Garland Williams

Location: i live in chandler, az, and work in phoenix.

About me

I retired from the Army on Halloween 2009 after having served 28 years on active duty and reaching the rank of Colonel. I was a combat engineer and commanded units up through and including brigade level. My family and I spent 11 of those 28 years overseas in various locations including Germany, Italy, and Japan. Currently I am the Associate Regional VP for Military at the University of Phoenix and have been in this position for just over 3 1/2 years.

Originally from Atlanta, I attended Auburn University for my undergraduate degree in Pre-Law/Journalism and was fortunate to attend graduate school on an Army Fellowship completing my Masters and Doctorate in Political Science at Duke University. I have published three book length manuscripts including Defense Reorganization and Change (my dissertation), Engineering Peace (published by the US Institute of Peace), and Perspectives on Leadership.

Finally, my wife and I have two grown daughters who have both earned their bachelor's degrees and one overgrown cat (who really acts like a dog).

Interests

sports, running, sailing, reading (novels and non-fiction)

Skills

writing for publication, public speaking, leadership and management

Activity

Garland Williams

Discussion Comment

Companies Supporting Military Personnel

EDUARDO, We may agree that there is little call for an infantryman in corporate America. However, we also may agree that the infantryman has acquired many valuable skills that he can transfer to his civilian employment. Corporate America needs people who can lead teams, who can execute projects under budget and who can take care of high priced equipment. Most veterans are rich in these talents and just need help in translating these military acquired talents into a civilian use. How would you coach a transitioning service member to highlight the skills and talents that the veteran learned in the… >>>

Garland Williams

Discussion Comment

Turning Wrongs Around

EDUARDO, What specifically do you do in your interactions with veterans that help them break the ice? Many civilians do not know what to say to veterans, especially those that have recently been in combat. What can a civilian do in preparation to help break the ice? I agree with your approach, but I'd like to hear some specifics that we can pass to civilians so they can help the transition. Garland Williams, Ph.D.

Garland Williams

Discussion Comment

S.T.A.R. in Motion

Michael, That's a good approach. Often when we work with transitioning service members, it takes some effort to pull from the service member those things that they individually accomplished to achieve the team goal (advantage + benefit). In my case a TAP counselor took my last 10 years of OERs and highlighted those things that seem to line up with your Feature Advantage Benefit (although she didn't call it that). I could then take those highlights to flesh out my first resume. Do you think service members using the Feature Advantage Benefit approach will sound too confident or do you… >>>

Garland Williams

Discussion Comment

S.T.A.R. in Motion

Michael, What you said about demonstrating the results of an applicant's actions is key. However, coming out of the military we have two gravitational pulls that are working against each other. The first is that the service member has been taught in the military to act as part of a team and that the main goal is that the team succeeds together. At the other pole is the need in a job interview or resume to "toot your own horn" and demonstrate what the individual specifically did to help the team succeed. How can we persuade veterans to brag a… >>>

Garland Williams

Blog

Virtual Career Fairs

Have you considered using a virtual career fair to either help veterans make the transition from military to civilian life or to hire employees for your company? Once you get beyond the idea that you are going to talk with avatars, the utility of a virtual career fair is huge. Usually the virtual career fair experience simulates the look of an actual job fair. The exhibit halls usually have booths set up for each employer. You can visit employeer booths and communicate directly with company reps through text, audio, or video chats. Additionally, link are usually available to pull up… >>>

Garland Williams

Discussion Comment

Expectations Are in Sight

April I think you are right on target. For transitioning military, how can they best take what on the surface seems to be a "military only" skill and apply that to the expectations that the hiring manager has to fill the position? There are usually not too many expectations for infantry skills in corporate America, but what skills from being an infantryman can our veterans highlight that would better meet the hiring expectations? Garland

Garland Williams

Discussion Comment

Value of Soft Skills

James, When I transitioned I had to "tone down" my interactions with others. E-mails that used to start with a person's name, now include a "Hi" to be more approachable and conversations that used to be laced with very mission oriented language now includes some pleasantries that I would normally have not included in a conversation in the military. But I realized that I was the one that needed to fit in and had to change my approach. How do you suggest that we coach our transitioning military to be able to "fit in" better when it comes to peer… >>>

Garland Williams

Discussion Comment

Military-to-Civilian Viewpoint

James, Very well said. Just like any "game" situation, our service members need to practice. While in uniform our service members practiced and rehearsed everything from promotion interviews to military actions on contact. The job interview is the next mission and must be rehearsed just as thoroughly so that the member's worst interview happens during rehearsal . . . not during the actual interview. Garland Williams, Ph.D.

Garland Williams

Discussion Comment

S.T.A.R. in Motion

James, You've hit on a key point. What you and I think is a common place military response and something the comes as part of the job, is in fact very unique when viewed from a corporate America vantage point. Each service has as one of their values something about selfless service and we are trained in that vein to place our unit and our mission first. What methods do you think we can tell our transitioning military so they can "brag" about their military experience but still remain "militarily humble"? Garland Williams, Ph.D.

Garland Williams

Discussion Comment

Media Cause and Effect

James, What do you think we can do to be able to properly depict our military on a day to day basis? We see a lot of "coming home" ceremonies, but what else can we do to take the "mystery" out what makes up the military and demonstrate the quality characteristics of our individual service members? Garland Williams, Ph.D.

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