Jun 8, 2023
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You're listening to the Oracle MAVEN podcast where we bring people together from the veteran affiliated community to highlight employees, partners, organized sessions and those who are continuing the mission to serve. Welcome to season two of the MAVEN podcast. I'm your host, Chris Spencer. And in this first episode I'm joined by our guest, Derek Oliver, lead manager, Marine veteran and new chair for MAVEN, Oracle's military affiliated veteran employee network.
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In this episode, Derek shares how his 27 year Marine Corps career exposed his innate ability to identify opportunities where he leverages his drive and passion for selfless service while surrounding himself with firsthand experiences of effective leadership. We also cover how his military transition plan revealed unexpected emotions and responses, the change that ultimately placed him at the right place at the right time while forging the strength of his family.
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As Derek assumes the role of MAVEN chair. It is an honor to pass this responsibility to him as we continue the mission to serve. Please remember to check in on your buddies and your family and ask for help. Thanks for listening. What's going on? Derek? Chris, What's going on, my friend? How are we doing this morning? We're doing all right.
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You have a good weekend. A busy weekend, but, you know, no complaints. Every time I can get the family together, I'm always having a good weekend. Yeah. How about you? Yup. Same. As you know, it's our new fiscal year. Also a lot of reflection and a lot of planning, figuring out what's next. That was the internal text from the team is we get like, okay, we closed out last fiscal year, let's relax and relate and be ready to hit the ground running come Monday.
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So, yeah, I understand that. Yup. All right. All right, everyone. So we have Derek here. Derek is a recent Oracle employee, came through the Cerner acquisition, but before that, he spent 27 years in the Marines. And my friend, 27, 27 years couldn’t make it to 30, but we won't hold him against. So Derek and I became acquaintances several months ago, where through Cerner, he was finding his way through all of the contacts and maneuvering through the relationships coming into Oracle, and he stumbled across Maven, our military affiliated veteran employee network as most of you know, if you’re new, that's what it stands for.
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And as Derek came in, he was asking questions to learn more about it. He was super excited. I would like to say that he had the initial energy of somebody that's curious and he hasn't scaled back that energy. And I think that's the thing that we're going to talk about. One of the things we'll talk about today on what he's doing, how he got to be where he is.
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But before we do all of that, Derek, if you wouldn't mind just giving us a little history on you. I mean, there's a lot to unpack in 27 years and before. So let's go. It is I would tell you, for me, it's strange to talk about me. I'm a kid from New Orleans. I grew up in the projects in New Orleans.
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I did my time, you know, got in some trouble, you know, but had a strong upbringing from my mom so that was a good thing. My mom helped set the groundwork for me saying, hey, do the right thing for the right reasons. I needed something to challenge me. Hey, hey, come the Marine Corps. So actually, for you, Chris, I actually went to the Army recruiter first.
00;03;31;08 - 00;03;51;14
You just. So you went to our recruiter first. Here we go. Say, Hey, listen, I need my paperwork done by Monday so I could be ready. He can do it. I went to the Marine Corps recruiter. I say, Hey, I need my paperwork done by by Monday. He had it. Then the next day, the next day. So hey, let so, you know, shout out to you the army.
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I think you got to try first. I was Army JROTC my entire time in high school so it was only fitting. But Army couldn't get it done for me. Couldn't get it done. We'll take we'll take that excess. That's fine. I want names and locations. Yeah. So onto the Marine Corps. 27 years, I would tell you it was a good 27 year.
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Right. Got to see alot, got to travel the world, which I wanted to do. I me, man, I had some great duty stations Naples, Italy career you know, got to travel to Thailand, things like that. So for me it was great. It was an interesting ride because I had some good leadership along the way. I made up to E7 Gunnery Sergeant, but I wanted to do more.
00;04;42;22 - 00;04;59;23
I wanted to make some decisions. So I transitioned to the one of summer out in the Marine Corps. I made up to Chief Warrant Officer three, like, I want to make some more decisions. I want you know, I want to be in charge. they're like, Hey, well, you got to become a limited duty officer.
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Sure enough, I submit it applies. Spring was accepted, made up to the rank of major. I think I've had a great career. I have no regrets, no complaints, like you say. Yes. I didn't make it to 30. It was a business decision on a on the part of my wife. She made a business decision. It me being a good vice president, I say yes, ma'am.
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And agreed to separate from service. But that was part of the business process of making sure that my home front could be taken care of. Finally, after doing what I needed to do for 27 years to make sure my career was well. So it was a business decision on our case which landed me to the transition process, which was arrived.
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And people don't think about that, that right after 27 years in uniform finally doing something different. It was interesting. I went through a lot of transition workshops and ended up at Cerner, some good leadership there. They helped me through the transition, but during that transition was like, Hey, get ready to make one more transition. We just got acquired by Oracle, so I had to learn to discern the concept.
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All I learned at Oracle at the same time, which led me to Maven and you and I Connection, So I hope I was able to bring you up to speed on all 27 some years. Yeah, you brought me up to speed, but that's like the cliff notes, so. Okay, let's dive in a little bit, if you wouldn't mind.
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Oh, boy. Here we go. Here we go. How old were you when you when you started to think, Well, a couple things. What got you thinking about the military? For me, I knew I had to leave New Orleans. I wanted to see something different. Me staying in New Orleans, I felt wasn't going to bring me anything different. So I had to change my environment.
