Barry Koogler
, AssociateWhy did you choose Booz Allen?
I interned at Booz Allen during my last semester of college, and what I found attractive was that I was treated like a real, full-time employee. I was given benefits, and I had access to training that prepared me to become a consultant. After graduation, I accepted an offer to join the firm.
Why have you chosen to stay at Booz Allen?
Especially in recent years, it’s important to me that I can see the impact our work is having for the warfighter and the nation’s security. I also appreciate the flexibility I have. I’ve been able to move back to my hometown and work remotely, and the move hasn’t affected my standing at Booz Allen or the type of work I do. I have a young family, so it’s nice to have that kind of flexibility.
What type of work do you do at Booz Allen?
I primarily do software development. I began with ColdFusion programming, and today I lead a team of 12 programmers who use Java to create data visualization and other systems for clients in the defense sector.
What excites you about your work?
When our clients brief other organizations and mention the impact we’re having on the warfighter’s ability to access information quickly and operate more safely, that means a lot, and it keeps me motivated. Also, it’s great to be able to work with the high level of talent we have at
Booz Allen.
Do you have a mentor at Booz Allen?
I have several informal mentors. I go to them primarily for career development, but sometimes I’m looking for advice about technical issues. Occasionally, management challenges will also come up, and I’ll talk with a mentor about utilization or recruiting.
What differentiates Booz Allen from other companies that you could work for? What makes Booz Allen special?
It’s the stability that sets Booz Allen apart, especially in the current economy. Some of the larger IT firms bid multimillion-dollar tasks, hire people to staff them, and let those people go when the contract is up. At Booz Allen, there’s always another project to move to. As a result, we have a very stable work environment. It says a lot about our firm that we’re hiring right now, even in these unpredictable times.
How has Booz Allen helped you be ready for what’s next in your career?
You can reach across the firm and talk to senior leadership, and they’ll give you career advice or staffing advice and be willing to help even if they don’t know you. Booz Allen also emphasizes training. If there’s training you need to take, the firm will help you get it. Both of these things—advice from senior people and training—help me be ready for what’s next.
How does the work you do help your clients be ready for what’s next? How has your work and your team’s work made an impact for your client?
One task we’ve been working on has helped our client organization move away from inefficient, document-centric processes and toward the use of data that’s available, reusable, and searchable. What’s next is to move toward automated, electronic processes—and our work has helped this particular client get ahead of the curve on this.
Can you talk about a time when you saw one or more of our Core Values displayed?
In my project work, I have seen several Core Values in action, as teams from across the firm collaborate on solutions that ultimately will create a safer environment for the warfighter. Adhering to our Core Values of client service, excellence, teamwork, and professionalism enables us to exceed our client’s expectations and to help ensure the efficiency and integrity of the information systems that warfighters rely on in the field.
