A retired Special Forces officer shares how self-awareness and mentorship shaped a successful transition to civilian life.
Determining what he wanted from a civilian career before leaving the military proved critical to Douglas Raddatz’s successful transition after 31 years as a Special Forces officer.
“Military career paths are well-defined. A service member can have a successful career by completing all their standard professional education and participating in the scheduled promotion boards,” he said. “An important step in a successful transition is learning what you truly enjoy and are truly good at in work. These are things most military members, including myself, don’t spend enough time thinking about during their service.”
Raddatz took the time to do that reflection, helping him find a civilian career with continued purpose and connection to the national security mission. Today, he serves as vice president and client executive at CACI in Reston, Va. We asked him about his transition and the advice he would offer fellow veterans.
What was your exit plan as you prepared to transition from the military? I wanted to stay connected and continue to serve the special operations and military communities I lived and worked in for 31 years. With that in mind I searched for opportunities that would allow me the autonomy and freedom to use my expertise to further national security.
What was your biggest fear as you prepared to transition from the military? Not finding purpose, being stuck in a career with little meaning.
How did you land your current job? I contacted a mentor I had worked for several times in Army and Joint Special Operations and had transitioned to work at the company I targeted (CACI) before me.
What do you do in your current role? I help CACI bring together unique expertise and multiple technologies to address the U.S. government’s most challenging problems and national security needs.
What do you enjoy most about your job? Forming and leading teams of exceptional and diverse experts to address complex national security challenges.
What’s the biggest challenge you face? Prioritization. There is more work to do than time and people to do it.
Would you recommend this career field to fellow veterans? Yes. It offers purpose, continued growth and exceptional opportunities.
If you could go back, what do you wish someone had told you before you left the military? Veterans can be uncomfortable talking about compensation (we don’t do that in the military; it’s pre-set and public information). Transitioning veterans need to quickly learn how and when to talk about compensation and at the same time realize it is only one factor in overall career satisfaction.
What’s one common mistake veterans should avoid during the transition? Some transitioning veterans should be a bit more selective in where they want to live and what type of work they want. A willingness to live anywhere and do any kind of work might sound great, but it tends to be too broad to find a good fit.
Any tools or resources that helped you along the way? The transition programs are useful and necessary. I recommend a book called “Designing your Life” and talking to everyone you can about their transitions (“1,000 Cups of Coffee”). Be inquisitive.
Tell us something about your family. My wife of 31 years, Michelle, and I have two sons. We lived in Germany for six years and loved it! Our oldest is a U.S. Army infantry officer in the 101st Airborne Division, our youngest is a junior at the University of Pittsburgh majoring in psychology and philosophy.
Douglas L. Raddatz
Vice President and Client Executive
CACI
Reston, Va.
Employed Since: September 2020
Military Experience: Colonel (O-6), Army (1989-2020)
MOS: Special Forces Officer (18A)
Education: Commercial Pilot and Certified Flight Instructor