Joseph Blackman hosted a Veterans Day Public Works podcast with Navy veterans Blake Murphey, President at American Pipeline Solutions, and Chad Oxton, Operations Manager for the city of Suffolk in Virginia, to discuss the value and opportunities for veterans in both the private and public sectors of public works. The participants explored their individual paths to military service, the positive impact of service on socioeconomic standing, and the shared importance of hiring veterans for their adaptability, maintenance skills, and commitment to service, with Blake Murphey noting that over half of American Pipeline Solutions' employees are veterans or military spouses and Chad Oxton emphasizing that many former enlisted roles align perfectly with public works. A key challenge discussed was helping veterans translate their military experience into civilian jargon, while Blake Murphey recommended the SkillBridge program for veteran recruitment and Chad Oxton suggested expanding the military's concept of "mission" to better transition service members into local community partnerships.
