Matthew Martin

How did serving in the military help prepare you for a job in the clean energy industry?

Serving in the military prepared me for the clean energy industry by instilling core values such as teamwork, dependability, and commitment to service. When comparing those core values to the definition of clean energy, you see the syndication. It takes a “team” of clean diverse resources to reliably power the electric grid. Solar provides electric support throughout the day optimizing one of the most “dependable” God given resources, while the batteries discharge in the evening setting the stage for wind power to work in tandem throughout the night. Southern Power Company is “committed” to providing clean, safe, and reliable energy to our customers in the 15 states we currently serve.

What advice do you have for veterans exploring a job in the clean power industry?

Embrace the CHANGE! The same way you embraced changes throughout your military career (e.g., deployments, relocations, joint missions) be fluid and embrace the change. Too often individuals allow the media, random conversations, or personal beliefs to dictate how you navigate change, but the more you fight it, the more challenging it becomes. We’ve seen exponential growth within the clean energy sector, and this is just the beginning.

What advice do you have for companies looking to hire veterans?

JUST DO IT! Please excuse my bias on this topic, but the intangible characteristics your company is searching for can be found in a veteran! Leadership, intuition, self-discipline, teamwork, and an excellent work ethic, just to name a few. Hiring veterans not only adds value to your company from a people and diversity standpoint, but it’s a way of giving back for their service and sacrifice. As an American company, hiring veterans IS the right thing to do! The United States military is the greatest leadership development institution in the world, and they DESERVE a chance!

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