When 9/11 happened, Andrew Chang, in high school at the time, decided to join the U.S. Army. After graduating from Georgia Tech in 2006 with a B.S. in mechanical engineering and commissioning into the Army through the ROTC program, he began serving his country in earnest. Chang became an engineer officer, deployed in Iraq, and eventually joined the U.S. Army Special Forces (aka the Green Berets). When he hit a decade of service, he began looking for his next career step.

That’s when Chang learned about the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), Georgia Tech’s nonprofit applied research arm. GTRI conducts groundbreaking research for national defense, cybersecurity, and advanced technologies, making it a natural fit for veterans who want to keep serving. Nearly 40% of GTRI’s employees are veterans who, like him, wanted to continue serving in a new way.

In 2017, Chang began a master’s in mechanical engineering at Georgia Tech and started working at GTRI — and he hasn’t looked back. Today, he designs advanced warfighting technologies that give soldiers a critical edge and help keep them safe.

“I know how difficult it can be for warfighters on the front lines, so I wanted to make sure I was doing something that would make their job easier,” Chang said. “At GTRI, we’re providing cutting-edge technology that allows soldiers to maintain an advantage.”

Chang’s story is only one example of how GTRI helps veterans continue their mission and support the troops in a new way. Kyle Blond’s mission started in the skies and carried over into systems engineering. He grew up in a Marine Corps family and always knew he wanted to join the military. As a 2012 Georgia Tech aerospace engineering graduate and Navy ROTC midshipman, Blond learned how to keep aircraft mission-ready — skills he later applied in the Marines.

There, he switched to more of an operations engineering-focused role, liaising with operational units for a Navy engineering services command. Blond served seven years on active duty, but he wanted to find a full-time civilian engineering job while staying in the Marine Corps Reserve. That’s when he reconnected with his campus ROTC commanding officer, who by then was working at GTRI.

“GTRI provided me the opportunity to really continue my passion for engineering and applied research in aviation sustainment and aircraft maintenance,” Blond said. “I can leverage what I do at GTRI today with my role in the reserves.”

He later shifted to a systems engineering focus, getting a doctorate in the field. Now he works as a research engineer in the systems engineering division to support Department of Defense (DoD) maintenance and logistics contracts. The division’s goal is to proactively fix issues before they become problems for the DoD, keeping America’s military operations efficient and safe.

“I am really proud of my military service, and I want to help folks still in the military. When you’re in the military, it can be frustrating because issues never get solved. GTRI has a reputation: If you want to go after a problem, you can.”  

–Anne Clark

While Blond found his second chapter early in his career, Anne Clark came to GTRI after decades of service at the highest levels of the Air Force. Her transition shows that GTRI isn’t just for those starting out — it’s also a place where experience drives innovation.

Clark had a high-impact military career working at the Air Force Academy, the Pentagon, and Edwards Air Force Base, ultimately attaining the rank of colonel. Leaving her military career did not mean the end of her desire to help fellow service members, and she joined GTRI in 2019.

Today, as a GTRI division chief, Clark manages a team of 70 people working on a project to enhance the operational communication capabilities of Air National Guard planes.

“When our pilots go into harm’s way, they have this extra level of protection many of the other airplanes don't,” she said. “If you need something done at the intersection of protection and electronics, GTRI is just this sweet spot for being able to do impactful work.”

In some ways, Clark finds her GTRI work more directly effective than what can be achieved in a large system like the military.

“I am really proud of my military service, and I want to help folks still in the military,” she explained. “When you’re in the military, it can be frustrating because issues never get solved. GTRI has a reputation: If you want to go after a problem, you can.”

At GTRI, veterans aren’t merely continuing their careers; they’re shaping the future of defense and ensuring that those still in uniform have the tools needed for success. Together, their work creates a stronger military — and nation.

“GTRI is really a place where veterans can continue their service,” Blond said. “They can work directly with our sponsors and other incredibly intelligent researchers to push the boundaries of technology and apply it to real-world operations.”