For Army veteran Eric Burpee, a career in energy offers a familiar sense of purpose, teamwork and the opportunity to make a difference.

 

KIT CARSON, CO. – When Eric Burpee returned to Fort Carson, Colorado, years after serving there as an Army officer, he found himself on a familiar military base with a very different mission.

This time, he wasn't leading soldiers or planning military operations. He was representing NextEra Energy, speaking with service members about how the skills they developed in uniform could translate into meaningful careers in the energy industry.

It was a full-circle moment for Burpee, whose own journey to NextEra Energy began with a chance encounter at a military career fair.

Now a wind site manager overseeing operations at the company's Bronco Plains wind energy facilities in Colorado, Burpee has discovered that while his responsibilities have changed, many of the values that guided him through more than eight years of military service remain the same.

The teamwork. The responsibility. The commitment to accomplishing a mission bigger than himself.

And at a time when America's demand for electricity is growing, Burpee believes the work of keeping energy flowing is more meaningful than ever.

 

A calling to serve

For Burpee, the desire to serve his country began long before he joined the military.

He remembers watching the events of Sept. 11, 2001, unfold on a television in his classroom, an experience that left a lasting impression and strengthened his sense of patriotism.

Although he had been interested in the military from a young age, his career initially took a different direction. After graduating from Plymouth State University in New Hampshire, he worked as a correctional officer before joining Fidelity Investments, where he spent three years as a stockbroker.

He was building a successful career and earning a good living, but something was missing. Despite the financial stability his job provided, Burpee couldn't shake the feeling that he was meant to do something more.

For him, that meant answering a call to serve his country, even if it meant stepping away from a promising career and the financial opportunities that came with it.

"I definitely wanted to serve," he recalled. "I wanted to do that for my country."

He joined the Air Force Reserve before transitioning to active duty in the Army, where he became an officer and took on increasingly demanding leadership responsibilities.

During his military career, Burpee commanded units of approximately 200 to 250 soldiers and eventually oversaw operations for a battalion of roughly 850 personnel.

The role required coordinating everything from personnel and equipment to training, supplies and operational planning, ensuring soldiers had what they needed to accomplish their missions.

From "beans to bullets," as Burpee put it, he was responsible for preparing soldiers and equipment for deployment – nearly every aspect of the battalion's day-to-day operations required his attention.

But one of the most important lessons he learned wasn't about logistics or strategy. It was about perspective.

While serving as a company commander, Burpee became frustrated that his soldiers seemed to be taking on more responsibilities than other units. His battalion commander challenged him to consider how those responsibilities supported the larger mission.

"I was only thinking about me and my company, and I wasn't thinking about the bigger picture," Burpee recalled.

The conversation changed how he approached leadership.

Instead of focusing only on the challenges directly in front of him, he learned to consider how his team's work contributed to the success of the broader organization.

It's a lesson he continues to apply today.

A new career, a familiar mission

After eight years of military service, Burpee began considering a career that would allow him to spend more time with his wife and children.

He knew his experience in leadership, logistics and operations could translate into civilian life, but finding the right opportunity wasn't easy.

That changed at a military career fair where he met a NextEra Energy recruiter who introduced him to the company.

As Burpee learned more, he was drawn to its team-oriented culture, emphasis on employee development and the enthusiasm of the people he met throughout the interview process.

He ultimately joined NextEra Energy and became a part of its Leadership Development Program, gaining firsthand experience across different sites and learning from experienced leaders before taking on his own operations role.

It didn't take long for him to recognize similarities between military service and the energy industry.

From safety assessments and operational planning to employee training and accountability, many of the processes he encountered felt familiar.

But the biggest realization came when he began managing a wind energy site.

"At the end of the day, just like the military, we have a mission," Burpee said. "Our mission is to keep the turbines running."

Today, he oversees Bronco Plains 1 and 2, which together have 180 wind turbines and approximately 500 megawatts of generating capacity.

The facilities cover a sprawling area, with some turbines located as far as an hour's drive from the operations building. Keeping everything running safely and reliably is the responsibility of an 11-person team, including Burpee.

