Jerry Cole proudly served in the United States Navy from 1985 to 1992, where he gained experience in aviation operations, administration, and expeditionary support. During his military career, he worked as a Plane Captain on F/A-18 aircraft, later transitioned into an administrative Yeoman role, and ultimately supported Seabee operations with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 21.
After his service, Jerry built a successful career in IT and telecommunications. Over the years, he earned multiple certifications and held a variety of technical and analytical roles with companies including Dell, AT&T, Frontier Communications and Tech Mahindra.
However, between 2022 and 2025, Jerry faced a series of difficult personal and financial challenges, including the loss of his wife and a period of unemployment. As he worked to regain stability, he connected with Goodwill North Central Texas’ VetWorthy program, which provides veterans with career support, job readiness resources and employment assistance.
Through VetWorthy, Jerry strengthened his job search strategy, updated his professional skills, and received support navigating today’s workforce. His determination and experience soon led to a new opportunity.
In December 2025, Jerry was hired as an Onsite Support Technician with Datavant, a role that provided renewed financial stability and a fresh start during a challenging season of life.
Jerry’s journey is a powerful example of resilience, adaptability and perseverance. Through every challenge, he remained committed to moving forward and continuing to grow both personally and professionally.