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Port Welcomes New Veterans Fellows
Pictured from Left: Ralph Graves, Port Capital Development Division; Michael Hawryluk, U.S. Navy; Tay Yoshitani, Port CEO; Alfredo Medina, U.S. Navy. Not pictured: Col. Richard Jenkins, U.S. Army.
Michael Hawryluk
Hawryluk earned his U.S. Navy commission from Officer Candidate School in 2001 and was assigned to the U.S.S. KITTY HAWK. After leaving active duty, he joined the Navy reserves and served in several leadership assignments in the Northwest including the Cargo Handling Battalion in Tacoma.
Hawryluk has a Bachelor of Arts degree from James Madison University, graduated from the Navy Supply Corps School in March 2010, and is pursuing an MBA at the University of Maryland. At the Port, he will serve as a Warehouse Specialist in Aviation Maintenance.
Col. Rick Jenkins
Colonel Jenkins was assigned as the Defense Coordinating Officer, Region Ten, Bothell, WA, and served as Commander, U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center in Vicksburg, MS. He also served as District Engineer and Commander of Gulf Region Division, in Mosul, Iraq.
Jenkins graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and has Master’s degrees in Civil Engineering from Cornell University and in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College. He will work in the Office of Social Responsibility as a Veterans Strategic Transition Specialist.
Alfredo Medina, Jr.
Medina served aboard the U.S.S. BREMERTON, a nuclear submarine, and completed his military service at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. He was recently attached to a Naval Construction Battalion Reserve.
His diverse background includes developing a donation program for "Boots on the Ground," to training in a variety of areas including power loss, floods, security issues, fire fighting, first aid, CPR, explosions, emergency reporting, and nuclear accidents.
Medina received a Bachelors degree in Visual Arts and a Masters degree in Communication from Hawaii Pacific University and will work in Construction Safety & Preparedness in the Aviation Engineering department.
For more information on the Fellowship Program, download the Fact Sheet.
Hire America's Heroes is dedicated to sharing and promoting sponsor corporations' best practices and success strategies by which America's military service members, upon transition from active duty, are welcomed into the corporate workforce. Learn more about this program here.
Letter from a Veteran
Read a letter from a Veterans Fellow who found new skills and a new job.
Watch Newsbreak Today!
Watch Newsbreak, a Port of Seattle video program featuring members of the Veterans Fellowship Program
Major Brad Benson, a Washington Army National Guard officer, presented Port CEO Tay Yoshitani with a Certificate of Appreciation and a combat vehicle flag that flew on his gun truck during combat operations in Iraq. Benson has worked at the Port for 10 years in the Aviation Project Management Group Sea-Tac Airport. He safely returned to work in October after completing his second deployment to Iraq.
On May 20, 2009, Port staff members joined CEO Tay Yoshitani as he received the Pro Patria Award on behalf of the organization for its efforts in supporting employees who are active members of the National Guard and Reserve. The organization Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve gives the award to employers who lead the way with personnel policies that support those who are serving our country. Learn more about the award here.The Port of Seattle is helping military personnel departing active duty to transition to civilian employment. Download the Fact Sheet here. The Veterans Fellowship Program provides short-term (6-month) employment that will assist veterans in the following areas:
Leonora Palana, 206-787-3104
Gary Buchanan, 206-787-7248
Tammy Woodard, 206-787-3277
The Port of Seattle is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to diversity in the workplace.