Orion Talent Launches Funded Recruiting Program to Address Skilled Talent Shortage in the Maritime Industrial Base
Monday, March 10, 2025
Cary, N.C. - Monday, March 10, 2025 - The shortage of skilled labor in the Maritime Industrial Base (MIB) has reached a critical point, jeopardizing shipbuilding timelines and essential operations. In response, Orion Talent is proud to announce its Navy-funded partnership with BlueForge Alliance (BFA), which focuses on recruiting next generation workforce members and securing top talent for critical roles across the MIB supply base.
As part of this effort, Orion Talent will attract and recruit across key populations including transitioning service members, early career professionals, and industry-experienced professionals for critical skilled talent across the maritime ecosystem. They will work directly with maritime industry partners to develop tailored hiring strategies that align with specific workforce needs.
"The skilled labor shortage in the Maritime Industrial Base is one of the most pressing challenges facing this industry today," said Tim Sweeney, Vice President at Orion Talent. "This initiative provides suppliers with an unprecedented opportunity to secure the workforce they need to maintain production timelines and drive operational success. Orion Talent is proud to partner with BlueForge Alliance to support this critical mission by connecting companies with highly skilled professionals who are ready to make an immediate impact."
This program augments industry workforce efforts - particularly those of small and medium suppliers - allowing them to leverage full-service recruitment support to meet the growing maritime demand signal.
Learn more about Orion's Navy-funded partnership with BlueForge Alliance and how MIB suppliers can participate.
RSS Feed
Subscribe to Orion's News
Featured News
Orion Talent Launches Funded Recruiting Program to Address Skilled Talent Shortage in the Maritime Industrial Base
Monday, March 10, 2025
The shortage of skilled labor in the Maritime Industrial Base (MIB) has reached a critical point, jeopardizing shipbuilding timelines and essential operations. In response, Orion Talent is proud to announce its Navy-funded partnership with BlueForge Alliance (BFA), which focuses on recruiting next generation workforce members and securing top talent for critical roles across the MIB supply base.Read more ➔
Orion Talent Joins the 4+1 Commitment to Support Military Spouses
Tuesday, October 22, 2024
Orion Talent is proud to announce its participation in the 4+1 Commitment, a national initiative designed to enhance the lives of military spouses through a focus on employment, education, health & wellness, and community connections, with the added power of strong support networks.Read more ➔
Orion Talent Hires RPO and Talent Acquisition Industry Expert Greg Summers as CEO
Tuesday, June 11, 2024
With Greg Summers’ leadership, Orion Talent is not only positioned as a leader in Military Search Solutions, Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO), Recruitment Marketing, and Workforce Development Solutions, but is poised to strengthen its industry impact in Manufacturing, Infrastructure, Aviation Maintenance, and Semiconductors.Read more ➔
Orion Talent Earns VETS Indexes 5 Star Employer Award
Thursday, April 11, 2024
Competition for the VETS Indexes Employer Awards was tougher than ever in 2024, as a record number of organizations participated. Even with hundreds of employers in the running, the veterans program at Orion ICS, LLC stood out from the rest. Congratulations to Orion ICS, LLC on this outstanding achievement!Read more ➔
Do You Need Aviation Mechanics? Veterans are the Answer
Friday, February 23, 2024
Orion Talent's Collin Hannigan, Vice President, Client Solutions, contributed an article to Aviation Pros, highlighting veterans as the solution to the aviation industry talent shortage. Read more ➔
Orion Talent Launches New MRO Solution to Address the Aviation Mechanic Shortage
Monday, February 5, 2024
Orion Talent announces the launch of its best-in-class Military Hiring Solution for the Aviation Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) Industry. This innovative service will help alleviate the critical shortage of Aircraft Mechanics in the Aerospace sector, a challenge exacerbated by an aging workforce and high barriers to entry for early-career professionals. Read more ➔
