When Lieutenant Colonel Lyle Milliman began considering life after the military, he knew he wanted to continue making an impact — this time in the civilian world. With two decades of service for the U.S. Army and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Milliman brought a wealth of experience in civil engineering, leadership and project management. But transitioning from military to civilian life is not always straightforward.
That’s where our ‘Return the Salute’ Department of Defense SkillBridge program came in.
A New Chapter Begins
Milliman’s journey to us began with curiosity and initiative. “WSP had an office in Buffalo, and I saw potential to stay in my hometown area,” Milliman shared. “I applied to a few positions with WSP that I thought I was qualified for, and I applied to some positions I felt I was a bit overqualified for, and that got me in the room.”
Milliman’s proactive approach led him to connect with our Buffalo office, where he found early champions. From there, a series of conversations with leaders helped shape an internship that aligned with his background in environmental remediation.
Once inside, Milliman’s impact was immediate. Over the course of his 17-week internship, he met with more than 70 senior leaders across the business. “The access was phenomenal,” he said. “I got to meet with Sofia Berger, Earth and Environment business line executive, and sit down with her for 30 minutes. That’s not normal at an organization of this scale.”
His presence didn’t go unnoticed. “My supervisor called me one day and said, ‘What the heck are you doing? The third vice president has emailed me today saying we need to hire you.’”
