Workforce Training Program Accelerates Career Transitions for Vets, Service Members and Military Spouses
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07/29/2025
Media contacts: Brooke Coupal, communications, economic impact and research development specialist, Brooke_Coupal@uml.edu, and Nancy Cicco, assistant director of media relations, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu
LOWELL, Mass. – Like many military members, Rebecca Waupoose felt daunted by the transition into the everyday workforce.
The Wisconsin native had spent the last six years serving in the U.S. Navy as a master-at-arms, a position responsible for law enforcement. Ready to step away from active duty, Waupoose wanted to enter construction project management but was unsure how to make the jump.
“I thought I didn’t have the right skills,” she recalled. “I was a military police officer. How does that pertain to being a project manager?”
Waupoose joined Veterans Reskilled in Innovative Solutions for Employment (Vets RISE), a program run in partnership with UMass Lowell and Headlamp to accelerate the transitions of veterans, service members and their spouses into meaningful post-military careers. The initiative is part of the (LINC), a public-private development designed to foster workforce development and innovation in the region.
After just two months in the Vets RISE program, Waupoose landed a project management role with Optiline Enterprises, a construction company based in Nashua, New Hampshire.
“I don’t know if this would have happened if it wasn’t for Vets RISE,” said Waupoose, who credits the program with helping her build valuable connections, develop job search strategies and, most importantly, translate her military experience into skills civilian employers value.
Funded by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Vets RISE addresses the urgent need for veteran and military spouse employment. According to the Pew Research Center, only one in four veterans has a job lined up after they leave the military. The U.S. Department of Labor reports that 21% of military spouses are unemployed, largely due to frequent military-mandated moves.
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“It’s the big unknown when you’re getting ready to get out of the military, and for military spouses, there’s a lot of stress because you’re moving constantly,” said Vets RISE Program Manager Cassandra Denton, who spent more than 20 years in the U.S. Air Force. “Vets RISE helps veterans, transitioning service members and military spouses gain the skills and experience needed to thrive in civilian careers, seamlessly integrating into roles that are critical to the success of today’s leading companies.”
Vets RISE offers three program types, which are all free to participants: an intensive eight-week anchor program, an eight to15-week flexible program and an eight to 25-week Department of Defense SkillBridge Program. Each program provides tailored training designed to prepare participants for high-demand roles. They also receive career coaching, including résumé help and interview preparation, and access to networking opportunities, such as career fairs and industry events.
With partnerships from Headlamp, MassHIRE and the Lowell Vet Center, participants receive access to job search assistance and internship placements to help launch their civilian careers.
“At Headlamp, we believe veterans are one of the nation’s most underutilized talent resources,” said Laura Arnold, program manager at Headlamp. “Through Vets RISE, we’re not only helping individuals translate their military experience into meaningful careers, but we’re also bridging the gap for employers looking to hire skilled, disciplined and adaptable talent. It’s about unlocking potential – both for the veteran and for the industries that need them.”
Shawn Kilroy ’18, who served two years in the U.S. Air Force and an additional five years in the U.S. Space Force, seized the chance to join Vets RISE after deciding to transition out of the military.
“My military career started at UMass Lowell, and now it’s ending here,” said Kilroy, who earned a bachelor’s degree in physics while participating in the university’s Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps. “It feels like serendipity.”
Through Vets RISE, the Lowell resident is pursuing project management certifications while learning how to leverage the skills he already possesses. His ultimate goal is to work in the defense industry as a project manager and systems engineer.
“We have a lot of skills that are very valuable to companies, and Vets RISE is teaching us how to highlight those skills,” Kilroy said.
Veterans, transitioning service members and military spouses interested in joining Vets RISE, which offers rolling start dates, should email Vets_RISE@uml.edu.
Companies looking to partner with Vets RISE, which offers a direct pathway to a skilled and trained workforce, are encouraged to fill out an employer interest form. Professionals looking to join Vets RISE as a mentor or volunteer are asked to fill out a volunteer and mentor interest form.