Booz Allen Turns Military Experience into Mission Tech
Meet the veterans building tomorrow’s tech, today
When Joel Dillon served as an Army officer in Iraq and Afghanistan, he learned that situational awareness—a keen understanding of what surrounded him—could make the difference between mission success and mission failure. Where teammates were. Where threats might emerge. Which route was clear. What was changing on the field. Those details shaped decisions when every second mattered.
Today, Dillon is just one of the nearly 10,000 individuals who are bringing their firsthand military experience to Booz Allen. These highly skilled professionals may have taken off their uniforms, but they are still deeply committed to the mission—bringing hard-earned military experience to the work of developing, building, and deploying the technology that keeps America safe.
Key Takeaways
Nearly 30% of Booz Allen’s workforce identifies as veterans or individuals with military experience.
These highly skilled professionals are building the tech they wish they had in uniform—from virtual training applications to situational awareness platforms.
Their firsthand experience ensures new technology is designed for real-world mission conditions and shaped for the service members who will use it.
“If the military units I had the honor of serving with had been able to use these innovations years ago, we would have had far better situational awareness that would have turbo-charged our combat effectiveness,” says Dillon, referencing Booz Allen Sit(x)—an advanced situational awareness platform that connects data from drones, field equipment, teammates, and other sources in one secure, cost-effective operating environment.
Across Booz Allen, insights from former service members like Dillon are shaping technology designed for the realities of today’s missions, where rapidly evolving threats and shifting operating conditions often converge. Sit(x) provides advanced situational awareness for units operating in “edge” environments where internet access is not a given. Virtual training that lets sailors practice complex tasks before touching expensive equipment. Advanced materials that ensure the uniforms and gear service members rely on are lighter, safer, better fitting, and built for the conditions they face. And early prototypes that give military users a hands-on role in shaping solutions before they are deployed.
“That real-world experience and mission expertise are critical, and when combined with technical expertise, they can solve the biggest problem at unprecedented speed,” says Sean McGee, a former U.S. Special Operations Forces veteran who now leads warfighter capability at Booz Allen.
Built-In Mission Experience
Ask Booz Allen’s veterans about the technology they are building today and a common theme emerges: They wish they had it when they served.
Take Joseph Reck, a senior lead engineer at Booz Allen who spent 24 years in the Navy. Today, Reck helps develop virtual training tools for underwater unmanned systems. It’s a stark contrast to his time in uniform, where sailors learned complex systems through hands-on exposure, without a formal schoolhouse or trainer to first build up their skills. Now, Reck is helping the team shape the type of training he wished existed when he was in the military.
“We are bridging the gap for the training that I experienced where it’s like you get a piece of equipment dumped on you and you just have to figure it out,” Reck said. “I am literally solving the problems that I had in uniform—making a direct impact on the missions that I used to do and am still tied to.”
That same mindset shows up across Booz Allen’s defense technology work. Take the company’s Strike Cell team, a group of former U.S. Special Operations Forces personnel who work side by side with engineers, developers, and active-duty SOF organizations to develop technologies that hold up in the field. Instead of waiting for a formal requirement, the team starts with the toughest challenges, builds a working prototype, and works directly with service members to shape the final solution.
“What excites me is the ability to combine mission expertise with high-end technology and engineering expertise—not just to solve the hard problem, but to identify the most important problem no one else is solving,” says Michael Radke, senior chief technologist with the Strike Cell team.
That connection to the military community extends beyond the technology itself. Booz Allen also participates in Hiring Our Heroes, a fellowship program that helps transitioning service members and military spouses gain hands-on experience as they move into civilian careers.
Still Serving Today
Complex joint forces mission. Incomplete information. Harsh terrain. Limited time to make decisions. Gear that must hold up in all environments. Systems that must work—no Wi-Fi required. The veterans who work at Booz Allen understand what it means to operate under intense pressure. They know what happens when tech is too hard to use, too slow to deploy, or not built for real-world conditions. They know because they have carried the gear, made the calls, proudly served their country, and lived the mission.
“We are all passionate about supporting the units that we came from—and providing them with the best technology possible,” McGee says.
As the country marks Independence Day and America’s 250th anniversary, we honor the proud men and women at Booz Allen who have served our country—and who continue to serve in a different capacity today.
