Engineer at Harris Corp.
MOS match in Hawaii means big-time raise for Marine corporal.
By Warren Duffie

Doug Fenderson is one of those lucky people who was able to enter a civilian career perfectly matching his military job. As a computer specialist in the Marine Corps, he spent much of his military life working on the Navy/Marine Corps Intranet (NMCI). He now does the same thing with Harris IT Services, a business unit of Harris Corp.

“When I was thinking about getting out of the Marine Corps, I knew the IT field offered more money and advancement potential,” said the former corporal. “I wanted to find a job in my current industry and climb the ladder.”

On the Job
Fenderson knocked and opportunity answered. Based in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Fenderson, 35, is a network planning engineer with Harris IT Services. His company is a leading subcontractor on the Navy/Marine Corps Intranet program, which provides voice, data and video communications to more than 500,000 Navy and Marine Corps users.

Fenderson and his team of six engineers handle network-related functions: e-mail, file sharing, and Internet connectivity, to name a few. They serve thousands of Sailors and Marines at 31 military installations throughout the Hawaiian Islands.

Fenderson usually works from 0800 to 1600. He starts each day by returning e-mails and phone calls – followed by team meetings during which he assigns projects to his fellow engineers.

“Sometimes things can be resolved at our Pearl Harbor location,” he said. “However, many times I have to send them to other sites. Sometimes that involves getting on a plane and island hopping.”

In Uniform
A native of Williamsport, Pa., Fenderson graduated from high school in 1993. He spent some time in college but dropped out and went to work full time at the local Stone Container Corporation plant, where his father worked for more than 30 years.

“I felt I was going nowhere fast,” Fenderson said. “I was in a small town where there wasn’t much room to grow. I needed to get out, so I enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1999.”

After basic training on Parris Island, Fenderson completed computer school at Twentynine Palms near San Diego. He spent his military career in Okinawa.

The Transition
In 2002 Fenderson was injured. It wasn’t career-threatening, but the injury hindered his ability to perform more “hardcore” training.

“I knew I wasn’t going to make the military a career, so I started thinking about getting out,” he said. “There was a civilian company called Wamnet, which we contracted with in Okinawa. I knew I wanted to work with them, so I applied. The process took awhile. When I got out in 2003, I was unemployed for a little while, but a job opened up and they hired me. Over the years, the company changed names a bunch of times and was bought by Harris in 2007. I was promoted to my current position last February.”

Fenderson saw a large pay increase when he became a civilian again. While he no longer has free health care, Harris offers its employees a generous 401(k), tuition reimbursement, life insurance and discounted cell phone service.

Fenderson's Advice:
Sell yourself. “Mention your leadership skills on your résumé. Don’t just focus on your technical skills. Employers are looking for people who can step up and lead.”

Put your military bearing to good use. “In the military you learn tact and decorum. Keep those in practice at your civilian job and your co-workers will notice.”

Have fun. “Enjoy your transition. It’s an exciting time.”

“I knew I wasn’t going to make the military a career, so I started thinking about getting out,” he said. “There was a civilian company called Wamnet, which we contracted with in Okinawa. I knew I wanted to work with them, so I applied. The process took awhile. When I got out in 2003, I was unemployed for a little while, but a job opened up and they hired me. Over the years, the company changed names a bunch of times and was bought by Harris in 2007. I was promoted to my current position last February.”- - - - - -

What Fenderson Likes About His Job

• I enjoy my co-workers and clients.
• The job is never boring.
• There’s always a challenge.

Harris Corp.
HQ: Melbourne, Fla.
Employees: 16,000 +
2009 Revenue: $5 billion
www.harris.com