Georgia Power is celebrating the role that U.S. military veterans play in serving its 2.5 million electric customers in the state, including approximately 30 percent of Georgia Power and Southern Nuclear employees at the Vogtle nuclear expansion project near Waynesboro, Georgia. Prior to Veterans Day this Saturday, Georgia Power is inviting social fans to tune into its Facebook page to hear from two veterans working on the project share their experiences transitioning from the military and how the skills they learned in the service have served them in their civilian careers.

Facebook Live features from the Vogtle nuclear expansion site on Friday, Nov. 10:

• David Giles, U.S. Navy Veteran – Served on nuclear submarines primarily as a Machinist Mate and Engineering Laboratory Technician, responsible for the operations, maintenance, radiological control and chemistry associated with a nuclear reactor. Giles built on his Navy nuclear experience by starting his career at Vogtle 1 & 2 in 2011, then transferring to Vogtle 3 & 4, where he now serves as a Senior Engineer in Field Engineering.

• Eric Jackson, U.S. Navy Veteran – Served  as Third Class Petty Officer (E-4) Machinist Mate onboard USS Saipan LHA-2 in a role equivalent to a System Operator at Plant Vogtle. Currently works on the Vogtle 3 & 4 project providing support to engineers in the design department.  

Supporting the U.S. military is also a focus for Georgia Power in every community it serves. A recent initiative spearheaded by Georgia Power employee Sarah Beth Todd is featured in a new video released this week by Georgia Power. Working with employees, friends and family, as well as local students throughout the state, Todd collected more than 1,200 letters of thanks for military service members. Click here to watch the video.

Assisting veterans
Approximately one in 10 Georgia Power employees are veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. In addition to a concentrated veteran recruitment effort, Georgia Power's Military Veterans in Power (MVP) internal employee resource group brings company executives and a diverse group of veterans from across Georgia Power together to help veterans transition from the military to the civilian workforce. The group also focuses on charitable activities and volunteering with organizations that support veterans and their families across the state.

Programs, partnerships and accolades
Georgia Power's parent company, Southern Company, is a founding partner of the Troops to Energy Jobs program, a recruiting source that links veterans to job openings in the energy industry, and actively recruits members of the Navy as a Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program partner. Through this program, Georgia Power has been able to transition veterans directly from military bases including Fort Stewart near Savannah to positions within the company. Southern Company is consistently recognized for its veterans programs, including being named to G.I. Jobs' annual Top 100 Military Friendly Employer® listing and as a "Best for Vets Employer" by Military Times EDGE for multiple years.