Key Points:
- Transitioning Through Education and Networking: Lucas found that going back to school at Vanderbilt for his MBA helped him understand civilian workplace structures, develop necessary language and networking skills, and connect with a supportive alumni community, all of which were crucial for a smoother transition from military to civilian life.
- Understanding What Matters in a Career: Through his consulting experience, Lucas realized the importance of doing work he enjoys and feels connected to. He advises veterans to clarify their values—whether location, job satisfaction, or work-life balance—rather than aiming solely for prestigious or high-paying roles.
- Veteran Support in Nashville: Lucas highlights Nashville’s robust veteran support system, including organizations like Operation Stand Down Tennessee and the Nashville Chamber of Commerce. The collaborative atmosphere and community of veterans have made Nashville an ideal location for transitioning military members to find purpose and community after service.
Transcript:
Emily Bose: Welcome back to another episode of Landing Zone Nashville. I am Emily Bose, one of the managing directors here at Transition Overwatch, and I’m so excited to have Lucas Fox Hodge on with us today. Lucas is the Manager of Optimization and Planning at EcoEnergy, and he is also a U.S. Army veteran. Lucas, so great to have you on the show. Thanks so much for being here.
Lucas Fox Hodge: Yeah, thanks for taking the time on a Friday afternoon.
Emily: Absolutely. Well, I’d love to hear a little bit of your journey. I saw that you attended West Point. You were an officer in the Army. And then you made your way out into an MBA program at Vanderbilt. So we’d love to just hear what prompted you to join the military. And tell us just a little bit about your journey from there till now.
Lucas: Sure. Yeah. I was in high school, and the idea got planted in my head by a really close friend who wound up at the Naval Academy. West Point offers a summer seminar for rising seniors. You go do a week in the life, it’s run by upper-class cadets. I applied, got in, and the quality of those cadets really inspired me. I wanted to be like them. And West Point’s structure and discipline were something I probably needed, even though I couldn’t quite put that into words then.
I got into West Point, commissioned as an infantry officer in 2016, and was assigned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky. My wife and I met in undergrad and both ended up in Nashville. We really liked it here, so we stayed. I completed my five-year commitment and decided to transition out, eventually pursuing an MBA at Vanderbilt from 2021 to 2023. That experience pretty much brought me to where I am now.
Emily: That’s awesome. I know that decision of whether to go to school or directly into the workforce is something many veterans face. What are some things you took away from your school experience that were especially helpful for you in the transition?
Lucas: I think I learned how the real world works, at least starting to scratch the surface. Going from high school to West Point and then straight to the Army, I hadn’t navigated certain basic things, like applying to jobs or signing up for healthcare until I was thirty. School helped me learn the language of civilian work and gave me time to see how I wanted to be a part of it. I was lucky to have flexibility in pursuing school full time while my wife worked.
The Vanderbilt MBA program also exposed me to a wide range of perspectives. A lot of classmates had three or more years of work experience, so we had a variety of real-world insights to learn from. The diversity of experiences and the networking opportunities made a huge difference in my transition.
Emily: Learning new vocabulary and a new language is definitely a huge part of transition. The structure in the military is so specific, and coming out into a civilian work environment can be a big change. Did you find the difference in structure challenging?
Lucas: Yes, it was a challenge. I was only in the Army for five years, but you get used to walking into a room and knowing exactly who everyone is and where you fall within that structure. Every Army job has a manual; there’s a clear hierarchy, and everyone’s roles are defined.
For example, after graduating, I did a summer internship in consulting. I then had a role at the Tennessee Department of Transportation, which was completely unstructured. The Chief of Staff gave me a problem, checked in with me weekly, and let me run with it. I found I enjoyed that kind of work—using the structure I learned in the Army to build my own process and get to an end goal without a prescribed path.
Emily: That makes a lot of sense. You mentioned finding value in doing work that is meaningful to you. Has your current role at EcoEnergy allowed you to find that?
Lucas: Yeah, definitely. I currently work in EcoEnergy’s transportation division, which handles the logistics of ethanol and fuel distribution across the country. We also provide door-to-door rail solutions for various clients, and it’s really fascinating. Rail can be complex, and many clients come in with only a vague idea of how to use it. We help them with solutions that often end up being more efficient than what they previously had.
The work feels meaningful because I’m helping solve real logistical problems. When I tried consulting, I was just miserable. I realized it was far more important to me to enjoy the work and feel connected to it than to be in a prestigious role. That was a big lesson for me.
Emily: Absolutely. Sometimes you have to go through experiences you don’t enjoy to understand what’s important to you. For people looking to transition into the energy sector or logistics, what advice would you give?
Lucas: I’d say figure out what matters to you first, whether it’s work-life balance, location, or doing work you genuinely enjoy. I spoke with a lot of people while figuring out my next steps. Some said people with consulting backgrounds usually don’t seek roles like I was interested in. But that’s where my interests were, so I kept looking.
At Vanderbilt, the alumni network was incredibly supportive. I had classmates and former students willing to talk and help me explore options. Especially for veterans transitioning out, networking is crucial. Meet with people, ask questions, and figure out what resonates. The veteran community here in Nashville, along with groups like Operation Stand Down Tennessee, have made a huge difference in helping me build connections and find a fulfilling role.
Emily: That’s amazing to hear. It sounds like Nashville has a really collaborative veteran community and is just a great place for veterans to find opportunities and support.
Lucas: Definitely. The veteran community here is strong, and places like Vanderbilt are actively supporting veterans. Fort Campbell is just an hour away, so a lot of veterans from there end up staying in the area. The Nashville Chamber of Commerce also promotes veteran talent. Overall, it’s a very military-friendly town, and I’ve really benefited from that network.
Emily: Fantastic. Well, I think you’ve really highlighted the support and resources Nashville has to offer veterans. Thanks so much for coming on the show and sharing your story. I’m sure our listeners will gain a lot from it.
Lucas: Absolutely. I hope this can be helpful to someone out there.
