Rockwell Collins has signed on to ‘Joining Forces,’ a White House initiative to hire or train 100,000 U.S. military veterans and their spouses by 2013.

“Our commitment to ‘Joining Forces’ is an expression of the value we see in the unique skills and abilities that veterans bring to our business,” explained Ron Kirchenbauer, senior vice president, Human Resources for Rockwell Collins. “Because our products and technology are used throughout every branch of the military, increasing the proportion of veterans in our workforce can provide us with incredible insight into our customer base while providing the returning veterans with opportunities that will help them transition back to civilian life.”

“Rockwell Collins’ efforts are most genuinely appreciated − and today’s announcement is another great signal that businesses throughout this country recognize that hiring veterans and military spouses is good for any company’s bottom line,” said Navy Captain Brad Cooper, Executive Director of Joining Forces in the White House.

Rockwell Collins plans to help veterans and their spouses succeed in a civilian environment through employment opportunities, mentoring, career planning, networking, and professional and personal support. It is an extension of the company’s deep investment in the well-being of military personnel and veterans, which includes its internal Military and Veterans Employee Resource Group and actively collaborating with a number of programs externally such as Hiring Our Heroes, Student Veterans of America, and Wounded Warriors Careers.

Rockwell Collins has set a goal to increase the proportion of veterans who are hired to at least 10 percent of all the newly hired employees by the end of 2013, assuming current business trends continue as projected.

Joining Forces is a national initiative led by the First Lady and Dr. Jill Biden that mobilizes all sectors of society to give service members, veterans and their families the opportunities and support they have earned.

About Rockwell Collins
Rockwell Collins (NYSE: COL) is a pioneer in the development and deployment of innovative communication and aviation electronic solutions for both commercial and government applications. Our expertise in flight deck avionics, cabin electronics, mission communications, information management, and simulation and training is delivered by 20,000 employees, and a global service and support network that crosses 27 countries.