From Service to Purpose: How Veterans Strengthen Flowserve and the Industries it Serves

At Flowserve, we honor the service and sacrifice of those who served to support their countries and communities.

As countries around the world recognize veterans and members of the armed forces throughout November and beyond, it's an opportunity for our company to celebrate the lasting impact veterans have on the communities where we work and live. Across our global organization, veterans bring leadership, resilience, discipline and a strong sense of purpose to the work they do every day.  

These qualities are evident in all the veterans at our company, from those operating and maintaining equipment in our manufacturing facilities to others engineering innovative flow-control solutions, serving customers or leading teams.

Drawing on the values and lessons gained through their military service, these associates help advance Flowserve’s purpose of empowering critical industries with extraordinary solutions to support the important infrastructures that people around the world rely on every day.  

In recognition of their service, we spoke with several Flowserve associates about their time in uniform, the lessons they carried into their civilian careers and what being a veteran means to them.

Making a life-changing choice

Choosing to serve in the military is a significant decision. It means leaving home and committing to serving your country. But if you asked any of our associates who served, it was the best choice they could have made.

For Machinist William Dunn, the military provided a path forward after high school. “During high school, my dream was to be an architect. I knew my mother couldn't afford college, so I chose the military.” Inspired by his brother’s service in the Navy but determined to take a different path, William joined the U.S. Marine Corps. “The biggest thing I learned was work ethic. If you're 15 minutes early, you’re late! If I'm given a task, I do my best to complete it, correctly and on time,” he said.

Coming from a family with a history of service, Sales Engineer Timothy Schewe was motivated to follow that path by joining the U.S. Navy. His experience had a lasting impact. “The military taught me that anything is possible when you want to achieve it as well as thinking independently within an organized, structured environment. It absolutely prepared me to be successful in college and later at Flowserve,” he said.

Transitioning to a rewarding career

The transition from military to civilian life can take time, but support from family, fellow veterans and their communities helped them navigate that change and begin the next chapter of their careers - which eventually led all of them to Flowserve.

After serving in the U.S. Navy for seven years, Production Supervisor Mike Jenkins saw an opening for a supervisor role at Flowserve and was drawn to the similarities between the fast-paced environment of manufacturing and the demands of military service. “You must be able to think quickly and make decisions just as quickly. You get to build a team around you to be successful and fail, but that is what pushes you every day.”

For Michael Lueer, an eight-year veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard, a career in manufacturing was already familiar as his father owned a small machine shop in his hometown. Later in life, he worked at an aircraft manufacturing plant and eventually saw a help wanted ad for a CNC machinist that offered higher pay. “My boss at the time asked me what it would take to keep me there,” he recalled. After telling him about how much more the job was paying, his boss jokingly said, “Nice knowing you.” More than 30 years later, Michael built a long and rewarding career at Flowserve, drawing inspiration from the Coast Guard motto, Semper Paratus – “Always Ready.”  

Applying military experience at Flowserve

Military service develops skills that can remain with a person for life. Discipline, adaptability, collaboration and the ability to stay calm under pressure are qualities that help veterans succeed in a wide range of roles. These are qualities that strengthen Flowserve's culture and enable us to grow as a business.

Adelaide Edwards spent nine years in the U.S. Navy, where she earned an education in Nuclear Energy Engineering Technology. She later earned a master’s degree in Data Science and Analytics. But if you asked Adelaide, who currently works as a QA Engineer and Problem-Solving Champion at Flowserve, one of the most valuable lessons from her military service was learning how to work effectively with people.

“I love mentoring and coaching people, and as a Problem-Solving Champion, I get to mentor and teach people about the Problem-Solving Process, which is very rewarding for me,” she said.

Lane Lezotte served four years in the U.S. Navy, which provided valuable lessons in his personal and professional life. He recalls a time when he and his shipmates experienced a collision at sea. It was a time to “act fast to solve multiple problems at once as a team,” he recalls.

As they worked to identify leaks in the fueling system, they also had to remain aware of the conditions around them and ensure no shipmates were injured or fell overboard. That experience taught Lane the importance of staying calm while working together quickly to solve problems – skills he continues to use in his role at Flowserve today as an Instrument Technician.

Honoring service, strengthening our future

Many of our associates who served always take a moment to remember the experiences and lessons that shaped them. It’s also an opportunity to share that perspective with fellow veterans, including those considering the next chapter of their careers at Flowserve.

Production Supervisor Joshua Hogg, a four-year veteran of the U.S. Navy, always takes a moment to honor and remember all those who served their country. “It reminds me of the friendships, experiences, and lessons that come from serving alongside people who are willing to put something bigger than themselves first,” he said.

That sentiment is echoed by Field Service Technician Jerry Birthelmer, who retired from the U.S. Navy after 20 years of service. For Jerry, he recognizes the sacrifices his family made and the support they provided throughout his military career. For veterans considering a career at Flowserve, Jerry says they can find a strong sense of connection and community. “We have many veterans from all branches of service and different countries around the world, so chances are you are going to have plenty of opportunities to find that camaraderie you had on active duty,” he said.

We are proud to recognize the veterans across Flowserve whose continued contributions help strengthen our company, support the customers and communities that rely on us and build a stronger future for all.  

Interested in joining us?

We’re always looking for talented individuals with the dedication and commitment to work with us to empower the critical industries that we support.

Visit our Careers page to explore open roles and discover where you can make an impact!