FEAM Aero Partners with Orion Talent to Enhance Workforce Diversity and Military Veteran Recruitment Initiatives
Friday, February 2, 2024
FEAM Aero, the largest leading provider of aircraft line maintenance services in the United States, has announced a strategic partnership with Orion Talent, a top-tier talent solutions provider headquartered in Cary, North Carolina. This collaboration marks a significant milestone for both companies as they join forces to address the growing demand for skilled aviation professionals, with a specific focus on recruiting military veterans.Read more ➔
20 Ways HR Recruiters Can Improve The New Hire Onboarding Experience
Friday, February 2, 2024
Orion CEO Sarah Peiker joins Forbes Human Resources Council discussion about strategies and practical tips for HR recruiters to enhance their onboarding process. Read more ➔
Orion Talent Strengthens Commitment to National Defense Through Corporate Membership with the Navy League of the United States (NLUS) and Sponsorship of the Center for Maritime Strategy (CMS)
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
Orion Talent is proud to announce its status as a Corporate Member of the Navy League of the United States (NLUS) and as a sponsor of the Center for Maritime Strategy (CMS). This strategic alliance will address key trends in industrial labor markets and challenges faced by employers in the maritime defense sector. Orion Talent is honored to contribute to crucial conversations and focused research in collaboration with NLUS and CMS. Read more ➔
Orion Talent CEO Sarah Peiker Joins RPOA Advisory Board
Monday, January 22, 2024
Orion Talent CEO Sarah Peiker is proud to join the Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPOA) Advisory Board in 2024. The RPOA Advisory Board provides strategic guidance, expertise, and connections to the organization to ensure it meets its strategic objectives and aligns with its leadership compass. Read more ➔
Orion Talent Partners with Tooling U-SME to Close the Manufacturing Skills Gap with Industry-Certified Military Talent
Tuesday, January 16, 2024
Orion Talent proudly announces a strategic partnership with Tooling U-SME, revolutionizing the approach to building a skilled, entry-level talent pipeline for the manufacturing industry. This collaboration aims to build a diverse talent pool of military candidates certified in Robotics in Manufacturing Fundamentals (RFM), Certified Manufacturing Associate (CMfgA), and Electric Vehicles Fundamentals (EVF).Read more ➔
New Hires Still Entertain Job Offers—Here’s What To Do About It
Tuesday, January 2, 2024
Orion CEO Sarah Peiker recently contributed to this Forbes Human Resources Council article.Read more ➔
How to Navigate the Manufacturing Hiring Landscape - A Strategic Approach for 2024
Tuesday, November 28, 2023
What’s coming in 2024 for manufacturing hiring? Orion VP of Business Development, Collin Hannigan, recently shared his predictions and advice in a Guest Blog post for Industrial Equipment News (IEN). Read more ➔
Orion Talent CEO Sarah Peiker Wins Stevie® Award in 2023 Stevie Awards for Women in Business
Friday, November 17, 2023
Orion Talent CEO Sarah Peiker has been named the winner of a Bronze Stevie® Award in the Achievement in Diversity & Inclusion category in the 20th annual Stevie Awards for Women in Business. Read more ➔
Pay Transparency's Impact on Recruiting and Retention
Monday, November 6, 2023
With pay transparency legislation sweeping the nation, Orion Talent Sarah Peiker shared strategies to get the most from embracing it in the HRO Today October 2023 magazine issue. Read more ➔
10 Effective Ways That New People Managers Can Lead With Authenticity
Monday, October 9, 2023
Orion CEO Sarah Peiker recently contributed to this Forbes Human Resources Council article. Read more ➔
Orion Talent Achieves Enterprise Ranking on HRO Today's 2023 Baker's Dozen List
Thursday, September 21, 2023
Orion Talent, a leading Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) and Talent Solutions firm, is thrilled to announce its recognition as an Overall Enterprise RPO Leader on HRO Today's prestigious 2023 Baker's Dozen Customer Satisfaction Ratings: RPO list. This achievement marks Orion Talent's highest ranking to date, underscoring the company's commitment to delivering top-notch talent solutions.Read more ➔
Congrats to New York workers: You may soon see just how underpaid you are
Tuesday, September 12, 2023
