One of the pillars of our regional economy is the military bases, and one of the assets of our workforce is the large veteran population who carries the discipline and dedication they developed during their military service into civilian careers.
At SDG&E, we value the contributions of veterans to our country and our region and have made it a priority to give back to active duty military, veterans, and their families through various programs.
Our latest initiative is the Veteran Internship Program.
SDG&E recently piloted an internship program with a special focus to inspire women veterans to explore energy-related jobs and invest in their professional growth. The program recruited 24 female veterans from various areas of San Diego and placed them in departments such as human resources, community relations, accounting and finance, and gas operations.
Six Weeks of Professional Growth
During their six weeks with our company, they job shadowed mentors where they gained firsthand experience, networked with utility professionals, and attended seminars to learn about the company. Additionally, they learned resume and interview techniques to boost their future career search. Each intern experienced the company from a different perspective.
“After only a few weeks, I have developed an appreciation for the corporate culture and the work environment that the company and its employees create,” said Kristy Calderon, a five-year Navy veteran and SDG&E Media Relations intern. “Everyone is invested in their role and everyone worked together to achieve the overall mission. This experience opened my eyes to my potential and where my skillsets can be applied beyond the military.”
Veterans at SDG&E
Today, approximately 8 percent of our workforce comprises veterans. Among them are Augie Ghio, our director of emergency management and aviation, who served two years in the army and 36 years in local fire agencies before joining SDG&E; and Dan Baerman, our director of electric generation and a graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy who served six years in the Naval Reserve.
Due to our strong employee and community connections to veterans, we have a long history of providing charitable donations to the Armed Services YMCA and the Navy’s annual Bay Bridge Run and Walk.
Learn more about SDG&E’s community efforts, here.