Military And Veterans
UMass Lowell, Headlamp help veterans launch post-military careers through Vets RISE
New Massachusetts program accelerates career transitions for veterans and military spouses
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✍️By ZRIntel Editorial Team📍Lowell, MA
LOWELL, Mass. For many service members, the transition from military to civilian life is often daunting, marked by uncertainty about how their skills will translate into the civilian workforce. UMass Lowell, in partnership with workforce development firm Headlamp, has launched an initiative called Veterans Reskilled in Innovative Solutions for Employment (Vets RISE) to bridge this gap. The program, funded by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, aims to provide veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses with the training, coaching, and professional networks they need to secure stable employment in high-demand industries. The story of Rebecca Waupoose, a U.S. Navy veteran who served six years as a master-at-arms, illustrates the programs impact. Waupoose aspired to pursue a career in construction project management but doubted whether her law enforcement and military police experience could translate. After just two months in Vets RISE, she landed a project management role with Optiline Enterprises, a New Hampshire-based construction company. Her success highlights how the program equips veterans with the tools to reposition themselves for meaningful careers. Vets RISE offers three distinct program types: an intensive eight-week anchor program, a flexible eight- to 15-week track, and an eight- to 25-week Department of Defense SkillBridge pathway. Each provides tailored training modules that focus on developing civilian-ready skills. Beyond technical training, participants receive hands-on career coaching, rsum assistance, interview preparation, and access to career fairs and industry networking events. The program also works closely with partners like MassHIRE and the Lowell Vet Center to ensure participants can leverage local resources. Program Manager Cassandra Denton, a 20-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force, emphasizes the urgency of supporting both veterans and military spouses. Research from the Pew Research Center indicates that only one in four veterans has a job lined up upon leaving service, and U.S. Department of Labor data shows unemployment among military spouses hovers at around 21%. Denton noted that the instability created by frequent relocations makes it difficult for military spouses to maintain continuous careers, and Vets RISE is designed to directly address that barrier. The programs philosophy centers on reframing military experience as an asset. Veterans are encouraged to recognize qualities such as discipline, leadership, adaptability, and problem-solving as highly transferable to civilian industries like construction, logistics, technology, and defense. Employers, too, are targeted through outreach efforts, showing them the value of veteran talent pipelines. Laura Arnold, program manager at Headlamp, described veterans as one of the nations most underutilized talent resources and praised Vets RISE for bridging the gap between skilled veterans and employers seeking disciplined, reliable workers. Participants in Vets RISE have reported early successes. For example, Shawn Kilroy, a UMass Lowell alumnus who served in both the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force, is now pursuing project management certifications while leveraging his military background toward a new role in the defense industry. Kilroy called the program serendipitous, noting that his military career began at UMass Lowell through Air Force ROTC and is now ending with support from the same institution as he transitions into civilian life. The initiative is part of the Lowell Innovation Network Corridor (LINC), a regional development effort designed to drive workforce growth and innovation. By embedding Vets RISE within LINC, organizers hope to create a model that can be replicated nationwide, particularly in regions with large veteran populations.