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So the military, I was always taught the military was the easiest way to change that scenery and give me a life for myself. So going to the military was already a done deal. Just what branch got it. And so to be clear, if you all picked that up, he used the word easy. So the army wasn't easy because we have standards.
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But he'd the easy when in the Marines they were easy. Yeah. Like the way you choose to fill your Army recruiter part. Got it. Just say so. How old were you when you when you went looking? I was 17. I literally I did it my junior year, the end of my sophomore year junior high school. So my mom, I say, Hey, I need you to sign up.
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I wanted to go into my senior year knowing that I have a plan for my life. So that's what we did. Okay. Any any resistance from Mom? She was hesitant. She was like, Are you sure? I'm like, Listen, I do you signing now or I'm going to get it done. When you did pro long and and she was my okay, got it.
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And I tell you to this day we talk about that conversation we had she like I'm glad I made I made a decision to go with you on it so. Well that's good. I mean that's that talks a little bit about being able to have the trust and confidence, I'm sure. Yeah. It actually made it easier knowing that I had her support.
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At the end of the day, you know, she was like, Hey, we've been through this. And she, like you was raised by me. So any boot camp you be able to withstand that was like, yeah, it's just down know the things you tell me. So yes, it was good. Nice. That's good. All right. So 17. So when did you actually get in?
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What age? 17. I was 17. I look, I was. Yeah, I was. Because I didn't turn 18 until November. So I, I graduated boot camp September 29th. So literally, I was still under age. I had made sure I had my mom paperwork When I went to and everything. So it was a big deal and is a big deal.
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What year was that? 95 and 95. Oh yeah. Yeah, You were. You were coming in? I was getting out. Yeah, I remember that. Crossing paths. Yeah. It's good year. I mean that's a it's a lot of transition going on, you know, not a lot going on in the world. Clearly, you know, what's to come after that. Several years after that is, is a lot hinging on that so so how outward you end up going to boot camp.
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So I got to make the decision to go east or west go so my work was like, good west go. You could deal with the heat by going to the East Coast and deal with those simply, I'm glad I made that decision. I went to San Diego, Nice, sunny San Diego. I can't beat San Diego. So when after after boot camp, talk a little bit about that process and where you wind up going and what kind of activities what would you most.
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So book boot camp. I did a combat training. I did all on the West Coast. So finally I got to go to I was started off full service Marine, so, you know, went to full service school. I got to go to a joint school. So I was one of the first Marine class to go to the joint school.
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So I actually checked into Camp Johnson. They're like, No, you going to Fort Lee, Virginia? I'm like, Fort Lee. So we had to literally pack up the school from Johnson and move it to Fort Lee Army base. Here we go again. Can't get away with it. Yeah, they didn't know the do Marines on that base. So again career started out will finish number two in school and the guy in front of me was like hey, listen, I don't want my orders.
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I want to stay close to home. I'm like, Well, you got orders too. I'll take them. Naples, Italy were It's done too easy. Yeah. So this young lady again from New Orleans at this time in Naples, Italy. So funny part about that story I checked into Enable. There was like, Hey, we need you to go pick up some supplies in our line.
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I don't know how to drive. You didn’t have a license? No license, no lies. So I learned how to drive on a flight line in Naples, Italy, for my sergeant, teaching me how to drive so I could get a license so I would be able to drive vehicles in New Orleans. A young kid, we use public transportation. We didn't own a vehicle, so it was the way I made it around.
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Nice. Yes. How did that go? I tell you, it was scary. It was scary. But we got it done. I actually passed my driver's test when they got my license and mailed to me. So I officially had a Louisiana driver's license with no picture for three years. Nice. That's a good story. It's. It's heating up. So how long are you in Italy?
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In Italy for? Three and a half years. Came back to the states, went to Lazio, didn't want to get orders in Route two eight, denied OJ's post in the Corps. We're going to headquarters in the fish bowl. And that's what my life in the fish bowl actually started. Okay. Oh, there it goes. So let's let's start a little bit about that.
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So when you when you got to that location, what's your rank? I was a corporal, corporal, moving up. So talk a little bit about the fishbowl. So being in a fishbowl, you know, going to eighth and going to D.C., you know, you have all the senior leaders there. I'm like, man, what am I doing here? I'm not cut out for this.
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But little did I know me and able to be around the senior leadership of the Marine Corps and seeing how they interact, then seeing how those the the spotlight was there actually made me change my mindset on the Marine Corps is like, hey, less is more. Because at that point I'll say I'm hitting my four year mark, I'm ready to get out.
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But I got there and I'm like, Man, there's more to this. You already had to get overseas too. Let's get us one more go at it. The re-enlisted for another four years from that point. Got it. And I think this is this has started the connections of your like the pursuit of why you're making your decision. So when you left and as a 17 year old young man, did you have an idea of what you were seeking other than just to get out of Louisiana?
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I had no idea. I had no direction at eight. I think this is where the light bulb really went off and to see that, hey, you did get a overseas tour, but this it this is bigger than you. The decision is bigger than you. So, yeah, this would that I think was the turning point for me. Got it.
