Tracks to Certification
We are streamlining requirements for solar certifications based on relevant military experience.
Solar Ready Vets Fellowships
The Solar Ready Vets Fellowship connects mid-to-senior level transitioning service members with on-the-job training in leadership and management roles in the civilian solar workforce.
Offered to employers at no cost, the fellowships are implemented by the Hiring Our Heroes Corporate Fellowship Program with support from IREC and the Solar Energy Industries Association.
Featured Solar Ready Vets Fellow: Cameron Niccum
Cameron Niccum launched his solar career as a Solar Ready Vets Fellow at FTC Solar in Austin, Texas, where he continues to serve as a Supply Chain Manager.
With a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from West Point, Cameron commissioned as an Infantry Officer in 2016 at Fort Benning, Georgia. Rising from platoon leader to squadron logistics officer over his military career, he was responsible for the deployment and maintenance of over $50 million of equipment, and provided logistical support for 180 personnel while deployed to Iraq and Syria. When he decided to transition toward a civilian career, he set his sights on helping to scale solar technology and accelerate the transition to a renewable energy future.
Featured Solar Ready Vets Fellow: Desmine Greene
Desmine Greene enlisted in the Army as a Senior Logistician at Ft Bragg, North Carolina, was commissioned as a Platoon Leader Executive Officer and later served as Company Commander and Support Operations Officer with the 82nd Airborne Division, specializing in parachute and logistics operations. During his service, he deployed twice with 82nd ABN DIV to Afghanistan supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. In November 2021, he completed his Fellowship with Standard Energy Solutions, where his experience coordinating and ensuring personnel and operational readiness has proved highly transferable to managing inventory and tracking project completion, and leading a cohesive and highly effective team. He will continue to apply his extensive operational management experience as Branch Manager in Richmond, VA, as the company continues to grow and expand across the region.
Featured Solar Ready Vets Fellow: Rob Riley
Rob Riley was a Solar Ready Vets fellow at Silicon Ranch Corp. from January-June 2021, and then transitioned to a permanent role as a senior associate. He supports a range of development and pre-construction activities including site selection, due diligence, environmental permitting, site assessments, and preliminary budget development. Rob hopes to leverage his military experience and eventually transition into a leadership role in the solar industry.
With the solar industry growing by leaps and bounds, Rob looks forward to what lies ahead for his career. “It’s an exciting place to be,” he says. “I think we’ve got a lot of growth ahead of us both as a company and an industry.”
By the Numbers
895
Veterans in the Solar Ready Vets Network
326
Employers in the Solar Ready Vets Network
20,000+
Veterans in the U.S. Solar Industry
Service to Solar
Profiles of Veterans in the American Solar Workforce
More Veteran and Employer Resources
Partners
We’re proud to work alongside our partners Solar Energy Industry Association, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes program, and the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office.
