Newly commissioned, selected for new AFVentures Fellows program

^{Author: U.S. Air National Guard Senior Airman Sarah M. McClanahan}

^{Photos by: U.S. Air National Guard Senior Airman Sarah M. McClanahan; Courtesy Photo}

Air Force 2nd Lt. Sarah Soliman discovered what it meant to serve while working as a contractor for the military in Southwest Asia. After recently commissioning, she was awarded an inaugural spot in the AFVentures Fellows program while awaiting her career specific training in cyber. This program, a Secretary of the Air Force initiative, immerses participants in some of the world’s most advanced risk management and investment firms with the intent to build relationships and bring back knowledge to strengthen the Air Force.

This competitive program will take place in San Francisco from February to March. Soliman, a member of the 175th Cyberspace Operations Squadron, was one of two National Guard members selected to participate in the fellows program. All 22 fellows will have different assignments shadowing and learning from different companies or capital investment firms which are geographically spread out across the Bay Area.

“Some of the events will be in groups but the primary focus of our day is to be a shadow, be a fly on the wall, and be a sponge,” explains Soliman. “We will be soaking up all the knowledge we can and contributing all we can at our capital firm assignments.”

Soliman is no stranger to embarking into unknown territory for opportunities to learn and grow. She was introduced to the military world in her first after-college job as a contractor overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan for two years.

“I felt like the military was kind of like studying abroad because there’s all this different lingo and cultural cues and norms I didn’t understand at first. I had to ask a lot of questions and read books and memoirs,” explains Soliman. “Similarly, I anticipate some of the [same] challenges.”

Since her time overseas, Soliman continues to work closely with the military as a public policy analyst. In 2018, she elected to commission into the Maryland Air National Guard, allowing her to join the ranks of the people she had been working to support.

The process of moving through the pipeline of military training schools can be lengthy and sometimes presents long break periods in between schools. Soliman’s break between basic military training and her career school does not stop her from staying active. After coming across an advertisement for the AFVentures Fellows program on social media, she promptly seized the opportunity.

In order to attend the event, Soliman had to gain approval from her home unit and their support if selected.
“She will be learning with venture capital firms who, unlike the military, have a monetary drive towards making these initiatives successful,” explains Air Force Lt. Col. Brian Timothy, 175th Cyberspace Operations Squadron commander. “We’re hoping she learns how to take on new initiatives and capture the momentum behind [new] technologies and other areas where we might be able to use those things to improve the Air Force and to use that experience to smartly make our squadron better.”

So now with the green-light from her commander, she will soon head off to California with the hopes of creating a path for other Airmen to pursue in the future.

“One of my goals is to blaze the trail,” expresses Soliman. “I recognize what an amazing [opportunity this is] and hope that in the future other Maryland Guardsmen can follow.”