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Yeah. So you started to dial into some of the things of probably inspiration, curiosity, a little bit of both or anything else. A little bit of both. And started to learn that everything is not about Derek, even though I never thought I was always worried about making things better for me, you know, to take pressure off my mom.
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But it kind of switched. There is about making others around me better because I got to witness it daily. So that was a really turning point for me. Okay, so you signed up for another for anything in addition to that as far as going somewhere else, or was it just to stay there? Nothing special, really. Nothing special at that point was like, hey, look, you signed up for another four years.
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Let's see what it brings. You Advance got promoted to sergeant, you know, eventually starts on my next duty station. But for me, in between, I got married. Nice. Get married, my dear wife. But I will tell you, stats are on is where it really hit home for me. It really hit home for me because I while as a starting, I had Marines and bus stops and I had a section that I was accountable.
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I had to report things. And seeing how my Marines responded to me, taking care of them is what really, really drove it home for me. Got it? Yeah, it was time. Okay, Derek, let's get yourself really together and start taking care of you people. Yeah. So starting to starting to develop a base, right? So now you're newly married, realizing things are much bigger than than you.
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And you're seeing the results of your effort, of taking care of others. So that brings us eight years. What's going on at that point? What was going on at that point? I see. That's when I mature. I guess I will tell you I that's when I really matured between having a family of my own and a family of Marines because I was like I was focused on everybody else and I saw the fruits of my labor when everybody around me did good, I was happy.
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My life was better. So truly a turning point for me. Okay, so you hit E7. So hit E7. I was like, you know, I had done some good things. So by this time I had matured as a full service Marine, as a E7. I think I had that pinnacle because I was cooking for the commandant of Marine Corps at that time.
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So the senior person in the Marine Corps, you know, I was cooking for him a team of four. We had a great team too, great memories. But I'd never forget I was sitting there. We had just got done. Some dignitary left and some decision was made. I'm reading email, some decision, and I'm like, Man, it's a dumb decision.
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Why do we make it? My the down looked at me like Danny Oh, you could do is execute on it. You're enlisting Marine we execute orders we don't make decision right I don't make no sense. I will become an officer. I was like, done, done. Somebody put it out there. Yeah. So because I never for me, I never had the notion of being also, I enjoy being an enlisted man.
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I enjoy me. I told Master Gunn, I'm to be master, you know, I'm taking your spot. So that was always my driver. But he hit a home for me. He said, Listen, in the Marine Corps, you as enlisted more. You can advise the leadership and everything, but the officer will make that decision or set that policy. So I wanted to be a part of that process.
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So that's why I became a chief warrant officer. Is this, do you think, ties back to when you were a kid growing up? Were you would you looking at it now in hindsight as a kid, would you consider yourself to be a leader, somebody that's fitting into that role of what you're pursuing now after that realization as a new seven?
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I didn't see it. I didn't think of myself as a leader. But inherently I was, you know, my upbringing, you know, again, having a base did establish that. But I never saw myself that I didn't see even as to become an officer. I saw myself as one of the Marines. And I think that's what helped drove my leadership.
00;18;09;16 - 00;18;32;16
Got it. Makes sense. Okay. So let's pause on that comment on in the Marine Corps, you got to have a good nugget, a story, conversation, anything. So I would tell you one of the biggest the biggest things that that matter to me and I took from him, we was loading and playing, getting ready to go on the trip.
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We'd take him, taking out, putting the bags on the plane, coming out, Marine Corps, taking his bags, putting them on a make sure we got this. He stopped and he looked at me like, Gunny, if I ever get to get to load my own bags, we got a problem. Then it's time for me to retire. Like I'm working just like you are.
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I should be able to help you now. I'm just out floor, the House floor. And from that, I took you. Never too much of a leader that you can move your own back. Do the grunt work is what I saw it as. And for me, that's the who me that matter to me. So that's the one big lug.
00;19;16;07 - 00;19;37;25
And I tell him about it all the time. Like, sir, that day stuck with me because I was born all the time. We had just got done with events. It was right to traveling. So yeah, that matter. Got it? Yeah. That's. That's a good one. Adds to probably how you're shaping up to be the person that at that point who you are wanting to be there.
00;19;37;25 - 00;20;01;24
Time I spent with the commandant and his team, the leadership team helped shake me as officer. It really did because I got to see true leaders, the expert work. It was an unfiltered environment it was in and it was no cameras around. I mean, so things that they truly care about it is show day in and day out.
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And for me, I knew that's the kind of officer I wanted to be. When I say I'm going to do, I'm going to do what I say in that matter, you're on it. But you made a pit stop. So instead of going straight, obviously you go to warrant. How'd that come about? So for me, because the food service community was so important to me, that's where I wanted to be.
00;20;24;14 - 00;20;53;14
I wanted to make sure I took care of the food service because, again, that's my career. That's where I come from. So that's why I want to do that. It's like, Hey, you to do. The expert is being looked at as a duty expert that mattered. That mattered kind of the best of both worlds, right? Yeah. So I had the institutional knowledge of what their enlisted Marines were going through, but I had the responsibility and authority of officer.
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My I said, I'm right in the middle. You can't complain about that. What years that then that was 2010. Okay, that was 2010. So but it could be a long time, though, because you you really don't belong to either world. You you kind of happen in the middle. So some dangerous territory some time because you got to think of you got to think about I have a lot of my friends that I grew up with from their list.
