Our veterans at Adobe

Contributed by the Adobe’s Veterans Employee Network

Today we’re commemorating veterans all around the globe in a day used to honor military veterans for their service. Here at Adobe, we are proud to have our very own Veterans Employee Network (VEN), which provides a community forum for all employees who have served, currently serve, or support family members in the military.

VEN is dedicated to helping Adobe veterans leverage their particular skill sets within the company as well as helping improve veteran lives both inside and outside Adobe through hiring and educational events. As we celebrate Veterans Day, we asked members of our Veterans Employee Network to share with us who inspired them to join or support the military services. Here’s what they said.

Suzanne Wagstaff’s son, the late Chief Warrant Officer 3 Matthew G. Wagstaff.

“I am a patriot, the daughter, granddaughter, cousin, sister-in-law to several veterans. My Dad served in the Navy, both of my grandfathers served in the Navy, one of my uncles served in the Navy, my brother served in the Marines, I have a cousin that was in the Air Force and another that was Army. I became a Gold Star mom on 9/21/2010 after my oldest son (Chief Warrant Officer 3 Matthew G. Wagstaff) was KIA when his UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter went down during a black ops mission in Qalat, Afghanistan.”

– Suzanne Wagstaff, Group Manager, Business Operations

Lee Henderson with her husband and baby on a US Air Force flightline.

“I am a military spouse living on the Naval base out in Whidbey Island and I am including a photo of my family on the flightline. My husband has been in the US Air Force for 15 years, and he inspires me every day, juggling work and family life, with deployments, temporary duty assignments and much more.”

– Lee Henderson, Solutions Consultant

Amanda Lopez and her two brothers.

“I knew it was important to include the armed forces into my workspace, but I didn’t quite get it until one of my brothers enlisted in the Navy over 10 years ago. Now having two brothers in the armed forces (one that has finished service and another that is currently in active duty with the Air Force) I carry the importance of creating a more inclusive space for folks that have served. I’m not perfect with understanding all of the terminology or acronyms and I’m never going to understand what it’s like to serve, but I can be an excellent ally and support system to those that serve. Thank you KC and KP!”

– Amanda Lopez, Talent Partner

Stefanie Crisanto’s father, Walter G. Crisanto, who served in the US Army National Guard during the Korean War.

“My father, Walter G. Crisanto, who served in the US Army National Guard during the Korean War and attained the rank of Sergeant First Class, is my inspiration. It was while he was serving in Korea that he received his US naturalization papers. My father was an immigrant from Italy who fled to the States during WWII with his mother and his siblings at the age of 16, where he met his father for the first time. I went on to enroll in the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program while getting my degree at UNC Chapel Hill, where I was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. It was my father and my Aunt Connie, who, herself, served in the USAF, who both pinned on my lieutenant bars. My father didn’t really talk much about his time in Korea, as most war veterans don’t, but he not only supported my decision to join the Air Force, he imparted me with some really great advice before I left for my first duty assignment that to this day continues to serve me well.”

– Stefanie Crisanto, Manager, Government Programs

Rudy DeSilva (right), David’s father, who was held as a WWII prisoner of war in North Korea.

“My father, Rudy DeSilva, was a Career Army officer, who served in WWII, and later in Korea and Vietnam. He was captured following the Battle of Chosin Reservoir and spent 30 months as a Prisoner of War (POW) in North Korea. His tenacity and courage always inspired me as an “Army Brat” and I went on to join the Navy where I served 10 years active duty and 13 in the reserves. (Note: this picture was taken by Frank E. “Pappy” Noel – AP photographer who was also captured and held in the same POW camp).

– David DeSilva, Senior Project Manager

Kerry Jamison’s father, who served in the US Army.

“My father is an Army Vet. His service to his country is just one of the ways he inspires me and his granddaughters. He’s quick to serve, quick to provide a civics lesson based on the day’s news and always inspires us to find how we can be of service to others. I am thankful that the Adobe Veterans Employee Network highlights the men and women who put service at the forefront of their lives.”

– Kerry Jamison, Senior Program Manager, ACS Strategy and Operations

John R. Monroe (left), Jon Monroe’s father, who served in the US Army.

“One photo is my Command photo when I was a Company Commander, and the other is my father’s Command Photo (John R. Monroe). Though my father retired when I was very young (2 years old), and passed away when I was 14 years old, the characteristics of military life were always a part of my formative years. Basic principles like: Showing respect for elders, calling adults by “Sir” or “Ma’am,” and always saying “Yes,” or “Thank you, but no thank you” were all just a part of growing up. Giving back and being thankful for what we had was also a part of growing up, so while my father never pushed me to go into the military, it was an easy decision and one of the best I ever made.”

– Jon Monroe, Management Consultant

Armando Arturo Medrano, Michelle Shillinglaw’s father, who served in the US Army during Vietnam.

