JFK Air Cargo Association Brings Edge4Vets to New York Airports

World Wide Flight Services (WFS) and ASAK Solutions led an effort, in collaboration with the JFK Air Cargo Association, to bring Fordham’s Edge4Vets program to NY airports. The program prepares and connects veterans to jobs that can lead to air cargo careers. 

TSA and Customs & Border Patrol participated as Edge4Vets introduced its nationally successful jobs prep program with a workshop on May 22 hosted by Vaughn College.

Edge4Vets is offered by the Human Resiliency Institute at Fordham in partnership with the NYC Department of Veterans Services and Airports Council International/North America. The goal is to accelerate military veterans’ National Guard, transitioning soldiers and spouses into the airports’ workforce.

“Cargo companies value veterans for the unique skills they bring from the military, including operational abilities, a safety mindset, and outstanding work ethic,” said Phil Jensen, a VP with World Wide Flight Services and a leader in the project.

Forty-seven veterans participated in the cohort, which kicked off May 22 and was joined by twenty “mentors,” including HR reps from WFS, ASAK, TSA, CBP, and Council on Airport Opportunity (CAO). The mentors provided support in the session as Fordham’s Edge4Vets taught the veterans how to translate their military skills into “tools” for civilian success for an “edge” to get hired.

With the launch accomplished, the Human Resiliency Institute at Fordham is assembling a coalition of partners, led by companies such as WFS, ASAK Solutions, the JFK Air Cargo Association, KAAMCO Cargo, TSA, CBP, the JFK Chamber of Commerce, and others, to plan for the program’s broader expansion in the fall. 

The goal is to make Edge4Vets an ongoing resource to help companies at New York airports meet their talent needs with talented, job-ready veterans.