00;21;24;26 - 00;21;57;15
They were all that, Hey, those are my buddies. But it was tough. And I will tell you that one of the hardest moments when I had the discipline administratively, one of my friends, peer promotions, those are always challenging. So you were you were still with the team that you had been in enlisted? No, I wasn't. So the separated the Marine Corps made sure we got separated, but I went, I'm having some guys that I grew up with come work under my charge.
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I was a surreal moment. Yeah, that becomes real at that moment, right? Yes. As far as the the complexity, right. It's not all about the things that you want it to be or see it as being. It's it becomes real. Yeah, it does. So 2010. Yep. W three And so that was what, 20 what 15, 16. And you know, by that time I was when we was overseas, we did seven years in Japan, living life with the family, everybody's family.
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Yeah, everybody there. We getting to see the world travel, you know, the family like to say, hey, they did seven years on Japan. In Okinawa, I was always gone. Some exercise, always on bombing somewhere, doing something but enjoying life and being Marines. Got it. And then you're still not happy, still not content to keep pushing. I need more.
00;22;56;20 - 00;23;24;11
I need more. So 20 what? 15? Decide to submit in the Marine Corps. We got eliminated duty officer when that you want us to submit and become a captain. So convert to the captain I would say goes. I don't think I got what it takes. Let's see I pushed the envelope was boarded screen selected man we down at Parris Island enjoying life So then we get the call.
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Hey, guess what, Captain? You got to like that. But now you got to come to the Pentagon. He just said, Don't do my beltway tours. So that was it. Couldn't see it. He just. He just dropped his shoulders as if it was a bad thing. It's like going to DC because I was like, because I knew what I was walking into.
00;23;44;20 - 00;24;11;14
So to the Far side of Puzzle Palace, they call it so to be the operations officer for Marine Corps Food Service Program. Great tours, great tours, because I got to advise the director for Michael Food Service own DOD policy. You know, I got to be at the pinnacle of transformation. Derek has finally got to a place where he wanted to be.
00;24;11;16 - 00;24;39;14
Yes. So I thought so I thought I got back to headquarters like I would come home to my wife, think, why get to, you know, affect policy, be at the forefront. I miss my Marines. I miss being around Marines. I miss talking to Marine because Pentagon is senior leadership. You know, you some of the list of Marine Bubba is senior enlisted Marines.
00;24;39;14 - 00;24;58;13
You know, it's not that last school, but that e to that E three where the rubber meets the road. So yeah, I was ready to get out. I was ready to do my time, make sure I advocated for the Marine Corps and get out. Yeah, but not for nothing. Right. So it's it's an ambition. It's a it's a curiosity.
00;24;58;17 - 00;25;34;04
I mean, you're talking now at that point is 20 years ish, right, of building the base, Understanding your life stage is now increasing your awareness of what you want to do, where you want to go, figuring out how to get there. Where did you get the confidence to be able to make these leaps? It sounds like early on when you were getting told, you know, you're you're an advisor if you want to if you want to give orders and make policy, you've got to go officer to that conversation to where that was your push seemingly.
00;25;34;06 - 00;25;53;29
Where did you where did you get the confidence after that go from warrant to officer? So I got there from being around the Marines, making sure that I could advocate for Marines. So like I told them, I was I made a shift in my life. It wasn't about Derek. It was about people around me, how I can make things better.
00;25;53;29 - 00;26;11;18
So that push came from a twofold effort. One, I could advocate better for the Marines that I was in charge of who I was, you know, taking care of and to a better life for my family. So it was a twofold process. And at the end of the day, it was anything for me, it was for everybody around me.
00;26;11;18 - 00;26;37;29
So when I made the leap, everybody else prospered. And that was my mindset behind it not makes sense. I mean, and we're going to get to this, but it's building the story of when I met you the way you would carry yourself and the questions you would ask, the information you'd bring to the conversation was giving me an indication of how you wanted to understand a certain level of detail through the experience.
00;26;38;02 - 00;27;00;16
Right? Have the actual street knowledge, if you will, versus theory book knowledge of understanding words. It's more along going through the experience to where that's going to establish the ability to know how to navigate the things that are necessary that we're like you just said, others will prosper. So now, now you use you got that itch that you wanted to get back in front of your Marines.
00;27;00;16 - 00;27;31;10
So it sounds like you're going to command from the air. So it worked out for me. I was selected to go down to Fort Lee again. Look at that. Look at that down to Fort Lee to be the company commander and director, directed food service school, best of both worlds while I was do had it man I got the best of both worlds because now I got to run the school that helped build my career.
00;27;31;12 - 00;27;59;04
But I also got the command. I had command time and having the command of upwards of 500 Marines ebb and flow, man, that's some responsibility. But for me, I got to talk to Marines every day of the week. I got to talk to junior Marines and just listen to their great stories and talk about their mom and dad, where they came from every day.
00;27;59;07 - 00;28;21;00
I was at Hog's Heaven. Yeah, I bet. Yeah. I drove myself crazy, that's for sure. Well, we're getting to that. So it's a it's an attitude, right? I think it's safe to say it's like it's not only the things that personally that you're looking at and how you perceive things to be and what you want to be involved in, but it's making a connection of of the other side.
