Life After Military: Find Great Career Opportunities in Dayton

Jeff Adkins

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is a place many enlisted personnel call “home” during their time in service. But after they transition from the military, many of them find they have put down roots and choose to stay in the region. The good news is there are many directions they can take after they hang up their blues, thanks to great resources and career opportunities in Dayton.

Wright-Patterson AFB itself offers many different career paths, and most are centered around technology and innovation. 

Air Force Materiel Command conducts research, development, testing and evaluation, and provides acquisition management services and logistics support. The base is also home to the Air Force Institute of Technology, the Air Force’s graduate school of engineering and management.

The National Air and Space Intelligence Center is the primary source for foreign air and space threats for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), and the Air Force Research Laboratory is a global technical enterprise, leading discovery and commercialization opportunities with its workforce of more than 10,000 across nine technical directorates and 40 other operations across the globe.

Plenty of Career Opportunities in Dayton Region

Brandon Hough, executive director of Homegrown National Park, says he had many options available to him as he neared the end of his enlisted service. 

“I had numerous (career) options,” he says. “I could have easily moved into contracting or program management with the DoD or with numerous contractors. I had also just finished my degree in sports administration from Xavier University, so I had a lot of opportunities to get into sports management. I chose the latter route.”

Now, in his current role, Hough works to regenerate biodiversity and ecosystem function by planting native plants and creating new ecological networks across the country.

Charlynda Scales’ career took a different trajectory. After 10 years of active duty and five in the Reserves, Scales says entrepreneurship opened a whole new world for her. She launched her own food retail brand, Mutt’s Sauce, in 2013 but more opportunities opened from there. 

“I’m now a bestselling author, which has connected me to people across the globe via keynote speaking and sharing the journey of business ownership,” says Scales, author of the book “Rock Bottom Has a Trampoline.”

Hough says job options were one thing that surprised him about moving to the region. 

“You have opportunities to learn at institutions like Wright State University, University of Dayton, Antioch College, Sinclair Community College, Clark State College and so many more. There are incredible career opportunities across a wide range of careers, including the DoD, engineering, health, education, nonprofits and more,” he says.

The Call of Community Is Strong

Career options aside, there are many other ways for residents to lend their talents to improve their new hometown. Hough and Scales both have put down roots through civic and community engagement, even creating new paths to employment for others. 

Scales, originally from Tennessee, is part of an endeavor to shake up the culinary scene in Dayton. Her nonprofit branch, OH Taste Foundation, is wrapping up construction on the $4.3 million 6888 Kitchen Incubator in the historic Dayton Arcade. It will be one of the largest commercial kitchens in the country. 

“It will be a launchpad for food businesses who will become successful, opening their own restaurants or launching retail food products that will impact economic development in the region,” Scales says. “Even better is the team that made this happen – co-founders Jamaica White and Dabriah Rice, local sponsors, and a board of directors who went above and beyond the call of duty to help bring this to life.”

Hough says he’s also inspired by the region’s potential. 

“I decided when I moved back here that I wanted to be a person who built the community they wanted to live in,” he says. “That’s why I got involved. I have now been with Beavercreek Rotary Club for six years and a board member of Beaver Creek Wetlands Association for three years.”

Regardless of motivation, career interests or hobbies, the Dayton region offers many ways to nurture talent and grow personally and professionally.

“There are so many things to do, so many great people I have met, so many great organizations to be a part of,” Hough says. “I have lived in many places and visited around 43 states. There aren’t a lot of places that check all the boxes like this area does. So, I’m happy to be here and see no need to leave!”

Q&A With a Retired Colonel

Meet Dr. Cassie B. Barlow, president of the Strategic Ohio Council for Higher Education (SOCHE) and a retired U.S. Air Force colonel. 

Barlow’s distinguished career spans leadership roles in both the military and civilian sectors, providing her with a unique perspective on community, workforce development, and the transition from service to civilian life. 

As the former commander of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, she led over 5,000 personnel.

