The D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) is passionate about taking data to help veterans after the transition out of the military. Barb Carson is the Managing Director, Programs and Services at IVMF, Syracuse University. She is also an Air Force veteran who worked in multiple career field, but ended her career working as a Public Affairs Officer in the Reserve as a Colonel. In this interview, we discussed her experience in the Air Force along with her role and the programs at IVMF and how the work being done by IVMF is changing the lives of veterans.
Taking Data to Help Veterans – IVMF
Joining the Military
Barb began looking to join the military during her freshman year of college. The day she took the ASVAB was the day she learned about ROTC. There happened to still be one open scholarship. She decided to take it. It led her into a career as an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) crew member. She achieved the position of Senior Missile Combat Crew Evaluator for the Peacekeeper ICBM force.
From Active Duty to Reserve
With her husband also serving on active duty, she was faced with a choice. Get out or live at a different assignment for the next three years with a newborn. Not wanting to leave the military but also not wanting to be alone with a newborn she decided to leave the military. When she learned about the Reserve as an option to continue her career she decided to take it. She worked as an Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA). This gave her the flexibility to work between 30 days a year up to 200 days. Depending on her life schedule and the projects available.
Back to Full Time Work
In 2018, she decided to go back to full time work in the DC metro area. She landed a job at U.S. Small Business Administration. It was there she connected with IVMF as they were launching Boots to Business. Her next role at the Small Business Administration took her away from her connection with IVMF but in 2023 she moved to work at IVMF after reconnecting with connections.
She also discussed the role of being a full time employee and working in the Reserve. It was a challenge. She found herself connecting with others in a similar position and also advocating to help their voices be heard. Being a full time employee and continuing to serve in the Reserve gave her a lot of opportunities to take skills from one role to another.
History of IVMF
In 2014, Todd Connor noticed the dramatic decline in veteran entrepreneurship since the postwar era, and decided to do something about it. Veterans struggled to break into the critical professional networks and access necessary capital to launch and grow their businesses. He founded Bunker Labs, and rallied not just dedicated staffers, but inspired participants to meet that challenge head on. Bunker Labs was the creation of a new community—regional groups of veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs eager to support and learn from each other.
IVMF has a number of programs for Veterans and Military Spouses. Depending on if you want to work in a new career and need a certification. Are looking to start or grow your business. There are a number of great programs that are available to you. You can learn more about IVMF at their website.
