Service Technician for STERIS Corp.
Navy taught him how to do it right the first time.
by Warren Duffie

Reflecting on his career in the U.S. Navy, Ryan McCormick says he learned a vital skill that makes civilian employers’ mouths water: the ability to multi-task.

As a nuclear machinist’s mate on the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis, McCormick stood watch, monitored the ship’s oil supply, and ordered new repair parts for worn and broken machinery. Today, he wears just as many hats as a service technician for Ohio-based STERIS Corp.

“Compared to the Navy, working at STERIS is easy,” says McCormick, 24. “In the military, you’re expected to get the job done right the first time, every time. That’s a valuable skill that employers know veterans possess. That’s the attitude I bring to each service call.”

STERIS is a leading provider of decontamination and infection-prevention products and technologies. Its clients include hospitals, government agencies, and the pharmaceutical, defense, and medical-device manufacturing industries. STERIS has approximately 5,000 employees nationwide, earns more than $1 billion annually, and is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

McCormick – who started with STERIS in July – is based in Casper, Wyoming. He repairs medical equipment at five hospitals and three surgical centers within a 200-mile radius. About 35 percent of his day is spent driving, and no work week is the same. One call might involve a simple preventive maintenance procedure – tightening a couple of screws or bolts. Or he may have to take apart a piece of equipment to see why its motor won’t work. Or he may get an emergency call at 8 p.m., requiring him to drive 100 miles to a hospital.

“I like the variety,” the former second-class petty officer says. “Most of the time, my schedule deals with preventive maintenance, so I can plan my week in advance. But it’s good to have those unexpected calls; they keep me on my toes. And I really like serving my clients.”

Service is what drove McCormick to join the Navy in 1999. The Sterling, CO., native had just graduated from high school, with a sizeable amount of money saved up for college. However, while he was unsure whether he wanted to attend another four years of school, he wanted to do something meaningful with his life. An uncle who once served in the Navy encouraged McCormick to consider a military career.

So he stopped by his local recruiting office and after talking to recruiters from the other military branches – and not being too impressed — McCormick visited the Navy recruiter, certain he was wasting his time. He found he was wrong.

“I was impressed by the variety of jobs I could pursue,” he says. “That, and the fact that I could serve my country, helped me decide on the Navy right there.”

McCormick’s ASVAB scores indicated that he would fit well in the nuclear power field (also known as Energy and Power). After basic training at Great Lakes, Ill., he attended machinist’s school before transferring to the Navy’s nuclear power school in Goose Creek, SC. After six months of studying radiology, how a nuclear reactor and plant operate, and the principles of heat transfer and fluid flow, McCormick graduated and spent another six months at Goose Creek, standing watch on a moored training ship (a decommissioned ballistic missile submarine). He finished his training by October 2001 and was stationed aboard the Stennis.

During his four years on the aircraft carrier, McCormick monitored its oil pumps, collected oil samples to check for any water that might have seeped in, ordered necessary repair parts, and helped make sure the nuclear reactor plant on the Stennis was clean. “It was a great time,” he says. “I got to travel the world – including places like Australia, Hong Kong, and Japan – made a lot of good friends.”

But by the beginning of 2005, McCormick was tired of being at sea for long periods of time and wanted to try his hand at civilian employment.

“I knew early on that I wasn’t going to make the Navy my career,” he says. “I served my country, made some great friends, and learned valuable skills that made me more marketable. It was time to get out.”

McCormick typed up a resume, had it reviewed by several Navy buddies now working for civilian companies, and posted it on several job sites. He also enrolled with a recruitment firm, which sent his credentials to STERIS.

“The people from STERIS contacted me in June,” McCormick says. I researched the company and thought it looked like a good fit.

“Then I met with a representative in Washington,” he continues, “and he had me take a test. I passed and was invited to Portland, OR, for an interview with the guy who is now my boss.”

It was a productive interview. The conversation quickly shifted from business to muscle cars – which McCormick took as a good sign.” He was hired and started work on July 17.

Another factor that makes STERIS so appealing for McCormick is its strong veteran presence. He estimates that 35 percent of his co-workers are former military, and the company recruits heavily on bases.

“The company knows that veterans are easily trainable and have a strong work ethic,” he says. “You can count on veterans to get the job done.” When asked what advice he could provide to his fellow men and women in uniform, McCormick said:

Take your transition slow, and don’t get frustrated. “You’re ex-military. People will want you. Don’t get caught in a job you’ll hate.” Research the job you want. “Think hard about whether you really want to leave. The military has some good perks, like free housing, health care, etc. A civilian job might pay more, but your cost of living might eat up that pay increase.”

Leave the military on good terms. “You’ll want an honorable discharge and a positive final evaluation and record to show potential employers.”