Honoring Service: How SPA Supports Veterans in the Workplace

April 9, 2025

SPA Staff

Duty, integrity, excellence, and service before self—these are the hallmarks of the United States military. They are also the same values that define Systems Planning & Analysis (SPA). Founded over 50 years ago, SPA has remained committed to supporting national security for the U.S. and its allies across all domains—land, sea, air, space, and cyber.

SPA’s commitment to veterans goes beyond words—it’s recognized at the highest levels. Many of SPA’s leaders are former military, including SPA President Terry Benedict (VADM, USN, Ret.); Chief Growth Officer Dave Hearding, whose last role in his Navy career was Director of Operations for the U.S. Pacific Fleet; and Director of Sea, Land, Air Division Dave Duryea (RDML, USN, Ret.).

For the seventh consecutive year, the company has received the HIRE Vets Gold Medallion Award from the U.S. Department of Labor, a testament to its dedication to recruiting, employing, and retaining veterans. Today, 40% of SPA’s 2,500+ employees are veterans, and their operational expertise provides our clients with unparalleled insights into Department of Defense priorities, projects, and processes.

To ensure veterans thrive at SPA, we have built a strong framework of programs that support them before, during, and after their transition from military service.

Building Pathways for Veterans

SPA partners with several national programs to help service members successfully transition into civilian careers. For example, we team with Hiring Our Heroes and the DoD SkillBridge program to connect transitioning service members, veterans, military spouses, and caregivers with 12-week corporate fellowships.

“Hiring Our Heroes gives service members a wonderful opportunity to explore career options that leverage their skills in the civilian workforce, and we benefit by gaining access to the world’s most highly trained and motivated workforce. It also opens the door for their spouses, and we have several “military couples” working at SPA.”

SPA University Relations & Military Program Coordinator, Dana Miranda

SPA is also a Certified Company in the Virginia Values Veterans program, which helps the company find, hire, and train talented former military personnel. Additionally, SPA participates in mentorship programs through American Corporate Partners (ACP), where senior employees provide year-long, one-on-one guidance for veterans transitioning into civilian careers.

SPA VETS: Strengthening Camaraderie and Support

While programs like SkillBridge and Hiring Our Heroes help veterans transition into the workforce, SPA VETS ensures they continue to thrive long after they’ve joined the company.

Recognizing the unique challenges that veterans face in civilian workplaces, Aaron Riley and Jarred Johnson founded the SPA VETS Employee Resource Group (ERG) in November 2023. Through regular engagement and initiatives, SPA VETS fosters connection, mentorship, and advocacy for veterans and reservists while also serving as a bridge to company leadership.

“During early COVID, I saw friends struggling after leaving the military. They missed the camaraderie. That’s what led me to start looking into forming an ERG.”

26-year Navy Veteran, Aaron Riley

At the same time, Jarred, a former submarine officer and reservist, was working on a similar initiative. “SPA had a large number of reservists, but there wasn’t a real support structure in place,” he said. “We saw an opportunity to do more—advocate for them, connect them with others who had deployed, and help them navigate the challenges of balancing military service with a civilian career.”

SPA VETS quickly made an impact, advocating for increased military leave benefits to better support reservists and launching Coffee with Veterans, a recurring gathering open to all SPA employees. These meetings provide a space for camaraderie, mentorship, and access to valuable resources, featuring guest speakers from the VA and other veteran-focused organizations.

“We’ve had speakers from the VA and state veteran organizations discussing disability benefits, education programs, and more,” Aaron explained. “We even had Kimberly Mitchell from the VA share her powerful story as a Vietnam adoptee and military veteran.”

Expanding Our Commitment to Service

SPA VETS is not just about supporting veterans within the company—it’s also about giving back to the broader military community. The group is embracing a “Year of Service” philosophy, engaging in volunteer efforts such as:

Soup kitchens and veteran shelter support.
Children of Fallen Patriots fundraising.
Rolling to Remember, honoring missing service members.
Frogman Swim, a charity event supporting wounded warriors.
Wreath-laying at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day and later in the year.

“When you leave the military, you don’t just miss the job – you miss the sense of purpose,” Jarred said. “Veterans have a deep desire to give back, and SPA VETS provides a way to reconnect with that mission and community.”

A Culture of Excellence and Support

SPA’s long-standing commitment to veterans is more than just hiring—it’s about building careers and a supportive community. Through Hiring Our Heroes, SPA Vets, and mentorship programs, we provide veterans with the tools they need to succeed.

Our dedication to service has been recognized at the highest levels, including our seventh consecutive HIRE Vets Gold Medallion Award. As SPA CEO Rich Sawchak noted, “This annual award holds special meaning for SPA, given our longstanding commitment to hiring vets. From SPA’s founding in 1972 to today, we continue to welcome the unique expertise, experience, and perspective veterans bring to the workplace.”