Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) is proud to welcome Stephanie Geigel, who joins our Chief Information Officer (CIO) Department through the Hiring Our Heroes program, an initiative of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation dedicated to connecting veterans, service members, military spouses, and caregivers with meaningful civilian careers.

Stephanie brings a wealth of experience as an all-source analyst, backed by more than nine years of active duty in the U.S. Army.

Stephanie's service began in 2016 as a Military Police Officer, where she established her foundation in security operations before transitioning into the intelligence field.

Stephanie has worked as an Army intelligence analyst since 2021, in duty stations including South Korea and Georgia.

She is currently officially stationed at Fort Eisenhower, Georgia.

As an all-source analyst, Stephanie performed advanced analysis of intelligence and open-source data to maintain target continuity, profile targets and their activities, and develop strategies for obtaining additional intelligence.

Throughout her nine-year Army career, Stephanie excelled in her assigned duties, consistently prioritizing mentorship, team-building, and fostering environments where colleagues could exceed their potential.

"I am very grateful for everything that I've learned in the military, and that's my leadership skills, my resiliency. Because in the military, you need resilience in order to be successful. You just keep getting back up and keep trying."

The Hiring Our Heroes program is helping Stephanie transition from her military career to the civilian world.

"I think GTRI will definitely be able to help me continue honing my analytical skills," said Stephanie. "I think one of the greatest challenges for a service member transitioning out of the military is being able to know how to network in the civilian populace, and so I think GTRI has a lot of opportunity for that networking."

In her new role within GTRI’s CIO Department, Stephanie is focusing on cybersecurity and insider threat deterrence. These areas are aligned with her military-honed skills in critical thinking, risk assessment, and strategic communication. 

"I can honestly say that my experience working with GTRI thus far has been a rewarding one," says Stephanie. 

"The team I am currently working with has been nothing but respectful, kind, and welcoming. Willing to go beyond helping me with my current work role while also providing challenges and letting me figure out the route I believe it should go.

"They have also helped mentor me, and so overall I am grateful for the safe and comfortable space created by GTRI."

Stephanie has had "boots on the ground and moving" in her less than a month at GTRI. She has already been "embedded" into the Office of the CIO's herculean "Reimagine IT" project, which is meant to standardize, streamline, and improve IT operations across GTRI. Stephanie has already:

• Developed an Excel tracking system to monitor and map future changes effectively.
• Created a detailed migration outline to prioritize high-focus areas and determine the sequence for migrating each page.
• Compiled a comprehensive list of content to be included on her unit's Confluence page, ensuring it serves as a valuable resource for the organization.
• Developed a standardized page layout for IT departments across GTRI to ensure consistency and ease of use.

Before she leaves the Hiring Our Heroes program at GTRI, Stephanie plans to:

• Establish a content management plan that specifies the frequency and timing for updating and refining content.

• Conduct a briefing with senior-level management to secure approval for the proposed actions to be implemented for the entirety of GTRI.

   

She says she quickly became comfortable at GTRI, particularly with the people here.

"What I've learned about the people here at GTRI, the ones that I have met, is everyone is extremely friendly, everyone is super approachable, and I think they're committed to helping others excel here as well.

"What I've done in the military is basically figure out solutions to problems, and I'm hoping that I can do that for GTRI. This is going to be the experience that I need to better prepare myself for how I can bring what I have learned in the military to a civilian sector workforce and excel in that role."

Beyond her military and analytical expertise, Stephanie is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in legal studies and is working towards obtaining financial services licenses.

Stephanie is currently working at GTRI as an "affiliate." She is working from her home in the Augusta, Georgia area. She is originally from the Bronx, New York.

Outside of her work duties, Stephanie says she enjoys spending time with her children, reading books, and tending to her many plants.

About Hiring Our Heroes

Hiring Our Heroes actively supports veterans and military spouses as they transition to civilian employment by providing valuable resources, resume assistance, training, and facilitating direct connections through hiring fairs and fellowships nationwide. GTRI’s partnership with this program highlights our commitment to embracing a diverse workforce and recognizing the unique strengths military veterans and spouses bring to our team.

Hiring Our Heroes actively supports veterans and military spouses as they transition to civilian employment by providing valuable resources, resume assistance, training, and facilitating direct connections through hiring fairs and fellowships nationwide.

GTRI’s partnership with this program highlights our commitment to maximizing the unique strengths current and former military personnel bring to our team to bring to fruition our mision to, among other goals, serve national security.

HOH Fellowships include industry-focused internships that connect veterans, transitioning service members, military spouses, and caregivers with training and professional experience in high-demand career fields with innovative employer partners.

To learn more about Hiring Our Heroes, visit: https://www.hiringourheroes.org/