Annually on November 11, we celebrate Veterans Day to honor the brave individuals who have served and continue to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces. This year, we connected with a few veterans who work at Samsara to learn more about their time in the service and how their military experience has shaped them. 

While this isn't an exhaustive list of all the veterans here at Samsara, we hope you enjoy getting to know these folks better. Read on to meet Desirée, Tony, Gordon, and Danny and hear about how their time in the military has helped shape their leadership today.

Desirée Strozier | Captain, US Army

Role at Samsara: Vice President, Sales Operations

When and where did you serve?

2005 to 2012 in Hawaii, Arizona, and Iraq.

Why was serving important to you? What motivated you to enlist and serve?

I think I’ve always sought out challenging experiences, and going to West Point definitely fit the bill. I was also motivated to be a part of something greater than myself. I grew up in a small town and was looking to change the direction of my life!

How has your time in the military helped you in your role today at Samsara?

I’ve learned that leadership, whether in the military or business, means the same thing—it’s about taking care of people, building teams, and helping everyone do their very best work. Whether you’re in a combat situation or building a successful business, the same principles apply: accomplish the mission and take care of your people.

"Whether you’re in a combat situation or building a successful business, the same principles apply: accomplish the mission and take care of your people."

Tony DeMarco | Nuclear Electronics Technician, US Navy

Role at Samsara: Field Quality Manager, Hardware Engineering

When and where did you serve?

1999 to 2005 in Goose Creek, South Carolina and San Diego, California.

Why was serving important to you? What motivated you to enlist and serve?

I had never traveled outside the Bay Area and wanted to see the world. At the time, I was a short order cook and hanging drywall on weekends. Contrast that with seeing the world and working on nuclear power plants? Easy decision.

How has your time in the military helped you in your role today at Samsara?

You become very resilient. The everyday challenges we encounter at Samsara feel trivial compared to what we used to do in the military. When we were in the office and people would comment on or review our free lunch I would laugh—they've never had midrats [midnight rations]!

Gordon White | Captain, US Air Force

Role at Samsara: Manager, Field Sales Engineering

When and where did you serve?

1996 to 2001 in interesting places, including San Antonio, Texas. 

Why was serving important to you? What motivated you to enlist and serve?

Someone in my family has served in the military in every generation since the country was founded.  I wanted to continue the tradition as well as give back to this country.

How has your time in the military helped you in your role today at Samsara?

Military officers are trained to adapt and overcome obstacles in order to accomplish the mission.  When Samsara was very small, there were several obstacles to selling in the enterprise space. As a team, we found creative solutions to get wins.

Danny Kohnen | Lieutenant Commander, US Navy

Role at Samsara: Director, Supply Chain

When and where did you serve?

2007 to 2014 in South Carolina, Hawaii, and Connecticut.

Why was serving important to you? What motivated you to enlist and serve?

As a kid from Iowa, I felt motivated to travel the world. The Navy seemed like the best opportunity to see the world and gain experiences outside of my comfort zone. My older brother was in the Navy, which influenced my decision to apply to the U.S. Naval Academy.

How has your time in the military helped you in your role today at Samsara?

The military taught me to keep moving in the midst of change. On day one of submarine training, you learn that plans are useless but planning is invaluable. This framework is applicable to everything we do at Samsara. We enter the battlespace with a clear objective, but everything changes as soon as there’s a torpedo in the water.

"On day one of submarine training, you learn that plans are useless but planning is invaluable. This framework is applicable to everything we do at Samsara."

Join our team & grow your career at Samsara

To all of the veterans at Samsara and beyond, we thank you for your service! 

At Samsara, we depend on the unique approaches of our team members to solve complex problems. We are honored that so many former service members have chosen to grow their careers at Samsara.

Samsara is hiring, and we’re looking for people who are interested in helping us build a safer, smarter, sustainable world. Check out our open roles and apply today.

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