From the Air Force to the Cloud - A new perspective on ITIL Foundation
- Blog
- Career progression
- Service management
- ITIL
June 12, 2020 |
3 min read
- Blog
- Career progression
- Service management
- ITIL
We spoke with Kevin Moye, who is retiring from the US Air Force and has recently passed his ITIL® Foundation exam. Here is his experience with ITIL so far.
Can you tell me about your professional history?
I’ve been in the US Air Force for the past 21 years, working in HR and as a financial manager. I’ve been to a lot of different places, starting off in Germany, then Colorado, Florida, South Korea, Japan, Atlanta, Turkey, Korea again, and now North Carolina.
This global experience has been a blessing and I’ve learned to work in multi-cultural environments. Most of my work has been a collaboration between the host country and the US.
What can you tell me about what you’re doing now?
Right now I’m getting ready to retire from military service. I want to work in IT but I don’t have a background in that industry, so I’m doing everything I can to learn about it. Currently, I’m in a military transition programme, hosted by Microsoft, where I’m learning Cloud application development.
So, why IT?
I’ve always been interested in technology, even more so as it has advanced over the years. When I was deployed, I was able to keep in touch with my family via Skype. Using tools like Microsoft Excel and Access everyday made me even more interested. When I was thinking about what I wanted to do, I definitely leaned in that direction. The things you can do in tech are unlimited, and I like to learn. I’ll never get bored.
Where did you hear about ITIL and why do you think it’s valuable?
Jumping into IT without a background in that kind of work is a little difficult, so I sought out certifications that would let employers know that I do understand the industry. I found ITIL and, although it’s geared towards IT, you can apply a lot of it to any kind of work - like the seven principles. I felt it was a really solid certification to show that you understand good quality service and value. That’s one of the things that really spoke to me: co-creating value.
How did you prepare for the exam?
I used online video training that I could do in my free time and I did my own reading with the foundation book. I had a pretty solid understanding of everything before taking the exam.
What would you say to people who aren’t sure about investing in professional development?
I would say the growth that comes from learning something new makes it worth for me. ITIL is transferable to anything and, if you’re coming from a different background, it shows you have a commitment to a new industry - you’re willing to learn and grasp the fundamentals of that new industry. I think investing in yourself goes a long way, personally and professionally.
Do you see your continuing professional development as a way to stand out and show your commitment to this new path?
Absolutely, yes. I really like learning new things. I grab hold of every opportunity because that’s how you grow. It’s challenging, but I enjoy it.
The ITIL 4 Foundation manual is available to purchase from the Axelos Store.