Hero Spotlight: Sara G. — From Service to Certification: Transitioning from the Navy to Civilian Life Through the PMP
Sara Giraldo spent more than eight years on active duty as a U.S. Naval Officer, serving in roles that demanded calm decision-making, adaptability, and leadership under pressure. Earning her Project Management Professional (PMP) certification through TMOG Learning Center became a pivotal step in that transition—one that helped her reframe her military experience, build confidence, and chart a path forward beyond uniformed service. Read her story here.
Can you share a bit about your background and what your career looked like before earning your PMP?
I went to the Naval Academy right out of high school and studied oceanography, which isn’t very common, but I really loved it. After graduating, I went into the surface warfare community and spent my first four years on Navy destroyers. Ship life is intense—you wear a lot of hats. I was an engineering officer, safety officer, anti-terrorism officer, and a few others, sometimes all at once. I did two deployments to the Middle East and was constantly at sea. After that, I transitioned into the Navy’s Meteorology and Oceanography community, which was shore-based. My last command was working with Special Operations Forces as their oceanography officer. That’s also where I started my transition out of the military. Looking back, I was managing people, risk, and operations for years—I just didn’t have the language yet to call it project management.
How did TMOG Learning Center and Jon’s class help prepare you for both the exam and civilian work?
I’ve taken a lot of classes in my career, and many of them are pretty dry— death by PowerPoint and not very engaging. Going into Jon’s class, I honestly expected it to be the same. But it wasn’t at all. Jon made the material really approachable and relatable. What helped me most was how he showed that project management is everywhere. He didn’t just talk about huge projects like bridges or roller coasters—he talked about everyday things, like making dinner or getting kids to clean their rooms and tied those to the five phases of project management. That really got me thinking differently. I realized I had been doing this work for years; I just didn’t know the terminology. His class helped me translate my military experience into civilian language. That was huge for me—not just for the test, but for my confidence moving into the civilian workforce.
What challenges did you face while pursuing your PMP?
I had a lot on my plate—I was still working full-time, going through transition programs, applying for jobs, and preparing for an exam that everyone talks about like it’s this huge, scary thing. One piece of advice Jon gave that really stuck with me was to schedule the exam as soon as the class ended, even if I didn’t feel ready. He was very clear that you’re never going to feel ready. Taking that advice forced me to commit. I scheduled the exam three months out, built a strict study schedule, and stuck to it. Having that structure—and that push—made all the difference
When did you realize the PMP was actually making a difference in your career?
It didn’t happen right away. After I separated, I took a role in safety rather than a formal project management position, and I honestly thought, “Maybe I won’t even use this.” But about six months into the job, it clicked. I was working on building a safety portal to help managers better understand data and trends, and I realized I was using the project management phases without even thinking about it—planning, executing, monitoring, adjusting, and refining along the way. That’s when I really understood the value of the PMP. It wasn’t about having the title of project manager; it was about having the mindset.
What advice would you give to veterans considering the PMP but feeling unsure?
I’d tell them this: you already know this stuff. If you’ve been in the military for a few years—officer or enlisted—you’ve been doing project management. The hardest part is learning the language and taking the test. My advice is to commit. Schedule the exam before you feel ready and build a plan around it. Like Jon said, don’t wait for the perfect moment. The PMP gives you credibility, but it also gives you confidence. For me, it helped me see that there really was a life for me outside the military, and that I was capable of building it. Every veteran is capable of that.