Orion’s VP of Talent Acquisition, Rachel Ward, recently spoke with Business Insider's Noah Sheidlower about the effect of pay transparency laws on the labor market as New York prepares to implement pay transparency legislation. Read more ➔
Three Ways SMBs Should Strengthen Their Workforce in a Downturn
Tuesday, August 15, 2023
Sarah Peiker, Orion Talent CEO, writes for the Forbes Human Resource Council. Read more ➔
Orion Talent Partners with American Petroleum Institute (API) to Prepare Military Candidates for Meaningful Careers in the Oil and Gas Industry
Wednesday, August 2, 2023
Orion Talent, a leading talent acquisition firm specializing in military and veteran recruitment, is delighted to announce its partnership with the American Petroleum Institute (API), the esteemed trade association representing the oil and natural gas industry. Through this collaboration, Orion Talent will sponsor API certification for military members transitioning to civilian careers in the oil and gas sector, facilitating their placement into meaningful roles with industry partners.Read more ➔
Orion Talent Joins Everest Group’s Impact Sourcing Pledge & Clinton Global Initiative
Tuesday, April 25, 2023
Orion Talent is proud to announce it has joined Everest Group’s Impact Sourcing Pledge to connect hundreds of thousands of under-represented individuals to new jobs. Read more ➔
Orion Talent Partners with U.S. Department of Labor to Support Transitioning Military Service Members, Spouses
Wednesday, February 1, 2023
Orion Talent is proud to announce our partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor Veterans’ Employment and Training Services Employment Navigator and Partnership Pilot (ENPP).Read more ➔
Orion Talent Named to Inc.’s 2022 Best in Business List in Enduring Impact: 15+ years
Tuesday, December 6, 2022
3rd annual list recognizes private companies putting purpose ahead of profit Read more ➔
Orion Talent Wins Silver Stevie® Award in 2022 Stevie Awards for Women in Business
Saturday, November 12, 2022
Orion Talent has been named the winner of a Silver Stevie® Award in the Achievement in Diversity & Inclusion category in the 19th annual Stevie Awards for Women in Business.Read more ➔
Orion Talent Earns Top Spot on RPO Baker’s Dozen for Mid-Size Providers
Tuesday, September 13, 2022
Orion Talent, a leader in recruitment process outsourcing (RPO), has earned #1 Mid-Size RPO provider on HRO Today's 2022 Baker's Dozen Rankings. Read more ➔
David Casey and Mara Motherway Join Orion Talent's Board of Managers
Tuesday, August 16, 2022
Admired industry leaders bring unique DE&I, business management, and public policy insights to Orion TalentRead more ➔
Orion Talent Launches First Performance-based Diversity Hiring Platform
Tuesday, May 17, 2022
New Platform Guarantees Diverse Applicants, Connecting Job Hunters from Underrepresented Groups with Diversity-Committed EmployersRead more ➔
Military Hiring for a Stronger Future - Military Talent at Scale Contributes to Competitiveness on the World Stage
Friday, April 29, 2022
Orion Talent CEO Sarah Peiker leads this HRO Today conversationRead more ➔
Lead With Your Strengths: Sarah Peiker, Orion Talent
Thursday, March 31, 2022
Sarah Peiker, CEO of Orion Talent, featured on The Edge PodcastRead more ➔
PODCAST: Driving Diversity, Inclusion, and Business Success with Military Hiring
Tuesday, February 15, 2022
Talent Culture podcast featuring Orion Talent CEO Sarah PeikerRead more ➔
5 Ideas to Build a More Diverse Workplace
Wednesday, December 8, 2021
HR Morning article featuring Orion Talent CEO Sarah PeikerRead more ➔
Orion Talent Recognized for Third Year by the U.S. Department of Labor as a HIRE Vets Gold Medallion Recipient
Wednesday, November 10, 2021
The U.S. Department of Labor recognized Orion Talent, a provider of military hiring and talent optimization solutions, as a Gold Medallion recipient of the 2021 HIRE Vets Medallion Program Award.Read more ➔
Don't Overlook Gaming Industry Talent to Fill In-Demand IT Roles
Thursday, August 26, 2021
By Antonio Gonzalez, Director of IT Recruiting, Orion TalentRead more ➔
Orion Talent Announces SkillBridge Internship Program for Service Members
Friday, August 20, 2021
Orion Talent is proud to announce our participation in the Department of Defense SkillBridge Program as an Authorized Industry Partner.Read more ➔
Hirepurpose and Orion Talent Present Belonging Matters: Building an Inclusive Culture on April 22 at 2 pm ET.
