“I’m proud to be part of the STAT MedEvac team. Coming here really allows me to find a sense of purpose that I was looking for.”
After more than two decades as a helicopter pilot in the U.S. Marine Corps, Robert Paugh wasn’t just looking for his next job. He was looking for his next mission.
He sought an organization with the same culture and values he had grown accustomed to after 23 years in the Marines—qualities like integrity, dignity, safety, and respect.
He eventually found them as a helicopter pilot with STAT MedEvac. STAT MedEvac is a critical care transport system and part of UPMC’s Center for Emergency Management.
“Coming into this organization was pretty much a seamless transition,” Robert says. “I’m able to use the skills that I learned in the military to help the community and ensure that people get the life-changing care that UPMC can offer.”
But the transition to a civilian career was “rocky at best.” Despite earning two master’s degrees and serving on deployments in Iraq, Afghanistan, North Africa, Japan, and the South China Sea, Robert struggled to translate his experience into the corporate world.
He eventually connected with UPMC’s Pathways for Veterans program. Launched in 2021, the program aims to increase veteran hiring by providing a personalized approach to the job search and application process.
“They look at the special skills that veterans have acquired over their years of service, and they tailor a specific career path to allow them to come in and get different experiences within UPMC and broaden their resume,” Robert says.
Robert started his civilian career as a manager with UPMC’s Strategic Sourcing Team. His role let him make a positive impact on the community, but he still wanted to more directly impact patients. That calling eventually led him back to aviation as a pilot with STAT MedEvac.
“Coming to STAT MedEvac was very refreshing for me because you’re working alongside people who have dedicated their lives to serving others,” Robert says. “The people at STAT MedEvac and UPMC have dedicated their lives to ensuring that we’re there when people need us.”
He encourages any veteran or active-duty military member pursuing a civilian career to contact UPMC’s Military Engagement Team. Led by Erik Orient, a 22-year Marine Corps veteran, the team offers support to align with each person’s career goals.
Much like his own experience transitioning to a civilian career, Robert believes the biggest thing veterans miss when they retire from the military is a sense of purpose.
“But when you can see the direct impact that you’re having on other people’s lives, that gets you up out of bed,” he says. “You know that you’re going to do something to help somebody else.”
Once the Pathways for Veterans program expanded to include military spouses, Robert recommended his wife, Tiffany, explore potential opportunities. As a military spouse for 20-plus years, she was seeking a career of her own.
Tiffany secured a six-month paid internship through a new collaboration between UPMC Health Plan and ULEAD. She then turned the opportunity into a full-time role as a human resources consultant at UPMC.
“It’s really become a family affair,” Robert says. “We can go into work and know that we’re working for an organization that supports our community, but also our family.”
With him and his wife thriving in their careers and their family settled in Pennsylvania, Robert remains committed to serving his community. It’s the continuation of a journey that started when he joined the Marines out of high school.
He’s grateful for the team at STAT MedEvac—those in the air, on the ground, and behind the scenes—for coming together to accomplish their mission.
“I’m proud to be a part of the STAT MedEvac team,” Robert says. “Coming here really allows me to find a sense of purpose that I was looking for.”
At UPMC, Life Changing Medicine means continuing your mission in a rewarding and meaningful career.
