Congress declared May as National Military Appreciation Month to further honor the sacrifices of the men and women of the United States Armed Forces. In observance, Inventus Power is proud to present this blog post from our colleague John Heaton. John has served 22 years in the U.S. Army. He was on active duty for eight years, including five combat deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, and has been in the Army Reserves for the last 14 years, serving as an active-duty Battalion Commander. John also supports the military business segment of Inventus Power as Director of Business Development for Government Programs & Support (GPS).

Path to Military Service

I think I always knew that I would have a career in the military; I have always been impressed by the skill, dedication and sacrifice of those who serve. Even as a kid my favorite toys were GI Joes.

That admiration probably started in my early years, from talking with my grandfather, who served in both World War II and The Korean War. He was in the Army Air Corps in World War II, serving in the Pacific theatre, and he was one of the first officers to be commissioned in the Air Force when it was created shortly after the war ended. I still have his medals and officer sword, and many other relics of his time in service, and they remain among my most cherished possessions.

I went to a military college on an ROTC scholarship, and, within a few months of joining the Army, the tragedy of 9/11 occurred, so I was thrown into a war footing very quickly. I feel very honored to have had the opportunity to serve. There were some very tough times, as well as many rewarding ones too. I was very fortunate that I made it through those combat deployments unscathed. However, I am very mindful of those who were not as lucky. 

Still serving as a civilian

Although no longer on active duty, I feel in many ways like I am still proudly serving, both as a reservist as well as in my role at Inventus Power. I have been afforded many opportunities to support the community whether it is helping convert McCormick Place into a 5,000 bed hospital, during the COVID-19 pandemic or volunteering to support The Wall That Heals exhibit, a traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial that honors Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces during the Vietnam War.

Even as a civilian, I really felt that I still had a higher calling to support our current warfighters, and my role at Inventus Power role offers me an incredible chance to do so. Early on, Inventus Power recognized the existence of an escalating need for power in the military, and identified how the company’s cutting-edge technology could contribute; helping our warfighters go further, travel lighter, recharge faster and more, with vehicles and equipment, as well as wearable, on-person power solutions. I have been fortunate to be offered the opportunity to be a part of that effort when I joined the company in 2021.

Indeed, it is very rewarding for me that, even though I am not in uniform day to day, I still have the opportunity at Inventus Power to help provide our warfighters with the advanced battery technology, equipment and material that will better enable them to get their jobs done in a more effective, efficient and safer manner. And, personally I am also impressed and gratified by the enthusiasm and pride I see among our team members at Inventus Power who take on the challenge to make rigorous military grade products, and are meeting that challenge with excellence every day.

People make it happen

I am often asked if civilian work is very different from military work, and it is different in many ways of course, but I am often struck by one important similarity. In the Army, I learned first-hand that no matter how advanced your technology, no matter how robust your infrastructure, it is the people within the organization that are always going to be your most valuable resource. They are the key factor that will ultimately determine your success.

This holds true whether it’s the Soldier in the field or the technician on the production floor. And I am very glad I’ve found that culture here at Inventus Power, as I found in the military, a strong “people first” philosophy, with leadership that is dedicated to giving people the resources and support they need to do their jobs well, while supporting the ongoing welfare of them and their families.

I have also found that my military career has been very helpful in my role as a leader in the military support side of the Inventus Power business. I notice it in my interactions with military customers. A common background and shared experiences help us speak their language and understand their issues and needs at a very in-depth, real-world level. I think it makes us a very effective partner and gives us a competitive advantage as we reach out to them.

Supporting the military

For me and a lot of other veterans I’ve spoken to, we feel that every month is in a sense a time of military appreciation. I feel that support for the military has never been higher than it is right now, at Inventus Power, in the community and in the culture at large.

I speak with a number of my fellow veterans who are colleagues at Inventus Power, drawn here in large part because of our company’s support for the military, and that will likely grow. Indeed, as we continue to leverage our capabilities to invent, develop, test and field batteries and power management systems the likes of which the world has never seen, we will give our warfighters even greater capabilities. I think that we all feel that it is an honor to serve them. These are individuals who are truly among the most selfless, the most noble and most deserving customers that there can be.

LTC John Heaton, USAR

Director of Business Development, Military-Direct Government at Inventus Power