Dan H.’s Path to Purpose: Innovation, Service and Growth

After eight years of navigating the tight quarters and high-stakes responsibilities of the U.S. Navy's submarine fleet, Dan knew he was ready for a new mission—one that would take him out of the deep sea and into the digital cloud. Today, he's a DevOps Engineer at Cummins, building cloud environments that power software development across the company.

Dan’s story begins in high school, where he joined a STEM academy and discovered a fascination with computers. “Although I never studied that hard as a kid, I knew I wanted to work with computers,” Dan recalls. That early interest set him on a path that would eventually include military service, higher education and a career at Cummins.

He enlisted in the Navy the summer before his senior year, knowing college wasn’t yet in reach. Serving as an Information Technician (Submarines), or ITS, he began his career on the USS Illinois, a new submarine commissioned by Michelle Obama. During his four years onboard, he deployed to the West Pacific and later transitioned to shore duty at a logistics facility, continuing IT work for another three years. During that time, Dan worked tirelessly to earn a bachelor’s degree in Cloud Computing with a focus on AWS—attending school at night while balancing full-time military duties.

The next turning point came through the SkillBridge program, a Department of Defense initiative helping service members transition to civilian roles. Dan secured a SkillBridge internship with Cummins in May 2023 as a DevOps Engineer. “Before my SkillBridge, I had no idea what cloud engineering or DevOps looked like practically, so that SkillBridge really did change my life and I am grateful for it,” he says. That experience led to a full-time role where he has since flourished.

Working in DevOps, Dan builds and manages cloud-based environments that support the tools software engineers at Cummins rely on daily. These platforms help teams collaborate, store dependencies, and manage their software pipelines. One recent highlight involved creating a high-availability GitLab environment using automation tools like Terraform and Ansible—a significant upgrade from older data center processes that required multiple manual ticket submissions.

Outside of his technical work, Dan maintains a deep connection to creativity. He plays guitar in a band and takes 2D animation classes at night. “Collaborating with other creative people helps me continue to view my job as an engineer as a creative outlet and a privilege,” he shares. That blend of art and engineering helps keep his passion for problem-solving fresh.

Dan's background in the Navy continues to inform his approach. “In the military, we were underwater with no one to call or no way to Google issues. These situations taught me to critically think and troubleshoot,” he explains. Those skills have proven invaluable in a complex and fast-moving field like cloud engineering.

Giving back is a key part of Dan's journey. He leads the Veterans Employee Resource Group (ERG) and volunteers with Hire Heroes, offering guidance to fellow service members making the leap to civilian life. “Separating from the military is a scary thing,” Dan says. “I received help from veterans who were already on the other side, so I try to do the same.” He’s also embraced the opportunity to mentor others at Cummins, including a SkillBridge intern, and is eager to continue that support.

Dan works remotely from Chicago and appreciates the trust and flexibility that Cummins extends to its employees. “No one has ever asked me where I was or what I am doing unless I have missed something I said I would be at,” he says with a smile. And while he jokes that working from home is the best part of his job, he’s quick to highlight the bigger picture: “It’s the flexibility to create solutions that no one has solved before at the company.”

His team is globally diverse and collaborative, something he values deeply. “Most everyone on my team is from another country,” Dan says. “It really is a diverse and inclusive environment.” He also enjoys the autonomy that comes with being a DevOps engineer, where multiple solutions are possible, and choosing the right one is a privilege.

For others considering Cummins, especially veterans, Dan offers this, “It’s a good company where you’ll get the chance to learn and grow in whatever direction you think will make you the best you can be.” As for what comes next, he keeps his focus in the moment. “Careers aren’t roadmaps anymore. I enjoy being an engineer, and hopefully no matter what, I’ll still be working with my head.”