Paul Miller didn’t know what he wanted to do when he left high school. He got decent grades, but always paid more attention to tinkering with electronics and “cool stuff”; instead of homework. So when graduation came and went, he eventually decided to enlist in the U.S. Navy to get quick, hands-on training working with the technology he loved.

He served six years and was promoted to petty officer second class before leaving for a career in information technology. He climbed the ranks at various companies before Public Storage recruited him this year as vice president of IT operations. When he accepted, Miller joined more 100 other veterans who work behind the orange doors.

“I feel like I’ve been welcomed into the Public Storage family,”; Miller said. “Everyone strives to build a growth environment, and everyone’s unique experiences provide valuable perspective.”;

This Veterans Day, we want to pay a special tribute to the military veterans in our ranks, and we encourage more men and women in uniform to apply to join the largest storage company in the nation, once their full-time role in the service ends.

Military Veterans Find Success at Public Storage

As a new high school graduate, Stuart White was in the same indecisive place as Miller when he decided to enlist.

“My father is an Army vet and served in Vietnam,”; he said. “He told me to join the Air Force; there’s a lot more air conditioning and a better bed, but I did not listen and I joined the Army.”;

After training at West Point, White was deployed twice to protect military bases abroad and prominent world leaders before returning to Fort Hood, north of Austin, Texas, in 2014. Through recruiters last year, he learned of a district manager job overseeing a group of Public Storage properties in Southwest Florida, and he liked what he heard.

“I did force protection and security detail for the first five months on the base, and I was in charge of the security there,”; White said of his first deployment. It prepared him well for a civilian career in management that required the ability to shoulder many tough responsibilities.

Public Storage Finds Success with Veterans

A strong military background can make a strong Public Storage employee. Like the military, Public Storage expects employees to be dedicated to the job and to work independently and efficiently.

“I like Public Storage because I like always being on the move,”; White said. “You have to be well-rounded, adaptable and able to do a million different things, and be good at all of them.”;

White successfully oversees nine properties and about 20 employees every day.

“The competitiveness of Public Storage, that’s exactly what West Point was like,”; he said. “Ninety percent of the people there spent day and night being better than everyone else, and Public Storage is looking for the same edge, for people always looking to do more.”;

Miller also oversees a team at Public Storage. He went from working on standard shipboard communication systems during his six-year stint in the U.S. Navy to now managing about 30 employees at the corporate office in the Los Angeles area. Together he and his team are responsible for keeping more than 4,000 computers in ship shape nationwide. Miller holds one of the higher-ranking roles in the company.

“There have been some long days, but I’ve been able to spend them with some seasoned, talented and respectful people,”; Miller said. “If (my team) is doing good, I’m doing great.”;

Continually Working Hard to Hire Veterans

Veterans work at all levels of the company, from executives like Miller, to managers like White, down to entry-level positions in the company’s call center. With a variety of jobs available, Public Storage strives to hire military veterans to join the team based on an individual’s skills and expertise, when possible.

The company seeks applicants with military experience at military job fairs.

“The skill set, work ethic and integrity of those with military backgrounds aligns with the company values here at Public Storage,”; said Jeffrey Cook, a Public Storage human resources director.

Current veteran district managers like White and Sara Kulumani, another former U.S. Army officer, attend the events to find good candidates.

“I’m more than happy to tell them they’re qualified to do a lot of different things and Public Storage is going to appreciate where you come from and take the time to train you because they understand your value,”; White said.

For more information on available careers, visit the Public Storage career site.

And again, Happy Veterans Day to our servicemen and servicewomen. Hope to see you soon!