Friday, March 26, 2021
March 26, 2021 - Hirepurpose, an Orion Talent company, is excited to announce our upcoming webinar, Belonging Matters: Building an Inclusive Culture on April 22 at 2pm ET. Read more ➔
Orion Talent Announces 2021 ClearlyRated Best of RPO Award Win
Tuesday, February 2, 2021
Orion Talent, a leading and award winning RPO firm announced today that they have won the Best of RPO Award for providing superior service to their clients during COVID-19.Read more ➔
Orion Talent named Star Performer by Everest Group in the “RPO in North American PEAK Matrix® Assessment 2020"
Tuesday, December 15, 2020
Orion Talent, a leader in recruitment process outsourcing (RPO), is excited to announce that we have been named a 2020 Star Performer and Major Contender on the Everest Group's Recruitment Process Outsourcing Services PEAK Matrix® Assessment for 2020.Read more ➔
Orion Talent Recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor as a HIRE Vets Gold Medallion Recipient; Celebrates 50,000 Veteran Hires
Tuesday, November 10, 2020
Today, the U.S. Department of Labor recognized Orion Talent, a provider of military hiring and talent optimization solutions, as a Gold Medallion recipient of the 2020 HIRE Vets Medallion Program Award during a live stream ceremony hosted by Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia at the Department's headquarters in Washington, D.C.Read more ➔
Orion Talent Ranks #1 on Austin Business Journal's The List for Top Tech Recruitment Firms and Combined Services Firms
Monday, October 5, 2020
The Austin Business Journal, home to the latest breaking business news in the Austin, TX, area, released its annual edition of The List. The ABJ lists include more than 1,000 Austin area companies ranked in their respective fields. Read more ➔
Orion Talent Earns Spot on RPO Baker’s Dozen for Enterprise Providers; Ranked #3 Overall for Service Offerings
Tuesday, September 22, 2020
Orion Talent, a leader in recruitment process outsourcing (RPO), has been named among the top Enterprise RPO providers in the HRO Today's 2020 Baker's Dozen Rankings.Read more ➔
Create a Virtual Onboarding Program that New Hires Rave About
Thursday, July 23, 2020
By Mike Starich, Orion Talent CEO, for Recruiting DailyRead more ➔
Orion Talent Joins Infrastructure Masons Veterans Coalition
Tuesday, June 30, 2020
Military veterans represent a diverse workforce that learns and adapts quickly while continuously striving for excellenceRead more ➔
Orion Talent and Siemens USA Celebrate 10 Years of Continuous Success in Hiring Military Veterans
Wednesday, June 24, 2020
Collaboration Has Helped Nearly 4,000 Veterans Transition to Siemens' WorkforceRead more ➔
Orion Talent Partners with Salute Mission Critical to Expand Opportunity for Veterans
Thursday, June 11, 2020
Orion Talent is pleased to announce a partnership with Salute Mission Critical, a premier IT Data Center Lifecycle services company, which transforms military veterans into world-class data center technicians. Read more ➔
How to Ace Candidate Interviews in a Socially Distant World
Thursday, April 9, 2020
By Mike Starich, CEO of Orion Talent, and Jay Koranda, VP of Recruiting for Orion Talent, in Recruiting DailyRead more ➔
[VIDEO] Veterans a Key Source to Fill Open Construction Positions
Thursday, March 12, 2020
David Coe, Orion SVP Talent Programs, speaks with ForConstructionPros.com Read more ➔
Orion Senior Vice President to Address Benefits of Hiring Veterans at CONEXPO-CON/AGG
Tuesday, February 25, 2020
