Levi Willow Story:
A Navy trained Electronics Technician (Conventional), Second Class Petty Officer (E-5) with over 6 years of exper
ience in the areas of Navy electronic communications, and distribution and casualty control operations. A fully qualified Combat System Officer of the Watch who communicated with generation supervisors to support ground isolation checks, load shedding and rig casualty power. He also coordinated electrical and mechanical equipment safety tag-outs and prepared combat systems daily reports and maintain status boards and logs. He was also qualified as a Super High Frequency Satellite Communications Technician where he used his skills and knowledge to maintain a multi-band and broadband electronics communications systems with focus on the operation and maintenance of a satellite communication system. He was also qualified as a Repair Party Electrician, responsible to locate power sources, electrical distribution systems and components in an assigned area to electrically isolate a space as directed. Conducted electrical damage surveys of affected spaces, rigged and unrigged casualty power and conducted emergency repairs to vital circuits.
Levi found out about the Power4Vets program via the Energy.gov website and he contacted our office to talk to our team about the program details and process. Levi was very proactive in his transition plan and started the process very early. As our career team began speaking to him about the program and his transition plan goals, we knew right away that he was going to achieve success in our program before his enlistment was going to end in October 2020. His journey with the Power4Vets training process started in July 2017, and he completed all of the Power System Operations training course modules by December 2017. Since he was not getting out the Navy until October 2020 there was truly no rush for him to obtain his certification so he took his time in the training process and be well prepared for the exam. He then completed the NERC Preparation course and took the Reliability Coordinator Certification test in February 2020 and passed the exam with flying colors on the first shot. Levi actually holds the 4th highest NERC test score recorded in the history of the Power4Vets program which is truly amazing. Once he passed the NERC exam, then the real work in his transition plan started to unfold as we prepared him for the workforce and he ended up landing his dream job with WAPA in Arizona (his location of choice) as a Power System Dispatcher in October 2020.
We want to congratulate Levi for believing in the program, having a solid transition plan and sticking to it while achieving NERC Certification and landing a great career job in the utility industry with WAPA. Congratulations Levi, Job Well Done!
Words from Levi Willow
I am extremely thankful for the Power4Vets program! I started the program before the 2020 pandemic, but I was separating from t
he Navy during a stressful and historical time in October 2020. The Power4Vets program was able to relieve some of the stress by helping me succeed in obtaining a new career as a Power System Operator.
The Power4Vets simulations, book studying, test, NERC certification course and online classroom environment were all essential to passing the NERC certification test on the first try. I came into this field with minimal knowledge on how the electrical grid works, but their learning modules did a great job teaching me everything I needed to know.
After completing the learning modules, I was enrolled into the NERC certification course where I was able to take what I learned and start studying for the exam. While studying, David Miranda checks up on you to see if you need anymore help and ensures you will pass the exam on the first try. I passed my first try, and now it was time to find a job!
Thankfully, David Miranda helps guide you with their job search service. He provides help with how to search for jobs and apply. He is very knowledgeable and has a lot of contacts in the business. Then, he coaches you on interview techniques once you are scheduled for an interview. There is also help with salary negotiation if necessary.
Overall, I am extremely happy with the Power4Vets program. My advice is you get what you give. What you put into the Power4Vets program is what you are going to get out of it.
Thank you Power4Vets and David Miranda for a great experience and helping me obtain a great career after separating the Navy!