Leadership, integrity, courage … they’re the attributes of a good soldier … and qualities that can be put to use as part of the clean-energy revolution.

Just ask Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Barber. After more than 20 years of service, he’s retiring from the Army and transitioning to civilian life. But he plans to continue serving his country by joining the solar-energy workforce.

Barber got excited about renewable energy after watching the film “An Inconvenient Truth.” But he didn’t know how to break into the industry.

Then, in a twist of fate, just as he was sharing his interest with his career transition counselor, she received a phone call about the Solar Ready Vets program.

Barber: “I can just remember thinking to myself, OK this is God telling me, ‘This is your place, this is what you need to be doing because you have a passion for it.'”

The Solar Ready Vets program is a collaboration between the Department of Energy and Department of Defense. The six-week program prepares veterans to join the solar industry as installation technicians, system inspectors, or sales representatives.

Now Barber’s eager to help spread the use of solar energy.

Barber: “That’s what it’s about … leaving the world a little bit better for the people that come behind us.”

Reporting credit: Pam Memmott/ChavoBart Digital Media.