Krystal Porter said the ROTC prepared her for her post-military career.
Porter recently starred in a ROTC promotional video shot in the University of Virginia’s Academical Village. Framed by the Rotunda, Porter, who now works for industry and technology leader Leidos, shared how the ROTC influenced her life.
A Chicago native, Porter was in Junior ROTC in high school and then U.S. Army ROTC at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where she received a degree in finance. After serving more than nine years in the Army Reserves, Porter returned to civilian life, earning a master’s degree in systems engineering in UVA’s Accelerated Master’s Program and is currently working toward a doctorate in systems engineering at UVA.
Porter, who is currently working for consulting firm Leidos, credits her ROTC experience for where she is in her life today. (Photo by Matt Riley, University Communications)
Porter’s video is one of a series promoting the Army ROTC program. Porter said the Cadet Command contacted her about appearing in the video.
“They want to recruit and bring more students in who, I feel, should hear my story,” Porter said. “I am probably one of the first of my family to be in the Army ROTC, an officer, go through the commissioning program and end up where I am today.”
At Leidos, Porter is a “solutions architect” in the national security sector, using her military background to address complex problems.
“Our customers range from the Department of Defense, the Army, the Air Force, the Navy, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Homeland Security,” she said. “We put together different solutions so that they could be successful in their missions. Some operation centers need a certain type of faster equipment, or more innovation. Sometimes they need efficiency.”
Like many veterans, Porter continues to build on her experience – an experience that started with ROTC.
“We’re trying to convey the value of ROTC to college students and high school students, as well as the value of ‘officership’ to them,” said Army Maj. Alex Loring, a marketing officer from U.S. Army Cadet Command at Fort Knox, Kentucky. “And it’s not just a career in the military, but how it leads to things beyond military service, and it leads to success in life, personally and professionally, after the military.”
Porter, left, stands on the north steps of the Rotunda as John Rodriguez, center, and Nathan Westenhaver shoot video. (Photo by Matt Riley, University Communications)
Loring was working with digital media specialist Jack Smith in creating the video. Smith asked Porter a series of questions while John Rodriguez operated the camera and Nathan Westenhaver operated the fill light. After the interview, the crew filmed a series of set-ups with Porter walking around the Grounds, ending at the Rotunda.
Despite the frustrations of flubbed lines, interference from leaf-blowers and compressors, and having to herd students around the shoot, Porter said the experience was “fun.”
“I consider it an honor and paying respect to ROTC, because without ROTC, I wouldn’t be where I am,” she said. “ROTC was integral in my college years. Having that as a foundation, and the skills that it taught me as a leader I still use to this day.”