00;28;21;00 - 00;28;48;05
So you've gone through decisions of others. You've recognized some areas of improvement, some ways to enhance, increase the outcomes would be morale and energy and kind of just the inspiration for others to to not have to at least worry about that part of whatever they're going through. And that's kind of the point of leaders is to where if you're going to be distracted or lose focus on attention or put attention on something, it's not for what you're responsible for, not on your watch, if you will.
00;28;48;09 - 00;29;11;02
Right. So that's pretty impressive to be able to work through, you know, the timelines and get to that point. Not losing your focus, although you probably didn't have it when you started. It became apparent through your actions of what you were determined to achieve. So talk a little bit about what like what were you able to do specifically?
00;29;11;04 - 00;29;32;03
You know, like the main thing that you remember that was the most impactful at that point for you and how you were able to drive change? For me, the most impactful for me, and I tell you, is still relevant now is the engagement with the families of the people. So I had a student population, so I was in charge of the schools.
00;29;32;03 - 00;29;51;21
So the student population. So this was a critical point in no young individual's career, not only in their career, but in a family's belief in the Marine Corps and how there was going to be care for in the Marine Corps. So for me, that was essential. And that's all the staff. Yes, they're grown men and women, but they're grown men and women.
00;29;51;21 - 00;30;16;13
That was just someone's baby a couple of months ago and that matter. And I always went back to the staff and say, listen, make sure that you're keeping the young Marine informed so he or she can keep their parents informed. But the parent engagement is one thing that I instill. We put there. We use social media, these these young Marine use social media and their families was there.
00;30;16;20 - 00;30;36;03
So putting that information pipeline into place to keep the families involved and keep their stress down at it. Because for me as a parent, I had a kid by this time I had a kid off in college. So receiving information and knowing how my kid is doing, I was able to put that para head on in a simulator to lead the Marines.
00;30;36;03 - 00;31;03;02
So the biggest thing I put in place was that communication pipeline from this student back to their parents and is still in place now. And every commander that they came behind me has told me, Man, we're glad you did that, because we see it makes a difference. That's nice. And that you're absolutely right that you couldn't there wouldn't have been a better answer than that is because the fact that there is the uncertainty coming up.
00;31;03;04 - 00;31;26;02
And somewhat of what I was asking, you know, how your mom took the news that you wanted to go off and do those things. You know, there's there's a place, too, where as kids, children of parents, where we owe it to them to give them some level of safety, security. And that solitude comes with information. And so I like that.
00;31;26;02 - 00;31;51;05
That's that's thanks for doing that, because that's that's an important element that sometimes can easily be lost in the pursuit of mission. Right. When we when we get so focused on doing something else that it's easy to forget to tell people what's going on here. I used to be, but yes, they are Marines. True or true, they have the title of a child, but they have a mom or dad that's sitting at home crying, wonder what's going on with them.
00;31;51;05 - 00;32;15;21
So it matter. Yep. Family. I mean, that's that's key. All right. So when did you start thinking about getting out? Let's where we're in your life stage, you're starting to consider what you're going to do post Marines. Yeah. So? So during this time, while I'm at Fort Lee, what people didn't realize was Malik and I made another business decision was to leave her in the kids in place.
00;32;15;24 - 00;32;39;16
So Fort Lee was a two and a half hour drive away from where we were living at. My youngest two daughters were in the good school district. Everything was going there. So we actually we're geographically separated during the week. So I was there Monday, Monday through Thursday at Fort Lee. I didn't come home on Fridays to take care of the family at that point.
00;32;39;16 - 00;33;02;22
We had been doing this for three years now. It was like, okay, what's next? But my daughters came to me like that. Think about this. My youngest daughter has a chance to go to middle school in high school, in the same place that's never been done by the older two girls before. They're like, That could be beneficial to her mind.
00;33;02;25 - 00;33;27;25
So this high tech conversation happened around, you know, the girls over the weekend. So that's when me and Malik started playing around with it. We started looking at it like it was best for the family. So we actually toured over this decision for about I want to say, eight months, eight months. One weekend I was home. My youngest daughter looked just like that.
00;33;27;25 - 00;33;57;07
I really like this place. She like I like my friends here. I get to see everybody. So I like that. My wife, Malik, I see we're done just like that. That Sunday, I sat at my desk. I typed up my intent to retire, to bring it to work with me. The next day. So that decision was made in 2022.
00;33;57;09 - 00;34;30;19
So it was tough. I bet 2022 last year. Yeah, it was tough. It's a lifetime whether I yeah, that was one of the hardest decisions I had to make when I went in to talk to my commander. I'm right, sir. I'm going to submit for it. I'm like, No, no, really, Did you think about this? So I brought him through the process.
00;34;30;19 - 00;34;57;08
You know what happened? So he's like, Just think about it. So I left my paperwork on his desk, you know, when he did my thing, didn't talk to anyone about it. So Friday before I left to head back home, I stopped by his office. This is sir. Yes? It's time. It's time. So that weekend must have been fun.
