A Transition Story: Veteran Moves From Protecting National Security to Protecting Financial Security

Former Marine One pilot Clay Stackhouse survived numerous challenges during his quarter-century career as an aviator with the U.S. Marine Corps—including combat missions in Fallujah, Iraq and other conflict zones.

But the Florida Veteran says his greatest life challenge came after military service—when he transitioned to civilian life. “The military is very much your identity when you are in it,” he says. “When I took my uniform off, I really felt like I was losing my purpose.” In the decade since, Stackhouse has found a new purpose: helping members of the military community secure their finances and achieve their life goals. 

To mark National Hire a Veteran Day, we asked Stackhouse, who now manages a regional member outreach and engagement team at Navy Federal Credit Union, to share his transition story and advice he has for the 200,000 men and women who follow in his footsteps every year.

How did you decide to retire from the U.S. Marine Corps?

After 25 years in the Marines, I had reached the rank of colonel and had twins who were going into sixth grade. My wife and I had always discussed leaving the service at about that time. I was ready to be done with the deployments and time constraints of service, and I thought I had the skills to contribute to another organization. 

How did you find new employment in the civilian world?

I was hired at Navy Federal while I was on terminal leave—a type of leave offered by the military that is used immediately before separation or retirement. During leave, I participated in a “transition assistance” program, where I met a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army who helped me prepare my resume and practice for job interviews. 

We really clicked. I told him I was interested in moving back to Pensacola, and his wife happened to be friends with a Navy Federal employee in the Greater Pensacola Operation’s office of member outreach and engagement. The lieutenant colonel’s wife passed word about me on to her friend at Navy Federal; she asked me to come in for a job interview and I landed the job. Never underestimate the power of networking! 

How did you translate your skills and experience as a military pilot to a financial institution?

Veterans have a great spectrum of traits that we can use for future employment. We know how to work on a team. We know how to be a good follower and how to show up on time. We know how to be the kind of team member that a hiring manager would want. We are professionals.

Navy Federal is the kind of company that understands and appreciates the experiences and skillsets that members of the military bring to the workplace. We have a lot of programs, like our partnership with Hire Heroes USA, support for military spouses and research into the best careers after service, that demonstrate our commitment to this community.

The teamwork and pride of ownership I developed in the Marines goes very far at Navy Federal.  We have great people all striving toward a common goal: to provide members of the military, Veterans and their families world-class financial services. 

What challenges did you face during your transition?

It’s difficult to enunciate the degree to which a person’s identity is tied up in the military profession, especially in the Marines. As someone who participated in many combat and contingency deployments, adjusting to a more relaxed environment in the civilian world was no small task. 

My biggest challenge wasn’t a lack of skills. It was learning to chill out. My wife helped me a lot in discussions in the evenings. She is my best friend and a wonderful woman.

I’m not saying that the civilian world is less professional. We’re very professional at Navy Federal, but our work is not a matter of life and death. In the Marines, you plan everything you do—to include sweeping the floor—as though someone could die that day. There is just a level of intensity that is not appropriate in the civilian world and that takes adjustment. 

How did you adjust?

The Marines’ warrior culture is unique, and my first year outside of it was definitely an adjustment. I still fly a Cessna a bit, but it isn’t the same as flying casualty evacuations in the Battle of Fallujah.

How has your role changed since you joined Navy Federal?

My job is unrecognizable from when I started 10 years ago. It has just continued to grow. I am now a certified financial education instructor, so I’m able to provide our members with more tailored advice. I do a lot of outreach on the internet and radio/podcast and TV. I also work with our marketing and communications team and with our branch employees. They work with members every day, and I always learn from them when we partner together. 

What advice do you have for other servicemembers following in your footsteps?

Work for an organization you’re proud of and keep the bar high. As long as you are polite and courteous to all of your colleagues and accept them for who they are in a respectful way, it will work out.

And thanks to all of you out there who serve our members!