SEMI VetWorks

Veterans Day is a perfect time to not only recognize military veterans for their service but also for their ongoing contributions to society. The diverse and skilled population of military veterans, transitioning military personnel, reservists, and military spouses continue to contribute to the growth and innovation in broad range of industries—particularly in high-tech sectors like semiconductors.Since its inception in 2021, the SEMI VetWorks program has been dedicated to bridging the gap between military service and civilian careers by focusing on the recruitment, training, and retention of veterans in the semiconductor industry. By collaborating with military installations, veteran service organizations, and government agencies, the program helps veterans transition into meaningful careers within the semiconductor field, an industry that has driven technology innovation and transformed our lives at home, at work and on the go.I had the privilege of speaking with several veterans at different stages of their transition out of the military and into the semiconductor industry. These conversations highlighted the unique skills veterans bring to the table, their enthusiasm for the industry, and the opportunities that await them. The following are insights from three incredible veterans who have either recently transitioned into the industry or are in the process of doing so:LTC Joshua S. Ginn, U.S. Army Logistics Officer, is currently preparing for retirement after 24 years of service in the U.S. Army as the Soldier for Life Midwest and South Director. In seeking his next role, his military background in logistics, as well as his multifaceted experience in operations, supply, maintenance, and HR, has given him a solid foundation for his civilian career.Gomez: What attracted you to the semiconductor industry?Ginn: “I view the semiconductor industry as essential to the future of technology and the U.S. economy. The demand for semiconductors is on a growth trajectory as electronics become more ingrained in every facet of life. The industry is at a pivotal point, and it’s an exciting opportunity to contribute to something that will have long-lasting impact.”Ginn emphasizes that the semiconductor industry offers vast potential for veterans. He urges fellow veterans to take advantage of the current industry growth phase, describing it as a “foundational moment” for those looking to make a meaningful impact in the technology sector.Gomez: Can you provide advice for veterans looking for their next career?Ginn: “Get involved now, while the industry is expanding. There are opportunities at every stage of design and production. This is the time to make your mark, and the skills you’ve developed in the military are highly transferable to the semiconductor industry.”Ginn also shared his experience attending SEMICON West, where he spoke with over 100 companies eager to hire veterans, which reaffirmed his belief that this is an industry ripe with opportunity.Robert Sobeski, a U.S. Army veteran with seven years of service as an Infantry Officer, is currently participating in a DOD SkillBridge internship at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) as a process integration engineer. In his role, he works with a team of engineers to drive process improvements and meet performance, reliability, yield, and cost goals for semiconductor products.Gomez: Why did you choose the semiconductor industry after leaving the military?Sobeski: “The semiconductor industry is fast-paced, complex, and full of learning opportunities. I was drawn to it because it’s a foundation for almost every other technology. There’s so much potential for growth, both for the industry itself and for my personal development.”Gomez: What advice do you have for companies looking to attract veterans?Sobeski: “I think companies can do a lot more to showcase their veteran-friendly culture. They can create dedicated website content for the veteran community to learn about the company, culture and opportunities to make a difference. They can attend career events at military installations to engage with transitioning service members. They should also think about leveraging the G.I. Bill by offering scholarships to veterans pursuing degrees in engineering or related fields—this not only builds a stronger workforce but also helps close the talent gap in this sector.”Sobeski’s experience at TSMC has shown him the immense potential of veterans in the semiconductor industry. He believes that with the right programs and partnerships, companies can tap into an underutilized pool of talent eager to make a difference.Dan Cochran, Semiconductor Workforce Leader and a U.S. Navy veteran who served as an H-46 Aircrewman, transitioned into the semiconductor industry in 2000. Starting as a repair technician at IBM, Cochran quickly rose through the ranks, moving from process operator to process integration engineer at NANTERO, and eventually to a leadership position at NY CREATES. As the Director of VET S.T.E.P., the Veteran’s Semiconductor Training and Experience Program, Cochran now recruits, trains, and mentors veterans and military spouses for careers in semiconductor repair and installation.Gomez: What attracted you to the semiconductor industry?Cochran: “Semiconductors were a great fit for my military experience and training. It provided good pay, work-life balance, and the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge technologies. Working on processes that go into everything from smartphones to space exploration is a huge motivator for me.”Cochran’s story underscores the value of hands-on, technical skills acquired in the military. His journey demonstrates how veterans can leverage their technical expertise and leadership experience to thrive in the semiconductor sector.Gomez: What advice would you offer to veterans transitioning into civilian careers?Cochran: “Take the time to upskill, but don’t underestimate the experience you already have. The military teaches leadership, discipline, and problem-solving—skills that are incredibly valuable in the tech industry. Plus, there are plenty of programs like DOD SkillBridge and VET S.T.E.P. that can facilitate a smooth transition.”Cochran’s own success story is a testament to the potential for veterans in the semiconductor industry. Through the VET S.T.E.P. program, he’s helping the next generation of veterans follow in his footsteps and build rewarding careers in this high-tech field.A Bright Future for Veterans in the Semiconductor IndustryAs we’ve seen through the stories of these military veterans, the semiconductor industry is not only a vital component of the global economy but also an incredibly welcoming and rewarding field for veterans. The skills, leadership, and work ethic instilled through military service align perfectly with the demands of this high-tech industry.Any veterans reading this article should realize that their skills are not only needed but highly valued. For veterans considering a new career path, the semiconductor industry offers an array of opportunities—from engineering and process improvement to hands-on roles in equipment maintenance and repair. Learn where your military and other skills and interests align in this industry at careers.semi.org.This Veterans Day, let’s honor our military community—thank you for your service and for your continued dedication and contributions to fueling technology innovation! Melinda Gomez is Program Manager for Military Initiatives at the SEMI Foundation.

