Former naval officer Richard Farias has successfully navigated from high-stakes military operations to strengthening the security of our nation's borders, thanks to the DoD SkillBridge program which facilitates a smoother transition for veterans into federal roles. Farias, who once led with precision on the battlefield, now lends his expertise to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), an opportunity he seized through the program that offers internships to transitioning service members. Joining CBP, Farias gained firsthand insights into the agency's operations, from advancing border security readiness to open-source intelligence protocols, as highlighted by his account to CBP's newsroom.
The similarity in missions and the immediate results that come with border protection, such as protecting National Special Security Events, drew Farias to CBP, where during his internship he even played a vital role in aiding the 2025 Presidential Inauguration and worked closely with DHS partners including FEMA to boost communication capability, the agency's collaboration was pivotal for the shared security mission but it also extended across a network of intelligence and federal agencies, and Farias's involvement was significant in a mission space he found gratifying. According to Farias, the SkillBridge program not only eased his transition from military to civilian work, but it also fast-tracked his hiring process by allowing him to prove his worth outside the congested federal job market.
Linking with the CBP's national Veterans Employment Program Manager, Jeffrey Jack, was a pivotal moment for Farias who praised Jack's professionalism and guidance throughout the process. The recommendation from a fellow veteran already within the CBP led Farias to connect with Jack, culminating in a mutually beneficial arrangement beyond the SkillBridge internship. As CBP's newsroom relayed, Farias emphasized the benefits of the program, stating, "SkillBridge gave the hiring manager a trial run—they could evaluate my experience, attitude, and cultural fit before making a hiring decision."
