Acting Secretary Of Commerce Blank Joins Honeywell And Orion International In Support Of Joining Forces Veterans Hiring Initiative

MORRIS TOWNSHIP, N.J., Nov. 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Honeywell (NYSE: HON) and military recruitment partner Orion International hosted a Joining Forces Veterans Hiring Event today in Washington D.C. to identify and match veteran job candidates with open positions at Honeywell. The event, attended by Acting United States Secretary of Commerce Dr. Rebecca Blank, Honeywell's Chairman and CEO Dave Cote, and Joining Forces Executive Director Todd Veazie, recognizes Honeywell's efforts to provide veterans with more career opportunities.

Veterans attending the event applied and interviewed for available jobs at Honeywell.  Positions ranged from project managers to service and installation technicians to engineers.  Since 2011, Honeywell has hired more than 1,100 veterans in a wide variety of roles, including engineers, production operation supervisors, technicians, and sourcing/logistics professionals. Overall, 10 percent of Honeywell's U.S. workforce is composed of U.S. military veterans, compared to the national average of 7.7 percent (as reported by the U.S. Department of Labor).

"It's an honor to be able to hire U.S. military veterans for open, immediate positions at Honeywell," said Cote.  "Acting Secretary Blank and I will have the opportunity today to interact with the veteran candidates to get a better understanding of the challenges they face as they transition back into the civilian workforce.  Honeywell is an ideal fit for U.S. military forces because they possess many of the behaviors that we value most.  A strong work ethic, accelerated learning skills, ability to perform under pressure, and inspirational leadership are all traits that will foster successful careers at Honeywell and will strengthen our business."

"The Department of Commerce takes this Administration's commitment to hiring veterans very seriously, and we will do our part to support the Joining Forces initiative and the good work of companies like Honeywell and Orion International that are connecting members of our military with the quality private-sector jobs they have earned," said Acting U.S. Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank. "Through the Department's strong relationship with private sector companies all over the country, we will be encouraging other firms to commit to hiring veterans, and we will do all we can to help them make that goal a reality."

Joining Forces is a comprehensive national initiative to provide our service members and their families with the opportunities and support they have earned. Since the Joining Forces initiative began in 2011, Honeywell has been an active supporter of the effort, which is led by First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden. One of the effort's main focuses has been connecting America's veterans and military spouses with careers that match their skills, experience, and dedication. To date, Joining Forces has worked with more than 2,000 companies to hire or train 125,000 veterans and military spouses.

Honeywell also protects the jobs of current employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve until they return and continues their pay and benefits at 100 percent for up to 18 months.  Over 550 Honeywell employees have been paid military leave at least once since the company started its full-pay policy in 2001.

Honeywell's longstanding commitment to helping veterans has been recognized with numerous awards including U.S. Army Freedom Team Salute, an official U.S. Army commendation program for supporters who have contributed to the U.S. Army mission and its soldiers, and the Patriot Award, a recognition presented by Department of Defenses' Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve that awards supervisors and bosses nominated by a Guardsman or Reservist employee for support provided directly to the nominator.

As a leader in the defense industry, Honeywell helps our armed forces meet evolving defense challenges and maintain peak readiness. The company provides a wide range of technologies and services critical to today's missions along with innovation for tomorrow's challenges. Advanced cockpit displays, Spectra® fiber for bullet-resistant armor, and micro-grid technology for power management are just a few ways Honeywell makes missions safer and more secure, more comfortable and energy efficient, and more innovation and productive for our servicemen and women.

Veterans and other candidates seeking employment in a variety of fields at Honeywell can visit http://www.careersathoneywell.com. For more information on the Joining Forces initiative, visit www.whitehouse.gov/joiningforces.

Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry; turbochargers; and performance materials. Based in Morris Township, N.J., Honeywell's shares are traded on the New York, London, and Chicago Stock Exchanges.  For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywellnow.com.

Media:
Robert C. Ferris
(973) 455-3388 
[email protected]

SOURCE Honeywell