00;34;57;11 - 00;35;23;18
How? You know, a lot of. A lot of a lot of contradiction. Yeah. Back and forth. It was a lot of back. It was a lot of back for a man. I think about writing this issue like, can we put the papers back That's like that. Their ship has sailed. So I tell you, I actually looked up who I could call heck was my record to actually stop the process.
00;35;23;20 - 00;35;46;07
That's how back and forth we went with it. But finally, when I got the notification, Hey, your pin, the retirement has been approved, was going through the process. We switched gears and started looking at the next mission. Got it. So what at that point? So how much time between that day and then when you're actually going to separate?
00;35;46;10 - 00;36;07;21
What's that We had we had nine months, nine months, nine months, the execution time from approval to actual exit date. Got it. So, so nine plus eight. So year and a half, 17 months. Right. Some math, right. It's just a year contemplated. So for for everybody out there and we're talking because we're now we're getting into the transition component.
00;36;07;21 - 00;36;27;14
And when I say last year and I emphasize that because we're going fast track this, but we'll circle back is to think about separating after 27 years. And I don't there's not a whole lot of us that can understand what 27 years is until you go through 27 years of something and then be able to talk about it in.
00;36;27;16 - 00;36;48;16
Now we just we've compromised on how to associate time. And a decision to say within two years is an appropriate amount of time to begin. We know that that's probably a good time to start, if not earlier. Plan is always good, but get to have a conversation over eight months and then be able to execute on the decision.
00;36;48;16 - 00;37;17;12
And then a couple of days, couple of three, four or five days to go back and forth on whether or not it was the right decision. And then the one thing that locks it in is it's been approved. Now you're moving with nine months left. What do you do to get to get ready at that point? So for me, I will tell you, this is where it got real for me, because we this is what people don't think about.
00;37;17;12 - 00;37;43;18
Like you said, 27 years I had announced with my mindset for 27 years, I knew what I was going to do. It was, yes, I'd change and change these days every two or three years. But the Marine Corps told me, Hey, this is what you're going to do that's not there anymore. That's gone with us next. So I went through every transition class, every transition program that was out there that was offered.
00;37;43;18 - 00;38;11;24
I mean, literally, Derek was going through I need to understand this process, what's going to happen with me through transition because I needed a playbook. So I need to tell me how to do this transition thing was next. But I will tell you, Chris, there's nothing like that out There is no one book to help you transition 20 some years to make that move, to make that that pivot.
00;38;11;26 - 00;38;49;09
There's guys, they help get you there, but there's nothing there. Yeah, there's there's nothing. The last, last number I had so approximately, give or take, thousands more like 47,000 organizations focused on military in the US, 47,000. I mean, it's it's a lot, but it's at the end of the day, what it also is, it can become overwhelming as to where do I find a thing that works for me and how do I how do I get connected to that organization or effort, as large or small as it may be, we all have different needs.
00;38;49;09 - 00;39;14;05
And it's hard. It's hard. It's hard to be able to key in on something. It is. So I will tell you that that sent me into a dark place for a person who's always been in control. I knew how to control things, to not know how to or where to go. And it's a very dark place for a minute.
00;39;14;08 - 00;39;42;17
And I don't think a lot of people realize that a person who's been in control know how to control things to go to this abyss. Yeah, I really had to up my my mid to my time when my mental provider during that time frame, it was key for me. I was lucky because I saw myself going to a dark place.
00;39;42;19 - 00;40;11;07
Not everyone has that that luxury, that ability to see themselves going down that dark path. So yeah, now that was a trying time for me. I can only imagine. And then going through it, you, you, so you, you were able to find at least a couple organizations and build relationships to be able to help navigate. You want to talk a little bit about how you found them and how you engage with them?
00;40;11;09 - 00;40;39;13
Yeah. So I would again, I would say I'm one of the lucky ones because me and I was able to attend different programs that I, I can list a ton here, but I was able to wade through ten different programs to help set me up for transition, to learn how to interview, to learn something. This was when I'm going to where to work.
00;40;39;15 - 00;41;10;27
People Don't realize. That's why it may seem simple to the average civilian, but to. So while I knew what I was wearing for 27 years to decide what I'm wearing to work next week, it could play on your mind. It could play on your mind. I It's funny you bring that up because when I first got out, along with my arrogance and pride and ego and all that stuff, thinking I was I was always good to go.
00;41;11;00 - 00;41;42;26
Not yet humbled that that came later. I would I would come in wearing what I wanted to. And that doesn't bode well if you if you think that you don't have to adapt in somebody else's world, reconsider your thought because you need to do some things that will allow you to even the basics as to coming showing up in the appearance and not knowing what first impressions really meant, because it was always something that you had on the collar or your lapels.
00;41;42;28 - 00;42;05;27
That was the first impression you were looked at as a rank, therefore not less of an individual until you establish relationship. While in the civilian world, first impression is times the thousand. As far as the bias, the judgments and all the people that determine things of how you look, which we all know you got, you got to be able to work through those things by understanding the basics.
00;42;05;27 - 00;42;31;04
And so that's I like how you brought that up. I know that's the I'm not the only thing and it is somewhat trivial at the point, but it is a key element that adds to other things. And so appearance is certainly something that should go on the list. Yeah, it to me is the snowball effect. Why is that little thing to me is that little parable you make someone get that snowball started, it can really go to a very bad place.
