When Justin Tayamen retired from the U.S. Air Force in March after 20 years of service, he wasn’t looking for a completely new direction. He was looking for a way to continue doing what he had spent his career doing: keeping critical systems running when people depend on them most.
Today, Justin serves as a Field Maintenance Technician in the HOLT CAT Power Systems Division, where he performs preventative maintenance on generators and related equipment that support hospitals, data centers, and other critical facilities throughout Texas.
Justin’s military career began on Valentine’s Day in 2006. Over the next two decades, he served at five duty stations, including South Korea, Arizona, Germany, Kansas, and San Antonio. Specializing in electrical power production, he maintained generators and aircraft arresting systems that helped ensure military operations remained mission-ready around the world.
His path into the military was influenced by a strong family tradition of service. Several members of his family had served in the armed forces, and Justin eventually discovered that he had followed in his father’s footsteps by entering the same Air Force specialty, becoming a second-generation power production specialist.
The decision itself was years in the making.
“As early as sixth grade, I knew I wanted to join the military and work on generators,” Justin said.
As retirement approached, Justin participated in the Department of Defense’s SkillBridge program, which allows transitioning service members to spend their final months of active-duty service gaining civilian work experience with approved employers while continuing to receive military pay and benefits.
HOLT CAT is an authorized SkillBridge organization, giving service members like Justin the opportunity to gain firsthand experience in a civilian work environment before officially separating from military service.
Justin began his SkillBridge internship with HOLT in September while still serving in the Air Force. A connection through a fellow service member helped introduce him to the HOLT team, leading to an interview and eventually a full-time position in the Power Systems Division.
“The SkillBridge program really helped with the transition,” Justin said. “It gave me the opportunity to learn the company, understand the culture, and see what civilian employment was like before leaving the military.”
Today, Justin’s responsibilities include performing oil and coolant changes, replacing filters and thermostats, conducting load-bank testing, and completing routine generator maintenance. His work regularly takes him to customer sites throughout San Antonio, Austin, and surrounding areas.
While many of the technical skills transferred directly from the military, Justin said adapting to a new mission was one of the biggest changes.
“In the military, everything is focused on readiness,” he explained. “Now the focus is on helping customers make sure their equipment is ready when they need it.”
Outside of work, Justin and his wife have been married for nearly 18 years and are raising three daughters. One daughter is currently preparing for the Junior Olympics as a competitive water polo athlete.
Looking back, Justin sees a strong connection between his military career and his role at HOLT today. Both are built around service, reliability, and supporting people when it matters most.
For Justin, the uniform may have changed, but the mission continues.