Veterans Day holds a special place at SAP NS2, as it reflects on our mission to support national security and the programs we’ve established to integrate military experience into the workforce. Each year, SAP NS2 celebrates Veterans Day by recognizing the exceptional veterans who bring their experiences, leadership, and dedication to our mission of accelerating secure innovation for the nation’s most critical systems.
Military foundations lead to civilian impact
Though they served in different branches, our veterans share a profound sense of duty and purpose that shapes their approach to their civilian careers.
For Brian Kist, US Army veteran, the military instilled an unwavering determination: “No is not the answer. There is always a path to mission completion.” This mindset has served him well as he pivoted his career several times before joining SAP NS2 nearly a decade ago.
George Pedone, US Marine Corps veteran, emphasizes the importance of leadership through example. “As a Marine, one lesson that resonates deeply and is carried every day is the principle of leadership through example. The Marine Corps teaches that leadership is more about earning the respect and trust of others by embodying honor, loyalty, and commitment.”
Mary Anne Staring, Air Force veteran, carries with her a deep sense of gratitude. “I’m grateful for our freedoms and to all who defended that before us. I’m grateful for all the opportunities I’ve had and the opportunity to do good work today,” she shares, adding that “it’s a starting point that helps me remember what I do today matters.”
Christopher Reynolds, US Army veteran, emphasizes the importance of “discipline and accountability” from his service. “In the Army, every task, no matter how small, had purpose and demanded precision. That mindset helps me ensure that every project I manage today has clear objectives, defined responsibilities, and measurable outcomes.”
Military skills in action
At SAP NS2, our veterans don’t just bring their experiences—they actively apply military-honed skills to drive results for our customers.
Ted Wagner, US Army veteran, leverages his military cybersecurity experience in his current role. “Operating in the cyber domain within a military context, you learn the complex but effective ways to categorize and protect data,” he explains. “Understanding how adversaries operate improves the efforts to defend our systems.”
For Rob McAnally, US Navy veteran, the principle is straightforward but powerful: “Do your job and do it 100%.” When faced with challenges, he approaches them with military precision: Find the problem. Work the solution.
Ronald Sinclair, US Army veteran, applies quality assurance principles from his military service to ensure critical functions work when needed. He also brings a team-first mentality: “Contribute to the team effort whenever you can, especially when your peers are overloaded. Spreading the load across the team will lessen individual overloading.”
Joshua Stewart, US Navy veteran, lives by the principle that “we should strive to find everyday moments to try and make a difference.” His military background has provided valuable perspectives that help him navigate professional challenges with patience, highlighting how military service creates resilience that transfers well to business environments.
The bridge between service and SAP NS2
For many of our veterans, joining SAP NS2 provided an opportunity to continue their service to national security through technology and innovation.
Christopher Reynolds found alignment between his military experience and SAP NS2’s mission: “I was attracted to SAP NS2 because of its mission to protect critical national security systems through innovation and trusted technology. This mission aligns closely with my military experience, where safeguarding people, systems, and infrastructure was always the top priority.”
Brian Kist values “the opportunity to improve the systems our government and military utilize,” while Joshua Stewart appreciates that he gets to “work with the people that ultimately help the warfighter and the DiB [Defense Industrial Base] that supports them.”
The meaning of Veterans Day
For our veterans, November 11th is more than just a federal holiday—it’s a deeply personal occasion for reflection, gratitude, and continued service.
Ted Wagner takes time each Veterans Day to “reflect on my service and my experiences.” He also actively supports Liberation Veterans Services, which houses homeless veterans. “In their lobby they have on the wall ‘Veteran and Homeless should never be said in the same sentence,'” he shares. “As a veteran, I am compelled to assist my fellow veterans.”
Mary Anne Staring describes Veterans Day as “A pause button—an occasion to reflect on sacrifices and the importance of maintaining freedom and peace, because those are the bedrocks of an advancing society.”
George Pedone shares that “Veterans Day is a time to reflect on my service, honor those I served with, and remember the sacrifices made for our country. It’s a day of pride, gratitude, and connection with the greater veteran community.”
Guidance for transitioning veterans
Drawing from their own experiences, our veterans offer valuable advice for military personnel transitioning to civilian careers.
“Apply your military discipline to your civilian career, every day, with every task,” counsels Rob McAnally.
Joshua Stewart highlights the power of the veteran community: “Find a mentor in your war-fighting community and never be afraid to pick up the phone, text, LinkedIn, etc. a fellow veteran. We will go out of our way to support each other.”
Continuing the mission
At SAP NS2, our veterans continue to serve with the same dedication, integrity, and commitment they demonstrated in uniform—now applying their unique perspectives and skills to solve complex technology challenges for national security.
As Ronald Sinclair reflects, “When I face adversity within my civilian career and I’m feeling down, I always reflect on the objectives I successfully completed under less-than-ideal conditions when employed within the military. Such reflections help me to focus better on the tasks at hand.”
George Pedone applies a vital lesson from his Marine Corps service: “Maintaining calmness and composure while navigating crisis, chaos, and difficult situations in high-stress environments. This skill not only helps ensure success through focus and decisive action but also allows me to support and uplift team members, fostering trust.”
This Veterans Day, we honor not just their past service, but their ongoing contributions to our mission, our customers, and our nation’s security.
