Dispatcher at Port of Seattle
Longtime infantryman finds great job on the water with Port of Seattle.
By Warren Duffie

Sebastian Hicks had no problems with his transition to civilian life. Gregarious and friendly, this 24-year military veteran lives by the credo, “Only a fool refuses to change.”

“I love people and I get along with everyone,” said Hicks, 45. “However, when I became a civilian, I had to adjust my way of communicating – to dial it down, so to speak. I got rid of the jargon and didn’t bark orders as much.”

On the Job
Hicks’ people skills help him each day at the Port of Seattle in Washington. He’s a dispatcher in the maintenance department of the port’s maritime division, which serves everything from fishing boats and personal yachts to commercial vessels and cruise ships.

This former Marine and Army Soldier handles repair and maintenance requests, filtering them to a platoon of welders, electricians and mechanics working for the port.

“I’m like a 911 dispatcher,” Hicks said. “I learn about the problem and send the information to the right people. We get a lot of calls regarding power outages, plumbing issues, broken water mains and fire alarms.”

The former sergeant first class also ensures the right equipment is sent to each job site, makes sure port employees are wearing proper safety attire, and processes the time and paperwork spent by port staff on each repair and maintenance call.

“The military taught me how to deal with people effectively,” Hicks said, “which comes into play each day on the job. I work with people from all backgrounds and walks of life. I also like working for the Port of Seattle because there’s no micromanaging. They trust me to get my job done.”

The Port
The Port of Seattle, a port district run by an elected five-member commission, operates several major facilities in King County, Wash., supporting nearly 200,000 jobs in the Puget Sound region and generating more than $17 billion in revenues for the area businesses that serve the port facilities. Port facilities include the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and a seaport serving a thriving cruise industry, commercial and recreational marinas, and three container shipping terminals.

The Port of Seattle has 1,600 employees and is looking to hire more military veterans. To accomplish this, the port recently unveiled its Veterans Fellowship Program. This six-month initiative – held in the summer and fall – helps veterans get used to civilian employment through résumé-writing and interviewing assistance, identification of transferable skills, and exposure to civilian work environments and corporate business practices.

In Uniform
Ironically, Hicks joined the military because he was a rebel. A native of Portsmouth, Va., he saw all his friends leave for college after high school. But that wasn’t for him.

“I decided to become one of the few and the proud,” Hicks said. “So in 1984 I enlisted in the Marine Corps.”

After boot camp, Hicks attended infantry school at Camp Pendleton in San Diego and served 10 years as a Marine before switching services to the Army in 1994.

“I was looking for better educational opportunities,” he said. “The Army attracted me because infantry is infantry, and that was what I was good at.”

The Transition
Hicks left the military in 2008. To prepare, he took several ACAP classes and posted his résumé online.

Hicks had the opportunity to meet a representative for the Port of Seattle and immediately hit it off with the recruiter: “The people were friendly and really wanted to reach out to veterans. I had an in-person interview, followed by several phone conversations, and was hired within 45 days. I was part of the first [Veterans Fellowship] class to get hired by the Port of Seattle.”

Hicks’ Advice
Save everything. “Hold on to any awards or certifications. Get them notarized and put them in a protected spot. They’ll greatly enhance your résumé and portfolio.”

Be prepared for the cost of civilian life. “There’s a lot of opportunity, but it’s more expensive. The military offers a great total benefits package, but a lot of people don’t take that into consideration. When thinking about getting out, don’t just look at the salary – consider the total cost.”