Transitioning from the military to a civilian career is never a one-size-fits-all journey — and for Tyrelle Robinson, that path led from special operations to software engineering. After eight years in the Army, including multiple deployments and a career spent solving complex problems in dynamic environments, Tyrelle discovered a new passion for technology and data. Through the Hiring Our Heroes Fellowship Program, he joined PVM, where he’s now building on his technical skills and applying the adaptability and problem-solving mindset he honed in uniform to the world of software development.
Tell me about yourself—school, military, anything you’d like to share!
I’ve been in the Army for about eight years now, all of it in special operations, working in a role called PSYOP — basically a messaging campaign manager. I completed three deployments, spending some time in the Middle East but primarily in Africa. A lot of the work involved navigating diplomacy and working closely with embassies.
My biggest fear is heights — and of course, I had to jump out of planes. I’m definitely glad that part is behind me. I used to kick my legs when I jumped out of the door, which you’re not supposed to do, but it was hard not to!
About three years ago, I attended an offensive cybersecurity course. Before that, my tech experience was basically just owning a computer. But I really enjoyed the course, so I started studying cybersecurity. Then I got the opportunity to join a digital upskilling program with 1st Special Forces Command. They sent me to a three-month full-stack JavaScript bootcamp, and afterward, I worked as a developer there for about seven or eight months.
Around that same time, I started doing some freelance software engineering work validating code produced by AI. That experience led me to change my degree focus from cybersecurity to software engineering, which I finished this past May.
I’ve really come to love software engineering. It feels like solving a puzzle I can get lost in for hours. Outside of work, my biggest passion is bow hunting, and I also practice a little jiu-jitsu.
What motivated you to join the military?
Honestly, it was the unknown that motivated me. I’m from a small town in Virginia where most people grow up there and stay there their whole lives. I was actually the first person in my family to join the military, so for me, it was about doing something different — getting out, seeing what was out there, and experiencing more of the world.
Of course, there was the sense of patriotism and wanting to serve my country, but beyond that, it was really about stepping into something new.
How did you learn about the Hiring Our Heroes program, and what was the process like for finding this opportunity with PVM?
I first heard about Hiring Our Heroes because just about everyone leaving the military was going through it. I even had a buddy who went through the program, and since I was also in the process of transitioning, I wanted to explore it too.
What really stood out to me about Hiring Our Heroes was that it supported the kind of career path I wanted to take. Some programs focus on helping former special operations members move into leadership or management roles, but I wanted something different—I wanted to get into tech. Hiring Our Heroes felt like a great fit for that goal.
My command was super supportive, which I really appreciated. I had already spent a lot of time at my battalion, was one of the more senior guys there, and had deployment experience. So when I said I wanted to try this program, they were completely on board.
I was actively checking online to see what new opportunities popped up. Then one day, I saw the PVM listing on LinkedIn. I applied and reached out to Dana Hensley, PVM’s Head of Talent, on LinkedIn, and things started moving pretty quickly after that.
What was your first impression like with PVM? Did anything surprise you?
From day one, Gavin and Dana gave me such a warm welcome — it really made a great first impression. I was actually telling Pat how thankful I was for that early experience.
One thing that really stood out to me was how Dana and Pat explained the culture at PVM. They told me that one of the biggest rules here is simple: no egos, no drama — just respect and collaboration. I thought that was awesome because I’ve experienced toxic environments before, and knowing that kind of behavior isn’t part of the culture here was a huge relief. It really set the tone for what kind of company PVM is.
Are there any skills or mindsets from your military experience that you’ve found especially valuable in your engineering work?
Adaptability — that’s probably the biggest takeaway from my military career. If you don’t know something, that’s okay — you just learn as you go. Throughout my time in the Army, whether I was stateside or deployed, I was never doing the exact same thing twice. Every situation was new, every challenge was different, and that constant change really taught me how to adapt quickly.
That mindset has carried over into everything I do now.
What new technologies or areas of software development are you most excited to learn about during your fellowship?
Definitely TypeScript — that’s what I’ve been most excited to dig into. I had used it a little before, but I mostly treated it like plain JavaScript. Now I’m actually getting the chance to really learn it and understand how it works.
And also, seeing how React can be built on top of Foundry — that’s something I’m really excited about. It’s been cool to explore how those technologies come together.
PVM’s Commitment to Hiring Veterans
PVM was founded by Pat Mack, a retired Naval officer, to solve the problems his fellow sailors were facing on the front lines every day. As a veteran-owned business, PVM is not only committed to that same mission today, but also to providing employment to the military community. Tyrelle’s story is one of many at PVM, and we are excited about bringing team members into PVM that have similar backgrounds. Our military fellowships program helps us prioritize hiring team members who have firsthand experience with our customers’ missions, and gives our fellows the opportunity to work with leading technologies and on work they are passionate about.
Learn more about PVM’s Military Fellowships program.
The PVM Team
