Gulf Power Company has partnered with other utilities to develop “Troops to Energy Jobs,” an effort to link military veterans to job openings in the energy industry.

The program was initiated by Washington-based Center for Energy Workforce Development, which has predicted that almost 40 percent of utility employees nationwide will retire or leave their jobs through attrition during the next five years, leading to almost 200,000 job openings. Southern Company, Gulf Power’s parent firm, helped develop CEWD in 2006 to address the approaching workforce shortage.

“There is a huge correlation between the skill sets that military men and women have and the skill sets that we need,” Jennifer Grove, Gulf Power’s Workforce Development coordinator said. “This program is an example of how our industry has worked on a national level to make sure we have the talent we need, while continuing to support our military community.”
 

Last year, Southern Company was named one of G.I. Jobs Top 10 Military Friendly Employers for 2010. Gulf Power has actively recruited military servicemen and women over the years by working directly with local military bases.

Darryl Johnson, Work and Family Life consultant for Naval Air Station Whiting Field in Milton said the local military has had a strong relationship with Gulf Power and Southern Company for 25 years.
 

“They have been enormously helpful in providing us with job openings and information to help us best place our men and women in a good job,” said Johnson. “I like to call it a “win-win-win” situation. Gulf Power fills a position with someone who has the experience they need, the military serviceman or woman finds a great job, and I get to connect the two.”

Active military personnel who are interested in the “Troops to Energy Jobs” program can go to www.cewd.org and look for the “Troops to Energy Jobs” section. Some of the positions expected to be available include engineers, technicians, line workers, plant operators and pipefitters. To apply for a job at Gulf Power, go to www.southerncompany.com and click on “Careers.”

Gulf Power Company is an investor-owned electric utility with all of its common stock owned by Atlanta-based Southern Company. Gulf Power serves more than 430,000 customers in 10 counties throughout Northwest Florida. The company’s mission is to safely deliver affordable, reliable and environmentally responsible energy to very satisfied customers in strong communities.