Now, through SOCHE, she fosters collaboration among 23 institutions of higher education, driving regional workforce initiatives. She shares insights on her journey, her passion for Dayton and her advice for veterans embarking on their “second act.” 

Did any aspects of your military experience influence your choice of career or lifestyle after service? 
Absolutely. Early in my Air Force career, I was sent to school to become an industrial organizational psychologist. From then on, I looked at every position I was assigned to through that lens. 

I was always asking myself how to make things better in the organization, how to help people improve their performance, and how to get different voices to every single table. So, when I was looking for what’s next, going into workforce development was a natural fit. I’ve been able to utilize my experience to help develop the next generation. 

Being able to step into a field where I can assist in developing the next generation of my fellow citizens has been wonderful. 

Was there a specific moment or experience that made you want to call Dayton home? 
Not a single moment, no. It was more of a collection of things happening in my life at that time. But the most important thing, I think, is the incredible network around Dayton. 

Part of my job on base involved working with a network of community leaders, and it was a wonderful experience working together. 

When I retired, I was able to continue to work with this network, and I truly feel like I’m part of the team and part of the community. I could have easily just been a military member passing through Dayton, but this community really pulled us in and made us feel like family. That was probably the biggest factor. It made us ask ourselves, “Why would we ever leave?” This place feels like home. 

What resources or support systems in Dayton were most helpful during your transition? 
There are so many, including the Montgomery County Veterans Service Office, the Wright- Patterson AFB’s Transition Assistance Program and VA Dayton Health Care. Also, there are veterans in the community who are always offering help and advice. It is one thing to just walk in and get help with something, and it’s another thing entirely when multiple friends reach out and ask, “How can I help you with this?” That’s just who we are in Dayton. This community is truly dedicated to helping transitioning military members take that next step. 

What are you doing now in Dayton? 
Working at SOCHE keeps me incredibly busy! We’re all about developing the next generation workforce, and it’s really exciting. We help people get placed into companies all around Dayton. 

As for hobbies and activities, I serve on multiple nonprofit boards. I’m a huge fan of the arts and love the Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center and the Victoria Theatre, where we regularly enjoy shows. But mainly, I’m focused on family and spending time doing fun things. That’s where you’ll find me most of the time. 

What is your favorite thing about living in Dayton? 
The friendliness of everyone – hands down. It’s the best of Midwestern living, really. The area has a great cost of living, and honestly, we barely have any traffic issues. You can get just about anywhere in about 20 minutes. 

What advice would you give to other veterans considering Dayton for their second act? 
I think the biggest thing is don’t let any uncomfortable feelings hold you back. Reach out and talk to people. Ask for advice. Ask them what they’re doing. A lot of people have been through this transition and are incredibly willing to help the next group coming through. Reach out and accept the support. There are so many people out there wanting to help. 

One-Stop Resource Center

Ohio-based nonprofit Economic & Community Development Institute (ECDI) is a one-stop resource center that helps service members, veterans and military spouses who want to operate a business. 

In November 2024, ECDI chose Dayton to establish a new Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) located in the Wright State University Veteran & Military Center. 

“The VBOC helps military personnel and spouses go from ‘boots to business’ – transitioning from the military to civilian life,” says Tim Kehoe, ECDI director of special projects. “Our programs provide training for entrepreneurship and workforce readiness to help personnel get started on their small business dreams.” 

The VBOC instructs applicants on how to form a business plan, secure low-interest loans, get marketing tips, find mentors, apply for grants, raise capital, acquire patents and more. The VBOC tagline is, “Thank you for serving. How can we serve you?” 

Kehoe says the program is also open to spouses, which is especially important because thousands of military personnel and their families are stationed at nearby Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. He adds that even though the Veterans Business Outreach Center is still in its beginning stages, it already had a success story at the start of 2025. 

“A retiring airman came to us with an idea of starting a podcast to provide mental health advice and resource information for military personnel, and he asked us several questions about how to begin,” Kehoe says. “After meeting with us, he actually had his own LLC established by the end of that same day. That’s what the VBOC is all about.” 

– Kim Madlom and Kevin Litwin contributed to this article.