Jermaine King
I’ll never forget sitting across from a young technician who had just learned she was being reassigned after a workforce realignment. They didn’t speak at first, just sat quietly, trying to process what it meant for their career, family, and her future.That moment reminded me why I chose this path. Leadership isn’t about having the answers or the title. It’s about listening, offering clarity, and making sure people know they’re not facing change alone.Throughout my career, I’ve leaned on tools like Six Sigma, PMP, and Prosci, but I’ve learned that frameworks alone don’t create change…people do. My role has been to create the conditions where others can grow, contribute, and feel supported, even in uncertain times.At the Department of Defense, I was entrusted with helping guide one of the largest HR operations in the nation…3,100 professionals through five direct reports, $314M budget to support 19,500 employees, $1.1M square miles of classified industrial space, and $18B in R&D programs. It was never about the size or the scope; it was about making sure each person had what they needed to succeed.Some of the outcomes we achieved together included:🔹 Improved succession accuracy 35% and bench strength 22%, ensuring leadership continuity.🔹 Cut time-to-hire 21%, saving $420K annually via targeted remote strategies.🔹 Secured $2.1M to launch 23 credentialing programs, reducing retention issues 18% and strengthening workforce readiness for $18B R&D ops.🔹 Delivered 605 learning sessions, boosting promotion readiness 24% and leadership capacity 31%.🔹 Modernized LMS, raising first-year retention 26% and engagement 43%, sustaining continuity across 74 career fields.🔹 Closed senior talent gaps 9%, lifting productivity 15% and enhancing program delivery.But the numbers only tell part of the story. What mattered most was helping people feel seen, equipped, and supported. Whether mentoring graduate students across 13 countries, guiding employees through high-stakes transitions, or advising organizations in through consulting, I’ve tried to keep the focus on care, compassion, and steady leadership.Because culture isn’t about posters or policies. It’s about how people feel on Sunday night when they think about Monday morning. If they feel hopeful, ready, and supported, then we’ve done our job…