In commemoration of Veterans Day, we asked some of the veterans at CNA to share their thoughts on their time in uniform and how it contributes to their work at CNA.

The transition from the battlefield to the boardroom—from US Marine artilleryman to CNA data scientist—is smoother than you might think. First, Marines are masters of adaptation. We've learned to thrive in chaotic environments, where plans change faster than a neural network can learn a new pattern: a must-have in the ever-evolving world of data science.

Second, Marines are trained to be problem-solvers: improvise, adapt, and overcome. This same problem-solving mindset is essential for tackling the complex challenges that CNA data scientists face, like optimizing hyperparameters or dealing with imbalanced datasets. Marines understand that setbacks are stepping stones to success. This mindset is crucial in data science, where experimentation and iteration are keys to making progress.

Finally, the importance of trust in the Marine Corps cannot be overstated. We rely on our fellow Marines to have our backs in any situation. This same level of trust is essential in our CNA data science teams, where collaboration and communication are critical for success.

Marine artillerymen also know the importance of precision and accuracy—critical metrics in our data science models. A well-placed artillery strike can make a huge difference in a battle, just like well-crafted data science model can provide valuable insights for our CNA study sponsors. I’ve traded a USMC machine gun for machine learning algorithms, but I’m equally ready to tackle new challenges.

Tim Kao served 20 years in the US Marine Corps. He is Vice President and Director of CNA’s Data Science Division.

I have served in support of our nation’s interests in areas of conflict and instability. I have met fathers, figureheads, mothers, soldiers, and children from all those areas. Having done so, I firmly believe that the overwhelming majority of humans share the same desire for peace, security for their families, and what we in this country believe to be unalienable rights. In both the Navy and at CNA, I am proud to have served—and to continue serving—with and for those who have taken on the challenge of securing these things for the greater good of this country and the world.

Brent Richardson served 23 years in the US Navy. He is a Principal Research Scientist in CNA’s Energy, Infrastructure, and Environment Program.

A lifetime ago, my husband and I were stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, spanning the early years of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. A few years later, I stopped flying Cobras as the demands of dual military careers and children caught up with us, and we’d barely been back to Camp Pendleton since. But last April, we returned with the kids to Carlsbad, California, to visit the flightline with an old friend. As soon as I opened the Cobra’s cockpit, it felt as though I had come home after a long absence. The smells were exactly the same, the switches and circuit breakers felt the same under my hands, and the seat was sweaty and disgusting as always. And unexpectedly, I suddenly missed it intensely. I missed flying, my squadron, our mission. With the distance of time, I realized how much that life had meant to me. (Bonus: my teenagers were finally impressed by something about their mom.)

What does this have to do with CNA? Well, I’ve been away from this kind of work for some time. It’s been quite a few years since I’ve thought deeply about Marine Corps aviation, operations, missions, and deployments. I’m brand new to CNA, but I’ve already joined a few projects that touch areas related to my service, examining topics from mobilization and professional military education to aviation missions and manpower. As I work on these problems, I can see faces and names, and—just as I did in the hangar last April—I remember what it felt like to belong to the units and work the missions we study. While still in uniform, I had no real understanding of how many people were behind the scenes, supporting what we did. It’s incredibly meaningful to see it and be a part of that work. I’m grateful to be able to use my Marine Corps experiences in new ways to support those who serve today. And it makes me feel a little younger again.

Jeannette Haynie served 19 years in the US Marine Corps. She is a Principal Research Scientist in CNA’s Marine Corps and Defense Workforce Program

When I retired after more than two decades serving in the Regular Army of the United States, I was not sure what I was going to do for my next career. The only certainty was the need I felt to continue contributing to national security. CNA looked like a possible fit, but I was not sure. It was a leap of faith that worked out. I came to CNA because I needed a post-Army job. I stayed at CNA because of the immense satisfaction of serving the nation in ways I could never have imagined and because of the remarkable colleagues I have worked with over the years. The world has entered a complex and dangerous moment: great power competition, transnational security threats, domestic challenges. Anyone who desires to make real contributions to the safety and security of the nation need look no further than CNA. That has been my experience, and I consider the work I have done here as an extension of that first oath I took so many years ago on the Plain at West Point.

