Joclyn Polhemus, a facilities services supervisor at the U.S. Department of Energy's Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, is a U.S. Air Force veteran who currently serves in the Virginia Air National Guard (VaANG). Yet when Veterans Day approaches, Polhemus doesn't think of herself. Instead, her thoughts turn to those who came before her – the pioneers who cleared the way for her service.
Polhemus' military career began in 2013, motivated by a heavy student loan burden after a year in college.
"I did one year of college, saw my student loan bill, and said, 'absolutely not,'" Polhemus said, reflecting on her decision to join the VaANG.
What started as a practical choice would lead to a rewarding and multi-faceted academic and professional career.
Currently, Polhemus is pursuing a doctorate in business administration with a focus on project management.
As an operations management specialist assigned to the Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers (RED HORSE), a specialized combat engineering unit, Polhemus was trained for rapid deployments to build critical infrastructure in remote areas. Whether constructing airfields or building schools, the mission would often take her away to oversee every detail of a project.
“People don’t always realize the Guard is made up of people who have full lives outside the military—careers, families, and commitments. It’s not the one-dimensional life people assume,” said Polhemus. “It’s not easy, but the experience makes you more adaptable.”
Polhemus recalled one deployment to Central America that left a lasting impression on her. While there, she and her team were tasked with building a school and a cafeteria for a community in a rural area.
A young boy from the local village approached them, desperately seeking help for his father, who was suffering from a heart attack. The host nation lacked a universal emergency number which led to slow responses for emergency medical services.
U.S. service members followed the boy back to the village and attempted to render aid. Because ambulances were unavailable, they loaded the boy’s father into a Humvee and transported him to the nearest hospital. The slow response of emergency services and lack of a universal emergency number starkly reminded Polhemus of the disparities in healthcare access.
"It made me think about how lucky we are in the U.S. to have reliable emergency services," she said.
After two years of back-to-back deployments with RED HORSE, priorities for Polhemus began to shift. As she and her husband began discussing the future and the possibility of children, they had to consider the demands of heavy deployment cycles and the impact on a young family.
“The pace of deployments with RED HORSE wasn’t sustainable for me as I looked to start a family,” she said.
This need for stability led her to transition to a role in the Equal Opportunity Office, where she now helps other guardsmen navigate human relations and workplace concerns.
“The Equal Opportunity Office allowed me to continue serving with a more predictable schedule, which has been a game-changer,” said Polhemus, now the mother of two young girls.
Reflecting on her early days of motherhood, Polhemus noted that the amount of information she received about navigating pregnancy was extensive. However, she struggled to find enough information about what would come after, an experience that would lead her to become a first-time author.
Her book, 42 Days Postpartum, captures her candid memories as a new mother grappling with postpartum depression, from incredible highs to desperate lows, and how she learned to not only survive but thrive.
Polhemus showcases how veterans can make a difference in their communities by stepping up to fill in gaps where they see them, to provide leadership and to serve as advocates for vital causes.
In addition to her new role as a mother and her continued service in the VaANG, Polhemus went on to build a successful civilian career at Jefferson Lab, a role that she says her time in RED HORSE prepared her for.
“The Guard’s diversity has helped me work with different people and teams,” she said. “My military experience has translated into the civilian world, especially in project management and working across departments."
Jefferson Lab, a Virginia Values Veterans (V3) certified employer, values the unique skillsets and experiences service members bring to a highly skilled and diverse workforce and actively hires, supports and retains veterans.
For Polhemus, Jefferson Lab’s veteran-friendly environment has been a perfect fit, allowing her to apply the project management and cross-functional skills she gained in the military while continuing to serve her community in new ways.
“Being part of an organization that values my military experience makes a huge difference,” said Polhemus. “The leadership here really understands the unique skill set we bring and ensures that veterans have the resources and support we need to succeed.”
Thank you for your service. Joclyn Polhemus!
By Michelle Alvarez