November 2021 is the month of National Veterans and Military Families. We send our deep gratitude to all veterans and military who put their lives on the line to protect the nation.

All colleges that offer laser, optics, photonics, and fiber optics education continuously explore ways to improve opportunities for veterans, military personnel, and their families to receive college training in this hi-tech field to transition to a civilian career. The industry constantly seeks veterans with laser/photonics training for its multiple openings.

I am proud to say that many colleges, in partnership with their Veteran’s Affairs offices, have established clear procedures for awarding college credit for equivalent military training and experience.

We dedicated the November issue of the OPEN to informational resources for veterans. Brochures about military specialty occupations in the four military branches transferrable to college education and a career in laser, optics, and photonics can be downloaded from our website and modified as needed.

In addition, in this issue, you can read about one of our veterans, Dr. M.J. Soileau, and his story, find information about the updated series in biomedical lasers, other LASER-TEC resources, and more.

Hillsborough Community College is the featured college of this month. The electronics engineering and computer engineering programs at HCC are led by a veteran. Tracy Barnes, the professor and the department chair of the program, served in the U.S. Air Force from 1983-1987.

The team at LASER-TEC wishes you a happy November and a happy Thanksgiving holiday!

Best Wishes,

Chrys Panayiotou
Fort Pierce, FL