Eric Martinez
, PrincipalWhy did you choose Booz Allen?
When I was in the military, Booz Allen was one of the firms that provided support where I was assigned. I never had direct contact with Booz Allen personnel, but I saw what they did, and it intrigued me. I also wanted to stay connected with the mission of the U.S. Department of Defense.
Why have you chosen to stay at Booz Allen?
Booz Allen is a great company, with very knowledgeable people, excellent benefits, and meaningful work. My focus is on supporting the warfighter; for me, there’s nothing better. The firm has become as diverse as the organizations we serve, and that’s also important to me.
What type of work do you do at Booz Allen?
I lead a team that provides systems engineering and integration services to various U.S. Army organizations. Depending on the client’s needs and what’s happening in the theater of operations, we support our clients in identifying operational requirements, promoting efficiency and readiness, and helping them meet national security objectives and the warfighters’ needs.
What excites you about your work?
What excites me is that I can see the fruits of what I’m doing, right now. We support the identification of capability gaps and prioritization for development of new equipment and capabilities to address the survivability of U.S. Forces in a hostile environment. This support makes a difference.
Do you have a mentor at Booz Allen?
One of the first things I recommend to anyone coming to Booz Allen is to have a mentor. I have several, and they’ve been instrumental in my professional growth as consultant, leader, and manager. Your managers are the first people who guide you, but it’s also good to have a formal mentor from outside your team, as well as confidantes who you can talk to about career issues and who can offer different perspectives.
What differentiates Booz Allen from other companies that you could work for? What makes Booz Allen special?
It’s the people who make Booz Allen special. Other companies sell hardware or a product, but at Booz Allen, the most important resource we have is our people—and that’s how people are treated here. There’s a reason we’ve been selected multiple times as one of the best places to work, and we’re also one of the top companies for individuals transitioning from the military.
How has Booz Allen helped you be ready for what’s next in your career?
The next step for me is retirement, and I appreciate that Booz Allen has given me a sense of fulfillment—the feeling that I’ve accomplished something and that I’ve helped many people directly or indirectly. It also has given me tools that I can use to guide not only my career but also my life.
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?
We provide our clients with the right intellectual capital, strategy, and vision to address their mission and help make them successful. We help them find the path forward. If our support strengthens this nation’s security and if it helps our warfighters to fight, win in hostile environments, and return home, then we have done our job.
Can you talk about a time when you saw one or more of our Core Values displayed?
Whenever there’s a short-turnaround deliverable, the whole team comes together to ensure that a quality product is delivered on time. A few weeks ago, we had people pulling together to complete a larger-than-expected technical data package for a client. And I’ve seen that kind of teamwork and client service many, many times.
