About
When Chaze Patrick finished four years with the U.S. Marine Corps, he left with much more than his service record. He took with him a passion for helping fellow veterans translate that service into civilian career opportunities.
Chaze knows the intersection of veteran and civilian life and where that connection often breaks down. Transitioning out of the military means translating a whole identity, beyond skills on a resume, and Chaze has spent his career making sure that process isn’t navigated alone.
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His approach is both systems-level and relationship-driven, rooted in mission clarity, accountability, and trust earned — values the Marine Corps cemented in him. Rather than seeing veteran employment as a placement transaction, Chaze convened employers, higher education institutions, military transition offices, and veteran-serving organizations (VSOs) to build sustainable, veteran-focused employment infrastructure across Indiana in his role as Outreach and Veteran Engagement Manager at INVets. His efforts resulted in both more veterans employed, and, more importantly, veterans better matched, better supported, and more likely to stay and advance in their post-military employment.
Before he joined INVets, Chaze worked as a Disabled Veterans Outreach Program Specialist with the State of Indiana, working directly with veterans navigating homelessness, unemployment, and reintegration barriers. That experience sharpened his ability to connect with people in their moment of need, and address the obstacles underneath the surface. This is a practice he continues to bring to every stakeholder relationship he builds today. He also led the Student Veterans of America chapter at the University of Southern Indiana, elevating support systems for student veterans and earning national recognition in the process.
Those who have worked alongside him describe a person who leads with integrity and purpose. John Michael O'Leary, Chaze’s former mentor, put it plainly: "It is rare to find a person so committed to both self-development and servant leadership. I knew that, for any project or event I was working on, success was virtually assured with Chaze on the team."
One veteran Chaze supported during a particularly uncertain transition shared what Chaze’s support meant: "When I got out [of the military], I felt lost. Chaze didn't just help me find a job, he helped me find direction again. He took the time to understand where I was at, what I wanted, and what I was capable of, even when I didn't see it myself. Because of him, I'm not just employed — I'm building a future."
As a SHRM Foundation Military Community Ambassador, Chaze extends his reach beyond Indiana, educating employers on how to recruit, hire, and retain veterans in ways that create lasting outcomes on both sides of the hiring table. His work is a living example of the SHRM Military Community at Work’s belief that supporting veterans in the workforce is not only the right thing to do — it strengthens the organizations that do it.
Do you want to build the kind of intentional, inclusive veteran hiring practices that Chaze models? You can start with the Mission Ready Guidebook, a practical resource for enhancing talent strategy around military-connected professionals. If you are ready to take your commitment further, explore the Military Community Ambassador Program and join a growing network of advocates doing this work in communities across the country.