The VeteranDegrees Post

VeteranDegrees Connects Higher Education and Industry at NY Tech Week

Written by VeteranDegrees | Jun 20, 2026 12:10:08 AM

As the landscape of higher education continues to evolve, veteran and military-affiliated students remain one of the most motivated, resilient, and career-focused student populations. Ensuring these students have access to both quality educational opportunities and strong employer networks is critical to their long-term success.

To further strengthen these connections, VeteranDegrees recently hosted "Veterans in Tech: From Service to Innovation," a featured event during NY Tech Week with NewLab, where veteran leaders from OpenAI, Microsoft, Google, and Amazon Web Services shared their experiences transitioning from military service into technology leadership roles.

The event highlighted the growing demand for veteran talent across the technology sector and reinforced the important role higher education institutions play in helping veterans prepare for meaningful civilian careers.

Insights from Veterans Leading Innovation

The panel featured accomplished veterans who have successfully translated their military experience into impactful careers at some of the world's most innovative organizations:

  • Justin Law, U.S. Space Force Veteran and Deployment Engineer at OpenAI
  • William Wang, West Point Graduate, U.S. Army Veteran, and Senior Product Manager at Microsoft
  • Brian Tien, U.S. Army Veteran and Account Strategist at Google
  • Victoria Sherwood, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and Global Program Manager at Amazon Web Services
  • Justin Swinsky, U.S. Air Force Veteran and AWS Sales Strategy & Operations Lead

Throughout the discussion, panelists emphasized how military service develops highly transferable skills—including leadership, adaptability, strategic thinking, and problem-solving—that are increasingly valued in today's technology workforce.Their stories demonstrated that veterans are not only capable of succeeding in technology—they are helping shape the future of innovation.

 

The Critical Role of Higher Education

One key takeaway from the event was the importance of education in supporting successful career transitions.

As veterans pursue undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs, they gain more than academic credentials. They develop specialized knowledge, expand professional networks, and build the technical competencies required for high-growth industries such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity, data analytics, and product management.

For institutions serving veteran and military-affiliated students, creating pathways that connect education to workforce opportunities remains essential.

At VeteranDegrees, we see firsthand how educational attainment and employer engagement work together to drive student success. By staying connected to industry leaders and workforce trends, we help prospective students identify programs that align with both their academic goals and long-term career aspirations.

Advancing Veteran Student Success Together

Our participation in events like NY Tech Week reflects VeteranDegrees' ongoing commitment to understanding the evolving needs of employers, veterans, and higher education institutions.

The insights shared by these veteran technology leaders reinforce a common belief: when veterans are provided access to the right educational opportunities and professional networks, they become exceptional contributors to organizations across every sector.

We are proud to work alongside university partners that are committed to serving veteran and military-affiliated students and helping them achieve their educational and professional goals.

Partner with VeteranDegrees

As competition for student enrollment continues to grow, veteran and military-affiliated students represent a highly motivated population seeking flexible, career-focused educational pathways.

VeteranDegrees helps universities increase visibility among:

  • Veterans
  • Active-duty service members
  • National Guard and Reserve members
  • Military spouses
  • Military dependents

Through targeted outreach, strategic marketing, and personalized enrollment support, we help institutions connect with qualified students who are actively exploring higher education opportunities.

If your institution is looking to expand its veteran enrollment strategy, strengthen military-affiliated student recruitment, or explore new partnership opportunities, we'd welcome the opportunity to connect.

Schedule a meeting with the VeteranDegrees team to discuss how we can help your institution attract, enroll, and support more veteran and military-affiliated students.

Book a meeting >

Together, we can create stronger pathways from military service to educational achievement and career success.