“Here’s my, inspiration—my father, Armando Arturo Medrano, a Vietnam Vet who served in the US Army. He is a first generation Mexican-American, and my father proudly enlisted in 1964 when he was only 18 years old. This was a selfless act, as he enlisted so that his little brother would not be drafted. As a result of enlisting, he quickly excelled in rank, served two tours and eventually retired in 1974. He went on to get his Bachelors and Masters in Education. He is currently an elementary school teacher at the Ft. Bliss military base in El Paso, TX.”

– Michelle Shillinglaw, Director, Business Partnering, Commerce

Heather St. Peter and her stepfather, who served in the Vietnam War.

“My inspiration to join the Army came from my Step-Dad who taught me that struggling through tough things is the best way to show a commitment to something worthwhile. He was in the Vietnam War and when I was growing up, he struggled with a lot of the fall out from that experience, but he never once gave up on his family. To this day, he still gives straight from the heart, tells the truth and genuinely shows commitment to the things that matter to him.”

– Heather St. Peter, Manager, Software Development

Manuel L. Bulanon (left), Marcel’s father, who was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Navy.

“My late father, Lieutenant Colonel Manuel L. Bulanon, MD USA (RET), was my inspiration to join the military. One of the things that my dad impressed upon me was how he could be easygoing, yet focused at the same time. As I got older, I learned that pretty much everyone that worked with my dad genuinely enjoyed working with him and at the same time ‘got things done.’ I asked him how he was able to do this – he told me that the easiest way to get things done is when everyone on the team understands the objective and respects each other. And that you will never get true, genuine respect by expecting or demanding it. Respect is always earned – regardless of rank or position. And you earn it by treating people the way you want to be treated and to let your work tasks speak for itself as it fits to that objective. That inspired me to join the Navy, as I didn’t have much focus or an objective at the time. After a total of eight years of service, I had a much better definition of both. After 20+ years in high tech (16+ here at Adobe), it totally rings true to me.”

– Marcel Bulanon, Computer Scientist

Rick Corley (center, standing sideways) with his shipmates from the USS Tarawa LHA-1.

“After college, an uncle I rarely saw was visiting family in Missouri. He was a retired US Navy officer. He and I met him during his visit and he did quite an inspirational ‘sales pitch’ about the possibilities afforded in the Navy. I enlisted later that year as a member of the Navy Nuclear Power Program. I spent almost two years as a student; in-rate training as a naval electrician, then Nuclear Power School at Mare Island Shipyard in California, plus hands-on training at a nuclear reactor facility in Idaho. I was a member of the new construction and commissioning crew of the USS Tarawa LHA-1, the first of five ships in a new class of general-purpose amphibious assault ships. Joining the Navy changed the course of my life, and I have (mostly) fond memories of the people I met, the duty stations, plus the ports-of-call and parts of the world I visited.”

– Rick Corley, QA Engineer

Kindra Garrett with her grandfather, who was a Korea War Veteran.

“My sweet Grandpa spent 28 years serving in the Navy. He was a Korean War Veteran and had so much pride for his country. He forged his parent’s signature when he graduated High School so he could join the military, and the only reason he retired is because he had met the age threshold at the time. It was truly an honor to him to have the privilege to serve our country, and it was an honor for me to follow in his footsteps and continue his legacy.”

– Kindra Garrett, Senior Inside Sales Representative

Fred Schoenberger (left), Charlie’s father, who served as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Officer and Driver in the US Navy.

“My inspiration to serve comes from my Father, Fred Schoenberger. Dad was an EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) Officer and Driver in the US Navy. After leaving the Navy he used his explosives expertise as a rocket systems safety officer on NASA’s ground breaking Surveyor Mission, the lunar landing mission that would enable future Apollo Missions.”

– Charlie Schoenberger, Territory Account Manager

David Cartier (left), Caprice’s father, in 1960 while serving in the Marine Corps.

“This is my father, David Cartier, in 1960, who is also my hero in life. He served in the Marine Corps, and is still proud of his Marine service to this day, Semper FI! My path was with the Army, serving in the Middle East. The values instilled to me by my father and mother was by their examples as individuals of service, both for our community and to our country.”

– Caprice Cartier, Strategic Account Manager

George Sadler’s inspirations for joining the military, from left to right: Sergeant George Sadler Jr., in Vietnam, George Sadler Jr. with his two sons, Marine Master Sergeant Mark Samuals, and Mike Oberstar with George.

“I want to recognize three folks who were incredibly influential in my choice to spend the first 13 years of my working career serving in our military. #1 – My dad (Marine Gunnery Sergeant George Sadler Jr.) who served in Vietnam and raised two sons to respect the flag, our country, and service to it. #2 – My recruiter (Marine Master Sergeant Mark Samuals) who kicked me out of his office multiple times to make sure I was serious when I told him ‘I want to enlist for 6 years as a Marine Infantryman with guaranteed station overseas’ #3 – My high school buddy (and former Marine) Mike Oberstar, who enlisted shortly after me during our senior year in high school and walked that year with me dedicated to our Corps as future Marines.”

– George Sadler, Senior Director, Sales Operations

Learn more about what we’re accomplishing with Adobe For All by visiting our Diversity site.