Each morning begins with a meeting focused on safety, equipment performance, maintenance schedules and the day's priorities. Technicians then head into the field to inspect, maintain and troubleshoot turbines, often working miles from the operations building.

For Burpee, the planning, coordination and trust required to keep the facilities operating closely resemble the responsibilities he carried as an Army officer.

And just as in the military, every member of the team has an important role to play.

Leading by putting people first

Throughout his military career, Burpee learned that accomplishing a mission begins with taking care of the people responsible for carrying it out.

"Take care of your people, and your people will take care of you," he said.

It's a philosophy he has carried into his leadership role at NextEra Energy.

Rather than focusing solely on performance metrics, Burpee emphasizes developing his technicians, building trust and ensuring employees have the tools and support they need to succeed.

He regularly joins his team in the field, climbing turbines and working alongside technicians to better understand the challenges they face. He says it’s an opportunity to strengthen relationships, learn more about the equipment and demonstrate that leadership doesn't mean losing touch with the people doing the work.

He also works closely with his technical leader, Clayton Brachtenbach, a fellow Army veteran who served 22 years, to develop employees and manage day-to-day operations.

Together, they've built a partnership that mirrors the relationship between commissioned and noncommissioned officers in the military, with clearly defined responsibilities and a shared commitment to the team's success.

For Burpee, one of the most rewarding aspects of his career has been rediscovering something he thought he might lose when he left the military: camaraderie.

"One of the biggest things that we thought we'd never find again after leaving the military was camaraderie," he said.

At Bronco Plains, he's found it again.

His team works together, looks out for one another and shares the kind of trust that comes from knowing everyone has a responsibility to the larger mission.

And Burpee believes that sense of teamwork is one reason veterans can be particularly well-suited for careers in energy.

Powering a mission that matters

While the work looks different from his days in uniform, Burpee sees a strong connection between serving his country and helping provide the energy that powers it.

Across the United States, growing electricity demand, emerging technologies and expanding industries are placing greater importance on reliable energy.

At Bronco Plains, Burpee reminds his team that keeping turbines operating isn't simply about maintaining equipment or meeting performance goals.

It's about the people depending on the electricity they help generate.

Whether it's keeping homes warm during cold winters, providing air conditioning during hot summers or supporting the businesses and technologies that power the economy, electricity touches nearly every aspect of modern life.

And as demand continues to grow, Burpee believes that responsibility is becoming even more important.

"Look beyond just the business side of it. Look at the big picture," he tells his team. "We're providing something for people, literally just to sustain life."

It's a perspective shaped by his military service, where understanding the importance of the larger mission helped him navigate challenges and lead others.

Today, that same sense of purpose motivates him to keep his team focused on operating safely, developing their skills and delivering reliable energy.

For veterans like Burpee, the transition to the energy industry offers an opportunity to apply the leadership, adaptability, teamwork and sense of responsibility developed through military service to another mission that matters.

The mission continues

Nearly three years after joining NextEra Energy, Burpee is now helping other veterans discover the same opportunities that brought him to the company.

In addition to mentoring employees through the Leadership Development Program, he has participated in military recruiting efforts, including the visit to Fort Carson where he once served.

Returning to the base was a meaningful experience, bringing back memories of his military career while giving him an opportunity to help others navigate the transition to civilian life.

He was able to share firsthand how military experience could translate into a career in energy and the opportunities he'd found at NextEra Energy.

Burpee also encourages fellow veterans to get involved with VetNext, the company's employee resource group for veterans and their supporters, which offers opportunities to connect, share experiences and support one another.

For someone who once wondered whether he'd find the same sense of purpose and camaraderie outside the military, the opportunity to help others make that transition has been especially rewarding.

"I feel so blessed that I went to that career fair," Burpee said, reflecting on the chance encounter that introduced him to NextEra Energy.

His journey has taken him from leading soldiers to leading a team responsible for generating electricity, but the values that guide him have remained remarkably consistent.

The uniform may be different, and the mission may have changed, but his commitment to serving others and contributing to something bigger than himself continues.

And now, he's helping the next generation of veterans discover that their mission can continue, too.