From Military Service to City Employee: Veterans Share Their Journeys

The City of Virginia Beach is thankful to those who served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Working in hundreds of different roles in nearly every department, veterans make up 10% of the City’s workforce, bringing diverse experience and valuable skills to the organization.

To honor their military service and celebrate their contributions, we asked a few City employees who are veterans to share highlights of their journeys from serving their country to serving their community.

Reggie Bailey, Recreation Specialist, Parks & Recreation

Following a family tradition of military service, Reggie joined the Air Force as a fuels journeyman. After eight years of maintaining and operating fuels and cryogenic facilities, vehicles and equipment, he settled in Hampton Roads and went to college to study sports management.

Reggie began working for Parks & Recreation in 2016 and now helps manage sports programs and facilities at the Princess Anne Athletic Complex. He especially enjoys when visiting teams return to the area because of the well-maintained facilities and great customer service. “I came to Virginia Beach, fell in love with it and haven’t left,” he said. “I love being able to give back to our community.”

Lucia Harrigan, Clinician/LCSW, Human Services

Serving in intelligence roles, Lucia spent five years in the Navy and 13 years in the Navy Reserves. In addition to her college studies, volunteering at the City of Virginia Beach opened doors to part-time, then full-time employment. Some 28 years later, Lucia is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) who supervises a team of clinicians and manages a caseload of adults with intellectual disabilities.

Her advice to others considering City employment: “Volunteer in the job you’re interested in. And if you have the opportunity, go back to school.”

Scott Shields, Forensics Specialist, Police

During his 21 years as a Navy photographer, Scott served in Desert Storm and toured the world on the USS Stennis. Retiring in the area, his photography skills led to a second career in forensics with the City’s Police Department. Over the past 22 years, he has contributed to more than 6,500 cases.

In his current role, Scott supports investigations by sharing ballistic imaging in a national registry, which helps law enforcement solve crimes involving firearms. “The military instilled in me a strong work ethic and fostered a valuable teamwork mindset,” Scott said. “I really enjoy what I’m doing. It’s rewarding to see how it’s helping so many investigations.”

Kimball Boone, Law Librarian, Public Library

A desire to follow in his father’s footsteps led Kimball to join the Air Force in early 2001. After serving for six years as a logistics officer and academic instructor, he left active-duty service and completed library school and, later, law school.

In 2019, Kimball began working for the City’s Wahab Public Law Library. The sense of urgency he felt in the military, he says, prepared him for many moments in this role. "Sometimes our customers feel pressured because of significant life changes that are going on,” he said. “We try to make their experience as calm and peaceful as possible and empower them to find the resources that will most help."

Elda Soriano, Business Application Specialist, Human Resources

Chasing a childhood dream to serve in the military, Elda joined the Army as soon as she graduated high school. During her five years of active-duty service, she deployed to Iraq twice as an interrogator.

After leaving the service, Elda worked overseas, went to school and tried a few different career paths before beginning a job in Human Resources. “Getting out of the Army was a shock to the system because I joined so young,” she said. “I’ve had private sector jobs after the military, but working for the City has been a much better fit. I really enjoy it.”

Andre Pannell, Systems Engineer, Information Technology

Drawn to analytics and technology, Andre served in the Air Force for 13 years doing computer operations. He was stationed in Australia and Saudi Arabia before landing in Hampton Roads. In 2016, he sought an opportunity with the City’s Information Technology Department, where he currently serves on the database administration team.

“The Air Force has this motto that I’ve never forgotten: ‘Integrity first. Service before self. And excellence in all we do,’” he said. “As far as my work with the City is concerned, I try to have that same mindset.”

The City of Virginia Beach is grateful to all military veterans and active-duty service members for their service and sacrifice. For current career opportunities, visit virginiabeach.gov/careers. Veterans seeking employment are invited to read these helpful tips for getting hired.