00;42;31;07 - 00;42;51;09
And I think people take take it for granted time. So and that's why I bring it up and that's why I stress it as I talk to people about transition. It may seem Minister, but men that can start a snowball. Indeed it does. And that's that's the thing. It's less about the clothes. It's more about the little things.
00;42;51;09 - 00;43;14;26
You add them together and then all of a sudden it starts to take a toll on how you're perceiving things and it's your self-talk begins and you used a great word, the abyss. You start to unravel things in your head that may or may not be true by others means of perspective. But it matters less because you're thinking about it all the time and you got to get out of that and that comes through the network.
00;43;14;29 - 00;43;37;02
And I would tell you, I was lucky to have a network that I can lean on because it was a lot of self doubt. And Derrick sitting in a you for me, being a person that had made it through so much to now have self doubt man, am I ready for this? Am I cut out for this? Am I going to make it in this?
00;43;37;04 - 00;44;06;02
Yeah, it was a dark place. Yeah. So on the flip side, you also have to think about your accomplishments and you key in on those things and how what translates can translate. And so immediately standing out for, for all of you listening, I don't, I didn't know all of these details about Derrick and we did that intentionally. So it's something just to kind of keep aware of that.
00;44;06;02 - 00;44;27;20
I'm hearing some of these things for the first time and I'm immediately connecting the dots on consistency from being the young Marine that, Derrick, you were going through what you did to get to where you are now. The consistency is your worth, the value and the mindset that you attribute to your success based off of others service to others.
00;44;27;20 - 00;44;56;28
That's the continuity of what you're bringing to the table. So when when do you start thinking about what you have to do specifically as you get closer to that date and how did you end up at certain So well, again, for me it was I don't think I was ever there. I still don't think I'm there. I, I think and I tell you, we got to continue to evolve.
00;44;57;00 - 00;45;21;29
I just felt more comfortable. The more transition things I did, the more networking I did. A for me, my network truly helped me see that, hey, you have what it takes to to be okay. You're going to be okay. So my network helped me to see that different networking events brought me to. I was at one where it was Sano was there and it was funny.
00;45;22;01 - 00;45;48;14
So starting with that, this networking event show you full circle in uniform, He and I had an encounter. We didn't realize this was going to lead to hair, so we were talking, met him. He looked familiar, didn't put one and one together. They looked at the old person and I remember say, Hey, sir, you know, we we met when you were in charge of the hospital.
00;45;48;14 - 00;46;20;09
He was running the the wounded hospital. And I went over there with the commandant doing the tour, and he took the time to talk to me then, as well as the memorial man that matters and makes sense. So I picked up on an but net needs is that we had the networking event. I had already been given a preliminary offer from another organization, but Paatelainen talks I recruiting team talk to recruiters, you know network and why a recruiter is no longer here.
00;46;20;11 - 00;46;52;11
She brought she like hey just come in for informational call came in for information the call was later interview which led to me being hired. So I'm here Cerner and I'm getting to learn everything in the Veterans Network. You know, veterans Pool Western is smaller than there is in Oracle, but I'm getting learn everything, but also knowing in the back of my mind, I now have to make another transition which the crap out of me from Cerner into Oracle to even bigger font.
00;46;52;13 - 00;47;12;26
So I'm like, Man, so mentally people don't understand what I went through during that time, transitioning from the Marine Corps to my first position at CERN of learning how it is to be in the civilian world at the same time. Now I have to make a whole nother transition in the midst of that. Hey, I'm back to see my mentor counselor even more.
00;47;13;03 - 00;47;38;01
She like there is going to be all right, but no, and I need to see it because again, I'm going to another abyss that I was afraid of. Yep. Then that I can appreciate, because that's when. Now enter. When Derrick and I met, I couldn't tell. So used the analogy of the duck on water. Right. That's how Derrick presented himself.
00;47;38;04 - 00;48;02;13
And it isn't. And until as he and I got to know each other better over the last several months, this was, I think is October that we had first met. Yeah. Then it became a clear and this is this is so jokes aside this is why it's important to understand the delicacy behind the fact, the reality that you don't know what other people are going through, whatever they're presenting themselves to be is not always the case.
00;48;02;15 - 00;48;21;19
And it means something here, because the fact is, somebody with so many accomplishments and it's not just about Derrick, as he'll be the first to tell you, but somebody that had so many accomplishments. Think about this, that the little things that we take for granted because we've acclimated, we've assimilated into a situation or environment in such a way.
00;48;21;19 - 00;48;40;28
We're now we're comfortable because we know the ropes, we know how to navigate, we get it, we can see it. Other people coming in there that present themselves to be as comfortable. Sometimes aren't. And so we have to understand these things in a way that we can come to their level, whether it's up, down side, it doesn't matter.
00;48;40;28 - 00;48;59;22
But we have to meet each other at the level we'll say the lowest common and on the lowest point that we can meet to be common with each other and have a connection and then go from there. If you if you choose to do it differently, there's a risk. We won't get into that now. But it's just an understanding, right?
00;48;59;22 - 00;49;23;26
There's there's things that people do and go through that don't always give you the real story. So. So now you're I mean, you're coming from 27 years into a situation where it's two components. I'm oversimplifying a two components. It's a life change and a career change. But then you add the life change with the family component to where there's four in your family.