David Finkelstein served in the US Army for 22 years. He is Vice President and Director of CNA’s China and Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Division.

When I was a Navy officer, I frequently found myself asking, “Why doesn’t someone understand/improve/fix this Navy issue?” But we were too busy training, deploying, and working do much more than ask those sorts of questions over a quick midrats meal.

Though I’m relatively new at CNA, I frequently see my colleagues addressing those kinds of issues with an incredible combination of ability, focus, and time—helping someone in uniform who struggles to get two of those three things together on a good day.

As an F-35 test pilot and test organizational leader, I saw problems that pilots had been complaining about for years get paths to correction because of the analytical rigor and focused dwell-time of CNA research staff. This only happened because these CNAers took every opportunity to engage maintainers, pilots, and engineers. That built expertise, but more importantly, it built trust.

It’s what motivated me to want to work here. It’s what continues to motivate me as I work here.

James “Spool” Reynolds served in the US Navy for 21 years. He is a Senior Research Scientist in CNA’s Strike and Air Warfare Program.

Having served in the Marine Corps, I have a much greater appreciation for and a closer understanding of those who use what CNA produces. I also continue to benefit from the bond shared by Marines, including those at CNA. One of them has had a particularly strong impact on me. I served with Lewis Gary Lee in the legendary 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From the day I met him, he has been an inspiration, and his influence continues to pay dividends four decades later. I followed his career as Gary went on to become the 13th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, and I was elated when he started to work at CNA after he retired. We became friends, and I have always been so proud to serve with someone who continues to do great things for the world’s finest fighting force. He has no idea how much his influence has shaped my work ethic and attitude since we first met 40 years ago.

Carey Carter served in the US Marine Corps for 8 years. He is CNA’s Chief Security Officer.

The military is the path I chose for myself at a very early age. I remember sitting in my seventh-grade French class looking at a magazine with a military advertisement that influenced my decision. My Dad was in the Army Reserve, and there were very few women who served. I wanted to help make a change, so more women would have opportunities in the military. I was commissioned in 1991 when I graduated from Boston University NROTC as a Surface Warfare Officer. I chose the Navy because I thought it would be the most progressive for women, and sure enough, when the combat exclusion law was repealed in 1994, I was one of the first women to ever serve on a combatant. I was the Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer on the destroyer USS Paul F. Foster. I retired from the Navy in 2020, but I have not lost my passion for service or national security. I’m so proud to be a part of the CNA team because of our role in helping our Navy and nation continue to push the frontier by providing actionable, research-informed solutions to critical national security issues. My highest hope is to provide value to our team through both my analytical skill and my years of experience in the Navy so our research can make the biggest and most relevant impact possible.

Renee Squier served in the US Navy for 30 years. She is a Principal Research Scientist in CNA’s Navy Health and Human Resources Program.

My years as US Navy officer and pilot were very different from my work today as a CNA analyst on Navy-sponsored projects. But I share a kinship with all Sailors and a bond formed by the sacrifice of those who went before me.  

I learned to love being a Sailor, but it wasn’t always this way. I was a selfish college dropout who originally put on the uniform to slip the surly bonds and dance the skies on laughter-silvered wings. And, while my service wasn’t always enjoyable, somewhere around year 18, the romanticism of being tied to the Navy’s rich history took root. On a calm morning far offshore, it is impossible to stand on the bow of a ship, gazing across the immense expanse of an oily-smooth sea without feeling some amount of kinship with all those that have done the same for the past 249 years. While I have plenty of terrible memories involving friends lost while underway, I try not to dwell on them. Instead, I turn my mind’s eye to memories of the ocean: sunrises over the Red Sea, flying fish skipping ahead of the ship as she cuts her way through glassy waters, massive swells of an angry sea exploding over the bow of the flight deck. When this selfish college dropout closes his eyes, I will harken back to the mystery and magic of the smell of the sea, the feel of the open ocean in front of me, and the kinship I share with Sailors who came before and who serve today.

Kory Fierstine served in the US Navy for 28 years. He is a Senior Research Scientist in CNA’s Force Optimization and Readiness Generation Program.