George Ploss, a former Ground Operations Training Chief in the US Marine Corps, followed his love of innovation and mentorship to Oracle, where he puts industry-experienced professionals through a seven-month training program that teaches them how to be solution engineers. Having found fulfillment in a senior role at Oracle NetSuite, he feels the time is ripe to share what he’s learned from rising through the ranks in the business world, where his military experience still serves him to this day.

However, being a veteran isn’t the only part of his identity that he’s proud of. “As a Black American and a Marine, I stand on top of the sacrifices my ancestors made in order for me to have equal rights, serve my country, and work in finance and tech. Honoring those sacrifices is always on my mind and provides me with a principled foundation of how to make decisions.”

When Jennifer decided she was ready to leave the Navy and pursue a career in technology, Oracle’s specialized National Security Group division seemed like the perfect fit for her. In the Navy, Jennifer was accustomed to problem-solving and creating connections, skills necessary for her current role as practice manager for our military intelligence business.

Even though Jennifer was ready to ‘break up with the Navy,’ she found the prospect difficult. “Once I got to Oracle, I couldn’t get over how many veterans there were. The more I got into the organization, it seemed like nearly half the people here are veterans.”

These strong military connections helped ease Jennifer’s transition. “Between that and the fact that our job inherently still touches so much of the Department of Defense, it felt like I took one step out of the Navy, but I’m still contributing in different ways,” she shared.

Theresha knows all about resilience, hard work, and motivation -- all things that make her a skilled business analyst, supporting internal business operations in North America. These are also the traits found in military spouses like her, oftentimes unsung heroes, as they move from base to base in order to support the patriots serving. Theresa laments the fact that this lifestyle too often leaves military spouses underemployed, regardless of their experience or education. “My only wish is that every military spouse knew about this fantastic internship program,” she says. Oracle’s Veteran Internship Program (OVIP) connects veterans and military spouses with opportunities to connect with others that share their same experience, offer mentorship and facilitate their career growth. Theresha’s excited about the doors that OVIP has opened for her. “The program helped build my professional network, and given me the resources and practical experience needed to succeed in the corporate world.”

Didi Han, a database product management intern participating in the Oracle Veteran Internship Program is a first-generation Asian American, and an Army veteran who is passionate about the veteran community and technology. His family’s hard work and perseverance are a testimony of their determination to live the American dream. “Is it any surprise that I joined the Army after high school?” he said, explaining his desire to give back to the country that offered him a new home. Oracle’s dedication to diversity and professional development connected Didi with employee resource groups Oracle Professional Asian Leadership (OPAL) and Military Affiliated Veteran Employee Network (MAVEN) in order to drive Didi’s career forward as he continues to construct new LiveLab workshops, lead a platform-wide template transition, and create certification training materials.