Across our industry-driven programs and working groups, we are exploring new ways to engage government, academia and civil society to unlock the power of quadruple helix support and propel the semiconductor industry to $1 trillion and beyond.

Over the course of my seven-year tenure as President and CEO of SEMI, we have worked to build the premier platform for global semiconductor industry collaboration to address its shared opportunities and challenges.

Tokyo Electron has implemented various programs and initiatives aimed at helping veterans find meaningful employment opportunities and providing them with a supportive and inclusive work environment. TEL is a founding member of the SEMI Foundation’s VetWorks working group.

To help semiconductor companies tap this important demographic as part of its VetWorks program, the SEMI Foundation is launching a series of Semiconductor Industry Hiring Military Hiring events around the country – the first later this month in Phoenix.

On February 15, the Science Research and Technology Subcommittee, one of five subcommittees of the United States House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, held a timely hearing to explore semiconductor legislation and the industry’s workforce needs.

As the microelectronics industry looks to fill job vacancies, and as we approach Veterans Day, it’s important to turn our attention to the many contributions of veterans and why hiring them is both the right thing to do and a sound business strategy.

Veterans often have essential skills and experiences that make them ideal candidates for careers in the chip industry, but it sometimes can be difficult for them to understand how the skills they developed while in the service translate to those that are sought after in the civilian workforce.

As the semiconductor industry continues to grapple with the widespread effects of the COVID pandemic, at the SEMI Foundation we continue to build programs and initiatives that inspire the next generation of STEM workers and drive new and diverse talent to all of our member companies.Our work to build out the semiconductor workforce centers on creating more diversity, equity, and inclusion within the industry. We want everyone to win. We want students and workers to benefit from these excellent jobs. We want our industry to diversify to increase our productivity, innovation, and our bottom lines. And we want to fulfill the extraordinary potential of electronics to help people around the world in the way they work and live. COVID-19 is hitting certain populations – women, veterans, and Black, Indigenous and other people of color – particularly hard, so our work has never been more timely or important for local communities and the global economy.To that end, we’re going big by generating funding and designing initiatives that will benefit the industry over the long term. The SEMI Foundation’s SEMI VetWorks Program, currently in development, will help U.S. veterans better understand our industry, the careers available to them, and how their skills will transfer to working in microelectronics. The program also provides training portals and mentorship support to smooth their transition to the industry.We’re also working to fund our Women In Industry Network, a major new initiative designed with national partners to significantly increase the representation of women, who today account for just 10-25% of the semiconductor workforce across all roles and functions. What’s more, the SEMI Foundation’s global industry image and awareness campaign is inspiring more young people to enter high-school and university STEM programs and ultimately pursue careers in microelectronics while encouraging current workers to re-skill or up-skill and join the tech workforce.Meanwhile, your High Tech U team continues to connect semiconductor companies with students all over the globe. While we’re eager to get back on the road to meet and inspire students in person, we are excited to provide updates about two of our programs:HTU in the ClassroomWith the transition to online and hybrid learning classrooms, we seized the opportunity to combine STEM activities from SEMI High Tech U with discussion sessions and other projects to help students explore and deepen their understanding of the semiconductor manufacturing process. The 16-week pilot program, called HTU in the Classroom, will launch late next year to introduce high-school students to four key areas of chip production: patterning and layering, the chemistry involved in photolithography, logic gate systems, and computational thinking. These interviews with SEMI member companies will give students a chance to share their new knowledge gained from the class and to ask questions about what life is really like as an engineer, HR professional, or manager in industry.From Sand to SiliconWith silicon the lifeblood of our industry, it is impossible to understand what makes the semiconductor/microelectronics industry tick without knowing more about the companies, processes and technologies that all make it possible. That’s why we are developing a self-guided online journey through the chip manufacturing process for students and educators. This will go beyond reading like a Wikipedia site. Instead, the learning and exploration will feature interactive elements including company videos and links to resources such as fact sheets as well as university and company websites. At each stage, students will get details about the companies and individuals who do the work and the paths the professionals followed to these roles. The big-picture look will show how all the production stages come together to build working devices that power everything from smartphones to data centers.The SEMI Foundation is grateful for your support and partnership as we all work through these unprecedented times and roll out new programs to help build the talent pipeline. To learn more about or support our workforce development programs, please contact Shari Liss, SEMI Foundation’s Executive Director, at [email protected].