How Military Experience Laid the Foundation for a Career at Cummins

When Christian R. joined Cummins through the Department of Defense SkillBridge program, he was taking the first step in a major career shift—from Coast Guard Machinery Technician to civilian diesel technician. Today, he’s officially part of the Cummins team and building a new career path with purpose.

“My role in the Coast Guard was to make sure all search and rescue assets were mission capable. When I decided to change careers, I knew I wanted to eventually be an engineer for a major corporation that has an amiable reputation.”

That search led him straight to Cummins.

“Cummins seemed to be the most innovative—especially when looking at power supply and alternative fuels on a global scale,” he says. “So, I applied to the SkillBridge program to be a technician.”

Originally from Charleston, South Carolina, Christian joined the Coast Guard with hopes of seeing the world—but his first assignment took him by surprise: Ohio. There, he was stationed at Station Marblehead, one of the Coast Guard’s busiest search and rescue units. Christian spent four years at the station, and during that time, he met his wife and started a family—an experience that ultimately led him to reevaluate his long-term career goals. “Military life can be hard on families, so I decided to change career paths,” he explains.

Cummins’ SkillBridge program offered a structured way to make that transition. The experience gave him valuable on-the-job exposure, while the welcoming environment eased the cultural shift from military life to corporate work.

“The SkillBridge program is great,” he adds. “Everyone I spoke to has been extremely welcoming and honest.”

That honest and inclusive culture has made it easier to navigate the early stages of his new career, and he’s continuing to build on it through education. “Cummins has many project management programs for different levels or belts, including the Cummins Technician Apprentice Program (TAP), which I think is great,” Christian says. 

His advice to other veterans? Don’t stop learning.

“Don’t rely on your rank—it doesn’t transfer to the civilian world. Focus on education,” he advises. “There are so many educational opportunities that are essentially free. From project management certificates to CDLs or even a master’s degree, the opportunities are there. You just can’t be lazy. Be eager to learn.”

As a recent veteran and SkillBridge graduate, Christian sees firsthand the value veterans bring to the workforce—and how important it is for companies to create welcoming pathways for them.

“The SkillBridge program takes a lot of pressure off military members who are planning to start a new career path,” he says. “It offers a smoother transition from military to civilian life while producing employees who take great pride in their employer.”

And when that transition is supported, the results speak for themselves. With each new service call, Christian is building on a career he’s proud of—powered by discipline, adaptability and a drive to keep learning.