Louisiana Tech’s Innovation Enterprise has partnered with Stephenson Stellar Corporation to participate in the Department of Defense (DOD) SkillBridge program. The program provides service members with civilian employment experience during the last 180 days of military service by connecting them with industry partners.
The DOD SkillBridge program offers real-world training and in-demand work experience to service members while industry partners benefit from knowledge of highly trained and motivated individuals. As a SkillBridge-authorized organization, Tech’s Innovation Enterprise supports and manages participating service members as they connect with industry organizations.
Stephenson Stellar Corporation, a nonprofit research and development organization focused on assuring the U.S. remains a global leader in the space domain, connected with Innovation Enterprise to ensure success in engaging retired or soon-to-be retired military personnel and connected with the Innovation Enterprise.
“The DOD SkillBridge program aligns with the Innovation Enterprise’s goals, from supporting a strong talent pipeline for regional businesses to fostering a culture of innovation,” said Louisiana Tech’s Chief Innovation Officer Dr. Donna Johnson. “We serve as a conduit between these service members preparing to transition to civilian life and the growth-focused companies who benefit from their unmatched discipline, leadership, and technical expertise.”
U.S. Air Force Col. Ray Spohr — a SkillBridge participant — has served in the military for more than 30 years, most recently as the chief information officer at Barksdale Air Force Base. Throughout his career, he has served primarily in IT and cyber roles across 12 locations in the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East. The Innovation Enterprise connected Spohr with Stephenson Stellar to gain civilian employment experience as his time with the Air Force concludes.
"The opportunity to better understand the private sector from a business operations perspective is what drew me to the SkillBridge program," said Spohr. “During my time at Stephenson Stellar, I've been able to recognize what I bring to a private organization as a service member, develop insight into their processes, and learn how to integrate into a corporate setting.”
According to Jamie O'Quinn, Stephenson Stellar’s Shreveport site lead and project manager, Spohr has been instrumental in leading teams from an advisory perspective and providing insight into areas relating to enterprise IT and cybersecurity.
“Ray has enhanced our perspective into base operations and policies, enabling us to proactively address gaps and identify areas to enhance in ongoing projects,” said O’Quinn. “Having his historical knowledge ensured we were on the appropriate path forward for certain projects and even saved us man hours.”
Spohr’s participation in the program will span 90 days, and in his time with the organization, he has led meetings to ensure project milestones are met, provided strategic advice on future projects, and assisted in building cybersecurity-related policies and procedures. Spohr’s participation is managed by the Innovation Enterprise’s Director of Talent Sourcing and Strategy, Katie McGowan.
Before becoming a participant himself, Spohr encouraged members of his own team to explore SkillBridge, recognizing its value in easing the transition into the civilian workforce. Now, Spohr can speak from experience when advocating for the program.
"I would tell any service member thinking of participating in SkillBridge to take advantage of this opportunity," said Spohr. "It’s beneficial to continue building out skillsets and broaden your perspective."
This partnership with Stephenson Stellar for the DOD SkillBridge program reinforces the Innovation Enterprise’s commitment to pairing talent — whether civilian or military — with industry opportunity and supporting a strong, resilient workforce.