Jake S. Kwon
Jake Kwon
At Booz Allen Hamilton, Jake Kwon works with clients in the defense industry, applying his expertise in the areas of supply chain management, logistics planning, and project management.
His work in this field has involved a broad range of responsibilities and tasks. One that he found especially interesting was working as a logistics team lead on a project that built out a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) for a DoD client.
“We handled everything from managing construction and other subcontractors to establishing office services for the client and its counterparts,” Jake says. “On another project, I supported a Navy client by analyzing the impact of current operations and policy on their organization and providing recommendations on how they could shape their roles to better support for the Global War on Terror and beyond.”
Before joining Booz Allen in 2006, Jake served in the U.S. Army for seven years. His rank was Captain while on active duty, and he served as a logistics officer at levels from platoon to brigade.
He adds, “I served in a variety of assignments, such as leading troops at the platoon and company levels and other logistic plans billets.” Currently, Jake is a member of the Army Reserve as a detachment commander at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. He received his clearance while he was on active duty.
The transition into a civilian career at Booz Allen provided Jake with new capabilities, knowledge, and a new professional network. “My greatest motivations at work are the daily interactions with my colleagues, the opportunity to learn new skills, and the discovery of new knowledge areas through my co-workers,” he says.
“Another thing that I really do enjoy is how my clearance facilitates occasional work on other projects outside my comfort zone, which allows me to grow as I gain experience new functional areas.”
Career Development Opportunities at Booz Allen
Booz Allen supports the growth of its staff in other ways as well, and one of its most important initiatives is training opportunities. Jake says that the two most significant courses he’s taken at the firm are “Project Management” and “Writing Competitive Proposals.”
“Consultants get plenty of opportunities to engage in project management, and that course helped sharpen my understanding of Booz Allen and industry best practices,” he says. “The proposal class helped me tremendously by explaining some of the business considerations and paradigms that I wasn’t exposed to while in uniform.”
Balancing Professional and Personal Interests
As much as he benefited from the training, Jake wouldn’t call it the best thing about Booz Allen. “The most important thing to me is that ‘work – life balance’ isn’t just another catchphrase at the firm,” he says.
“When you have competing demands in your life, such as family or education, your managers are willing to work with you when possible to strike a realistic balance. There are occasional 60+-hour week and weekend assignments, but they’re minimal because the leaders at Booz Allen care about the downstream effects it can have on employees’ lives.
“Having come from a military family and subsequently serving in the Army myself, time with my family is very important,” Jake adds. “At Booz Allen, I appreciate the option of scheduling my work around family or life events when necessary.”
profile posted August 20, 2007
