Luke Cavanaugh’s advice for veterans seeking a new community

Luke Cavanaugh spent almost 13 years in the US Air Force before he was declared medically unfit for service — and just six weeks later, he became a civilian. 

Because it was a medical discharge, he didn’t originally have a set termination date. Instead, during the first week of his internship at Elastic, Luke found out he was leaving the military much sooner than expected. He had to quickly discuss becoming a full-time employee with his manager.

Luke became a full-time employee at Elastic in May 2024 as a renewals associate. He recently transitioned from that role to a global RFP project manager, where he sets up proposal management programs.

“I wrote performance work statements in the military, so I know how to write them with my community in mind,” Luke says. 

He uses that military experience and a variety of other skills he learned for his job at Elastic. For example, Luke was used to collecting and collating information.

“There’s a lot you won’t know,” Luke says. “I learned how to seek out that information by leveraging SMEs and other resources and consolidate it into actionable items.”

He’s also adept at bringing communities together to achieve a unified goal. While in the US Air Force, he completed his Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) Evaluator certification. In performing that role, Luke was responsible for bridging the gap between the US Army and the US Air Force. 

“I take that skill of bringing everyone together and use it when setting a deal or working on a project,” he says. 

While Luke landed at a job he loves, the transition from military service to civilian life was daunting. His top priority was to find a high-functioning community. When he heard about the Elastic culture from other veterans at the company, it seemed like a good fit, Luke says. 

He is also a part of the Mil-asticians ERG — a group for military veterans and their allies. 

“The best part is the community and camaraderie,” Luke says. “Everyone shares. We share information, legacy, heritage, what we did [in the military]. You have a network within a network that has a shared connection to their service.”

Luke comes from a long line of veterans, and both of his brothers also served — he is very service-driven. He joined the US Air Force at 18 years old, so when he left 12.5 years later, it was challenging. 

“My entire adult life was in the military, so it was a big change,” he says. “It was challenging and intimidating. Transitioning is tough. It's all you’ve ever known. The Mil-asticians group is very welcoming; they make you feel at home.”

For others leaving the military or planning to start their transition to civilian life, Luke recommends taking the tangible skills learned in the military and figuring out how to apply them. 

Luke worked with mentors who were familiar with what he did in the military. They gave him advice and helped direct him to a job that matched his skill set. 

He also says to take the leap into a new community and industry and to start over fresh.

“Everyone is willing to help you.”

Looking for a company that can help you make a smooth transition? Browse open roles.

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