00;49;23;26 - 00;49;48;12
Aside from you, you got Malika and your three daughters plus you. They're all going through their stuff too. And as a provider, somebody that's been in control or a command, if you will, of situations and environments, now you're having to navigate that also their transition. How did that go that, you know, people take for granted the transition that the family.
00;49;48;14 - 00;50;21;24
But is is a big thing it was where why they wanted settle down eventually they had to move again. They had to move again. Well, it was like, wow, we're not packing up. We're not going to be moving every three years. That was strange. Why They thought they wanted to settle down. It became apparent they don't like the packing part, but they like the the the newness that was next, the meeting, new people.
00;50;21;26 - 00;50;52;03
And they realized that is not going to be there. And it's funny, my oldest daughter actually came, told me she like that, think I made a mistake. My What do you mean she like me telling you to stay here? Actually took away friends for my youngest daughter. Might explain it to me. She like because I have friends that I met when I was in elementary school in South Carolina, that we are friends now and made a move to Germany everything.
00;50;52;03 - 00;51;14;24
And we're still friends. She's like, I think I robbed her of that stuff. Yeah, you just decrease the pool. You didn't. Robert Easily decrease the pool. That's all you did. Well, it was just funny to see a metal circle of the family. People don't think about that. It's a mental process for the family as well, because not only have I lived it, they've lived the life.
00;51;14;24 - 00;51;41;05
We were 20, what, 24 years? She, you know, my oldest are 24. She lived their life. So it was a big thing for her, I bet. And the strength, the strength that comes from that that we're not talking about. But what you're saying is the bond that's formed for your daughter, you can come to you and talk to you about, that for your family to come to you and talk about that, that strengthens it, That forges it now and solidifies it.
00;51;41;07 - 00;52;03;15
It could easily go sideways. But that's part of the complexity. It's the it's the constant thinking about how others are impacted by decisions we make for ourselves when that seems to have been the main motivator for change in the past in the first place. But it goes to show the resiliency and the growth of the children as well.
00;52;03;17 - 00;52;32;25
So yeah, and I imagine because you had mentioned it, you're still going through it. I imagine they are as well. Yeah. Yes, they are. I mean, because, you know, the youngest, my youngest daughter, she like dad. Well, I like maybe we should have moved. So it made the change for them as well. It did. You know, like going on simple things like being on base, like, hey, I want to make nice with her.
00;52;32;25 - 00;52;56;20
We're not going on base. It just is not there is not an everyday thing is not a part. You know why I'm still a marine, You know, once a marine, always marine is is still not there. I'm not in uniform, is a is a different mentality. So it's a change for everyone. Yep. Yep. And they have a good network set up.
00;52;56;23 - 00;53;21;20
They do. And I would tell you between their friends and, you know, Malika does a good job of making sure that they're connected. But also I will say one thing, one thing we did, Malika made sure each of the girls went to go see mental health as we transition. So she was very, you know, making sure that they had that aspect which has helped.
00;53;21;27 - 00;53;47;09
And I would employ everyone to do it not only for the service member as follows, but think about the children as well, because I've seen they made a difference. I'm glad you said that because that's what we can impact that all day too, because that's a delicate balance. Also, when people say, I don't need it, how do you force how do you force what you know is better for them on a and because if it's them not inviting it, then it's resistance and now it's not necessarily the same.
00;53;47;09 - 00;54;07;14
So that's that's a challenge in itself. So that I'm glad I'm glad to hear that you mentioned it not only you mentioned it, but that it's working. So yeah, I would tell you. So it goes back when you talk about early, how full circle high impact to my career I will never forget Sergeant Major, the Marine Corps. Carlton Kent.
00;54;07;14 - 00;54;34;16
At the time when I was working for the commoner, when when the sergeant major, the Marine Corps, the senior enlisted in the Marine Corps say, listen, make sure you take time to go get Mitchell help to free you. My and understand things that matter. Did not realize how leading Marines that hearing him say that was going to impact me and the mental health aspect.
00;54;34;23 - 00;54;57;17
So again like you said this whole thing full are going to see those little nuggets in it. I didn't see it until later on in my career how that was going to impact, how I live there, how I took care of my family. Yeah, that's a whole separate conversation. But you know, that hurts like this just brings the fact and we'll probably leave it here and then move on.
00;54;57;17 - 00;55;18;25
But when you when you are present, you pay more attention to things that are happening and there's always something happening. But when you are present, you're able to see things that you normally wouldn't have if you're paying attention. So your situational awareness is the key and on the things that matter at the moment. But you may not never know, you may not ever know.
00;55;18;25 - 00;55;42;00
You'll need later. So just absorb it. That's key because the recall is going to indicate something later. It's going to flip a switch for you to be realized. Oh, now I know how to apply it 100%. So. All right. So now you're it's there. And so let's let's fast let's fast forward because it gets good here, right? So Derrick and I are talking because the conversation that we had.
00;55;42;02 - 00;56;00;28
So one congratulations. Then you transition the beginning of your transition. I know you're still going through it and your family is still going through it, you know, and appreciate Milligan and the whole family going through all of that stuff with you. And it's a process and glad to have you in family. Appreciate it. Thanks for having me here.