Satellite Communications Specialist at Rockwell Collins
Army vet dishes up lucrative civilian career
maintaining satellites in rugged mountains of Afghanistan.
by Warren Duffie
The next time your Internet goes out and you’re tempted to
hurl your mouse against a wall, take a deep breath and remember the
temperamental weather conditions faced by Eddie Womack and his crew. Blinding
snowstorms, torrential rain, and – by the way – they’re stationed in the rugged
mountains of Afghanistan, nearly 6,000 feet up.
“People get crazy if they can’t get
online to check e-mail,” said Womack. “Out here, the weather
is harsh and always changing. That takes a toll on satellites, which are
crucial to military operations
out
here. Life or death stuff.”
On the Job
Womack, 46, is a satellite
communications specialist for Rockwell Collins, a leading provider of
communication and aviation electronics solutions to military and government
customers. Womack oversees a team of 16 other specialists, that maintains
satellite communications for five installations – three U.S., two NATO –
throughout Kabul.
The former first sergeant and his
team usually work 12-hour days, seven days a week. Womack checks daily reports
about any issues at various client sites, meets with clients to discuss
problems and needs, assigns personnel to jobs and ensures his employees have
the equipment they need.
“The Army taught me a lot about
leadership and providing good customer service,” Womack said. “That comes into
play a lot in my current job, because I’m dealing with other civilian
contractors, different branches of the military and even NATO employees. Good
communication is key.”
In Uniform
Womack comes from a long line of Army men. Ever since
elementary school, he wanted to be a Soldier, and he enlisted after high school
in 1983.
After completing basic training at
Fort Knox, Womack attended tactical communications school at Fort Gordon, Ga.
He served in Germany (he was in Berlin when the Wall came down in 1989),
Georgia, Illinois and South Carolina.
The Transition
In 2007, Womack started preparing for life after the
Army. He took ACAP classes and learned about résumé writing and interviewing
before separating in 2009.
Not long before he got out, Womack
landed an interview with two companies – including Rockwell Collins. Both
offered him jobs, but he accepted a position with the other company. However,
that offer fell through. Womack went to a job fair, where he met the same
Rockwell Collins recruiter he had interviewed with, who offered him a job on
the spot.
“I liked the idea of working in
Afghanistan, because more money was available,” he said. “You can make three to
four times more than what you would in the states because of hazard pay.
“When applying
I stressed
my experience
overseas in the field,” Womack continued. “I also composed two types of
résumés. One was a civilian version, which had less jargon and referred to me
as a manager, since civilian recruiters might not understand what a first
sergeant does. The second version was for defense contractors and those who
understand the military. I left in some jargon and spotlighted my role as a
first sergeant. It’s important to have different résumés for different jobs.”
How’d You Get That Job?
Not long before he got out, Womack landed an interview
with two companies – including Rockwell Collins. Both offered him jobs, but he
accepted a position with the other
company. However, that offer
fell
through. Womack went
to a job fair, where he met the same Rockwell Collins
recruiter he had interviewed with, who offered him a job on the spot.“I liked the idea
of working in Afghanistan, because more money was available,” he said. “You can
make three to four
times more than what you
would
in the states because
of hazard pay.”
What Womack Likes
About His Job
- Working with the military
- Playing an important role in the military’s mission in Afghanistan
- Tackling new challenges
Womack’s Advice:
Use all the resources available to you. “Take advantage
of ACAP. Make use of your personal and professional networks.”
Make a transition plan and execute
it.
“Start planning a year or two in advance.
You don’t want to wait until the last minute. I’ve seen too many people stressed out by their
transitions.”
Stay open-minded. “Don’t limit yourself to one
industry or job type. Keep your options open. You might be surprised what you
find.”
Rockwell Collins
HQ:
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Employees: 20,000
2009 Revenue: $4.7 billion
www.rockwellcollins.com
Did You Know?
Rockwell Collins’ airborne and
ground-based communication systems transmit nearly 70 percent of all U.S. and
allied military communication.