At Chaberton, we’re proud to have veterans on our team and deeply value the unique skills and perspective they bring to the community solar and battery energy storage development. What started as one veteran’s successful transition has evolved into ongoing Chaberton opportunities through the DoD SkillBridge Program, creating pathways for military talent to thrive in distributed energy.
The Catalyst
When Katherine “Katie” Griffin, our senior manager of business innovation, joined Chaberton in 2023, she showed us that the lessons and discipline learned during military service are the perfect foundation for success in distributed energy development.
Katie is a U.S. Navy veteran with eight years of active duty experience that included three deployments, nuclear power training, and roles ranging from service aboard the USS New Orleans (LPD-18) in San Diego to the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) in Norfolk, as well as serving as an Amphibious Warfare Tactics Instructor before transitioning to civilian life.
Katie found her way to Chaberton through a recruiter specializing in placements for members of the U.S. Navy’s nuclear program. From her first interview with Mike Doniger, President of Chaberton and a “Navy Nuke” himself, Katie knew it was the right fit. Other veterans at Chaberton immediately reached out during her first weeks, even those she wouldn’t work with directly, creating the community she’d worried about losing.
Katie’s technical background and leadership experience from the Navy translated seamlessly to project management and problem-solving in distributed energy development. The discipline and adaptability she honed during military service now help her manage development cycles, financial planning, and team coordination, skills critical in an industry where policy changes can shift strategy overnight.
Katie’s experience showed us what was possible and inspired us to expand the opportunity.
Meet our SkillBridge Pioneers
Building on Katie’s proven success, she encouraged Chaberton’s participation in the DoD SkillBridge program, which provides service members the opportunity to gain valuable civilian work experience during their last 180 days of service. We recently welcomed our first SkillBridge interns, Patrick McGillivary and Aldo Vidro, to Chaberton. On the job for just a few months, they have brought their unique military backgrounds and fresh perspectives to our community solar and battery energy storage projects.
Patrick has served with the United States Air Force for 20 years as an Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) Technician, and Aldo has served with the United States Army for nearly five years, most recently as a Company Executive Officer.
Backgrounds that Matter
Our SkillBridge program gives participants hands-on experience by stepping directly into the development manager role on real projects.
Patrick is currently managing four community solar projects, and his contributions are making a meaningful impact. When one project faced limited utility connection capacity, he analyzed alternatives and proposed a new strategy that kept it viable. On another project, his cost-benefit analysis revealed a financial risk in the faster permitting path, leading the team to choose a stronger long-term route.
His 20 years as an EOD Technician prepared him perfectly for this kind of work. “As an EOD Technician, every situation was different,” Patrick explained. “Whether it involved an Improvised Explosive Device, an aircraft emergency, or an unexploded munition, each response required quick thinking, risk management, and creative problem solving. There was rarely one clear answer, so I had to make sound decisions with limited information and be ready to adapt when things changed.”
That experience carries directly into project development. “Each project comes with its own challenges, and success depends on the ability to think critically, stay flexible, and adjust plans as new information becomes available,” Patrick said.
Aldo is leading development on multiple projects while assisting development managers across the portfolio. His approach? Fail fast, learn faster, and rely on others’ expertise. That mindset has accelerated both his projects and his own development in the solar and storage development space.
Aldo’s experience managing missions and working with diverse personalities has proven invaluable in his work with engineering partners. “Having interacted with a multitude of people and personalities in the military, I’ve been able to use my interpersonal skills with our engineering partners to manage those relationships and get quality deliverables from them,” he explained. It’s relationship management under pressure—exactly what project development requires.
The Transition Experience
Both Patrick and Aldo were surprised by aspects of distributed energy development they hadn’t anticipated.
For Patrick, it was the creativity required. “I don’t think I understood just how much creativity and adaptability are needed to bring each project to life,” he said. “I did not realize how many unique challenges each project could face.” Seeing how different teams collaborate to find solutions and move projects forward has been enlightening.
The biggest adjustment for him has been shifting his mindset. In EOD, most missions were “no-fail.” At Chaberton, there’s still a focus on solving complex problems—but also on recognizing no-win situations early. “The team here has been outstanding in helping me understand that balance and the company’s overall development strategy,” Patrick said.
Aldo was struck by the industry’s tempo. “It’s very similar to the military, which surprised me,” he says. But unlike military operations, the renewable energy industry has learned to balance intensity with long-term viability. “Despite this tempo, everyone respects balance in their lives.”
For Aldo, the biggest challenge has been translating his military skills to civilian contexts—learning which capabilities transfer directly and which need adaptation. The DoD SkillBridge program has helped him apply what he knows while gaining experience in new areas.
Both have discovered what they value in an employer. Patrick appreciates the open communication and collaborative culture he’s found at Chaberton: “That sense of teamwork is something I truly appreciate.” Aldo agrees, calling his experience “a welcomed surprise in my life.”
Looking Forward: Growing Our Impact
Katie’s advice to transitioning service members? Talk to as many people as possible about opportunities in the civilian workforce. “You may discover career paths you never knew existed,” she says. “The renewable energy sector particularly values the leadership, technical skills, and adaptability that military service develops.”
What began as one veteran’s successful transition has grown into a strategic program that benefits both Chaberton and service members preparing for civilian life. Our DoD SkillBridge partnership reflects our commitment to recognizing and developing military talent while building a stronger, more diverse workforce.
Ready to Chart Your Own Course?
If you’re a transitioning service member interested in community solar and battery storage development, we invite you to learn more about Chaberton Energy’s DoD SkillBridge opportunities at https://skillbridge.osd.mil/ (search “Chaberton Energy”).
Your military experience has prepared you for challenges you haven’t imagined yet. The question isn’t whether you have valuable skills, it’s finding the right place to apply them, and the right employer to support your transition.
About Chaberton Energy
Headquartered in Maryland, Chaberton Energy is a public benefit corporation developing renewable distributed energy projects, with a particular emphasis on community solar, solar for businesses, and battery energy storage. Chaberton was named to the 2024 and 2025 Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies, ranking as the No. 2 fastest-growing energy company, the No. 1 fastest-growing Maryland company, and the No. 53 fastest-growing company overall.
Media Contact
Lia Morrison
lia.morrison@chaberton.com
412-573-9095
