Veterans Day is a time to honor and recognize all U.S. military veterans who have served in any branch of the armed forces, whether during times of war or peace. At Georgia Tech, we are proud to count many veterans among our staff — including five members of the Infrastructure and Sustainability utility plant team who work tirelessly to ensure the seamless operation of campus systems. 

These individuals bring a range of military experiences, having served in the U.S. Army, Navy, and Marines, as well as the U.K.’s Royal Navy. Their transition from military service to campus operations reflects a continued commitment to excellence. Today, they serve the Institute with the same discipline, teamwork, and pride that defined their years in uniform, contributing to Georgia Tech’s mission with unwavering dedication. 

At the Holland Plant, stationary engineers Marvin Carter and Steven Stacey share their stories, which reflect the dedication embodied by many of the Institute’s employees who have served in the armed forces. 

For Carter, a machinist mate in the Navy before joining Georgia Tech in 2016, the values of precision and collaboration are second nature. “It’s pretty much the same kind of work I do now,” he said. “In both jobs, attention to detail and teamwork are everything.” Carter’s Navy career took him from the boiler rooms of ships to aircraft and cargo elevators, and even to competing in the Armed Forces Games as a boxer. That experience, he said, was transformative. “I met people from Africa, Europe, and Kazakhstan. It opened my eyes to diversity and gave me a broader perspective.” 

Carter credits his time in the military for shaping how he approaches his work at Georgia Tech. “The Navy taught me pride in what I do,” he said. “It gave me an attention to detail that most people don’t normally have. And it helped me understand that everyone comes from a different background, but we can all work together toward a common goal.” 

Veterans Day, for Carter, is both reflective and personal. “It’s a reminder of the sacrifices I made, and of my friends who are still serving,” he said. “It’s also about the people you meet along the way. The relationships last a lifetime.” 

For Stacey, who has worked at Georgia Tech for nearly 25 years, the connection between military service and campus work runs just as deep. He served as a helicopter crew chief with the U.S. Army and the Georgia National Guard, including deployment with a medevac unit during the Gulf War. “Getting to do what I trained for was the most memorable part,” he said. “That’s what every service member wants, to put their training to work.” 

The lessons of military service continue to guide him daily. “In the Army, you start with the basics, literally a class called ‘nuts and bolts,’” he said. “That foundation helped me here because we deal with high-pressure systems every day. But beyond that, the Army taught me how to work with people. As a non-commissioned officer, you learn that not everyone responds the same way. You have to know how to bring out the best in each person. That’s helped me not just at work, but in life.” 

Stacey said Veterans Day is about acknowledgment and unity. “It’s recognition for signing that dotted line,” he said. “Nobody made us do it. We knew what it meant, and we did it anyway.” With generations of veterans in his family, he views service as a shared calling. “We need warriors. That’s what keeps this country strong. The military gave me direction when I didn’t have it, and it taught me skills that shaped the rest of my life.” 

Across Georgia Tech, countless veterans like Carter and Stacey continue to embody the Institute’s core values of excellence, integrity, and service — whether they’re educating students, performing research, or ensuring that campus systems operate optimally. 

This Veterans Day, Georgia Tech honors all its employees who have worn the uniform and whose sense of duty continues to strengthen the community they help sustain. Their stories remind us that service does not end when the uniform comes off. It simply takes on new forms, guided by the same unwavering commitment to something greater than oneself.