GE Aerospace Places Seven Veterans Through Skillbridge

The military transition program lets service members train with employers during their final 180 days of service at no cost to companies.

Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Military Jobs

Photograph of an empty industrial training bay with a jet engine nacelle resting on a steel cradle under soft daylight from high windows. — GE Aerospace has completed the Skillbridge program with seven veterans, placing all of them at the company's Grand Rapids operations. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Would you hire a veteran through a no-cost military transition program?

GE Aerospace has completed the Skillbridge process with seven veterans, all of whom were placed at the company. Around 15 companies in Grand Rapids participate in the program, which allows service members to pursue industry training, apprenticeships, or internships before leaving the military.

Why it matters

Skillbridge gives service members a structured path into civilian careers while they still receive military pay and benefits, and it costs participating employers nothing. For Grand Rapids, the program connects a local employer base with veterans seeking work after service.

GE Aerospace reports seven veterans completed Skillbridge with a 100% placement rate, and about 10% of its workforce is veterans. The extraction does not indicate how many participants applied or how these figures compare with other Grand Rapids employers.

The players

GE Aerospace

GE Aerospace is a major aviation engine and systems manufacturer with a significant presence in Grand Rapids.

Rob Norman

Rob Norman is a former F-15 crew chief and battlefield management veteran who now works as a lead training engineer at GE Aerospace.

The details

Skillbridge lets service members do industry training, apprenticeships, or internships during their last 180 days of service, with the U.S. government continuing their military pay and benefits. GE Aerospace has placed seven veterans through the program, and Rob Norman, a former F-15 crew chief who later worked in battlefield management, is now a lead training engineer at the company's Grand Rapids site.

Service members may participate during their last 180 days of service.
Rob Norman served 20 years in the military before transitioning through Skillbridge.

Military Transition Pathways

The Skillbridge program, which lets service members train with employers during their final 180 days of service at no cost to those employers, offers a structured route from military to civilian work. GE Aerospace's seven placements in Grand Rapids show how an established employer can use the program as one pipeline for veteran hiring.

Service members in their final 180 days of service in Grand Rapids may be able to pursue Skillbridge training or internships with local employers. Job seekers who are veterans can ask participating companies about the program as a route into civilian work.

The takeaway

Veterans preparing to leave the military can ask about Skillbridge participation early, since the program is available only during the final 180 days of service. Employers considering the program can review how it places trained service members into their workforce.