Wounded Warrior Finds Job Satisfaction with NAVAIR

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- A retired Navy lieutenant who was injured after instructing a training flight in 2009, shared his employment success story during an interview Feb. 15.

David Landeros, an aviator who retired from the Navy Jan. 1, was hired through the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Wounded Warrior Program in late 2012. He now serves as a program analyst at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., where he is working to procure aircraft for the U.S. Pacific Fleet.

"Being in the Navy, there are tools that you work with every day, and you never think about how they get to you," Landeros said. "I love knowing that what I do will provide for Sailors in the fleet and help them defend our nation."

Landeros was stationed with a Navy aircraft squadron in Corpus Christi, Texas, in summer 2009 when he was injured while stepping off the wing of a plane. He hit his neck and lost feeling in his right arm. He suffered for months - believing he had simply strained a muscle - before being diagnosed with degenerative disc disease and several herniated discs.

Unable to continue flying, Landeros eventually retired from the Navy after 22 years of service. His recovery process is still underway - he continues to experience pain in his upper back and daily headaches - but he is learning to live with his condition. Before separating from the Navy, Landeros, a father of three boys, was actively searching for a civilian job and had hired a headhunter, but he hadn't yet been successful.

"[Navy Wounded Warrior - Safe Harbor Non-medical Care Manager] Lt. Cmdr. Chris Burks and NAVAIR really made it easy for me," Landeros said. "I was stationed with a NOSC [Navy Operational Support Center] in San Antonio, and Lt. Cmdr. Burks called me one day about a career fair that was about to take place nearby. I grabbed my résumé and walked over there; while I was there, I met my current supervisor, who told me about several different positions."

NAVAIR conducts quarterly hiring events at Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston to help transitioning wounded warriors and disabled veterans. NAVAIR brings hiring managers, human resource personnel and Wounded Warrior Program staff to interview candidates for placement in open vacancies or developmental programs. Nancy Starks from the NAVAIR Program Management Competency (AIR-1.0) interviewed Landeros.

Landeros, who has a master's degree in aeronautical science, was hired full-time by the NAVAIR Wounded Warrior Program Nov. 5, 2012 while he was on terminal leave from the Navy.

"A sense of purpose and mission is important to those who serve," said Navy Capt. James Litsch, who manages the NAVAIR Wounded Warrior Program. "It means so much to them to contribute and be a part of a team."

Since the program's inception in October 2010, more than 540 wounded warrior personnel have been hired at NAVAIR locations throughout the country. NAVAIR provides reasonable accommodations at every worksite to ensure Wounded Warriors, as well as others with disabilities, are successful in their professional endeavors.

Landeros said he thoroughly enjoys the culture at NAVAIR and working with his "incredibly friendly" colleagues. Though his medical condition still presents challenges, his career ambitions are limitless.

"I'd like to go as high as I can go at NAVAIR, and to do all the work I need to do to get the correct qualifications and advance," he said. "I hope to get a well-rounded view of the whole command, so I can continue helping out and supporting the mission."

To other wounded warriors, Landeros offered simple advice: Ask for help.

"If you are hurt, contact a liaison at a wounded warrior support program, like Navy Wounded Warrior - Safe Harbor," he said. "Start talking with them and listen for opportunities. Word of mouth is key. Lt. Cmdr. Burks was very proactive; I just had to ask for help."

Employment and education assistance is a core component of Navy Wounded Warrior - Safe Harbor's work on behalf of seriously wounded, ill and injured Sailors and Coast Guardsmen. The program connects its enrollees and their caregivers to a host of educational resources and career counseling services, from assisting with job applications, to identifying vocational training opportunities, to sharing direct employer contacts.

To learn more about Navy Wounded Warrior - Safe Harbor and its employment and education efforts, visit http://safeharbor.navylive.dodlive.mil; call 855-NAVY WWP (628-9997) or email navywoundedwarrior@navy.mil.

For more news from Commander, Navy Installations Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/cni/.