David Coe, Senior VP of Strategic Programs at Orion Talent, will talk about the extraordinary skills and experience veterans bring to the construction industry at CONEXPO-CON/AGG.Read more ➔
Orion Talent SVP of Strategic Programs David Coe Writes for Datamation on the Data Center Talent Shortage
Wednesday, February 12, 2020
2020 marks the start of a new decade but not the end of the talent shortage, which has data centers worldwide scrambling to find and retain skilled employees. Read more ➔
Indeed Features ClearlyRated's Best RPO Companies in 2020 Winners
Wednesday, February 5, 2020
Indeed decided to partner with ClearlyRated to launch a RPO award program focused on giving unbiased and transparent results so that RPO providers can credibly differentiate themselves.Read more ➔
Orion Novotus Wins ClearlyRated's 2020 Best of RPO for Service Excellence
Tuesday, February 4, 2020
Orion Novotus, a leading RPO firm announced today that they have won Best of RPO Award for providing superior service to their clients.Read more ➔
Orion Talent Receives 2019 Gold HIRE Vets Medallion Award
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
Today, the U.S. Department of Labor recognized Orion Talent, a provider of recruitment process outsourcing (RPO), military hiring solutions, and skilled talent acquisition, as a Gold Medallion recipient of the 2019 HIRE Vets Medallion Program Award during a ceremony at the U.S. Department of Labor.Read more ➔
Orion Talent Appoints Three New Members to Board of Directors
Monday, September 9, 2019
Orion Talent, a provider of skilled talent acquisition, recruitment process outsourcing (RPO), and military hiring to businesses nationwide, has announced the appointment of three talent management experts to its board of directors. The new board members bring an outstanding history of industry expertise and leadership to Orion and will help guide the organization’s continued growth as a global, full-service enterprise talent management and recruiting firm. Read more ➔
Orion CEO Mike Starich Writes About Considering Less Perfectly Matched Candidates for Recruiting Daily
Friday, August 2, 2019
Even when talent is plentiful, bad hires happen. Maybe the hiring process is rushed or sourcing is done incorrectly. Perhaps the team interviewing the candidate lacked the experience to determine fit. But when talent is in short supply, even the most practiced recruiters can make bad hires as the pressure builds to fill positions that have been open far too long.Read more ➔
Orion Talent CEO Mike Starich Writes about Preparing for the Coming Recession in Recruiting Daily
Monday, May 20, 2019
Yes, you read that right. It’s been over 10 years since the Great Recession of 2008 and most U.S. economists are now predicting a recession by the end of 2020. Reports are starting to show downtrends in CEO confidence and slowdowns in manufacturing, energy, and high tech. There are signs in the field, too, with less “high volume” job openings and a rising threshold on candidate qualifications.Read more ➔
Orion CEO Mike Starich and Siemens USA CEO Barbara Humpton Write about How to Improve Veteran Recruitment for Manufacturing.net
Tuesday, January 29, 2019
The competition to hire veterans continues to be fierce. While many factors have brought us to this point, initiatives such as the Vietnam Era Veteran’s Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and private sector coalitions such as JPMorgan’s 100,000 Jobs Mission have helped to ignite enthusiasm to hire service members. Today, the unemployment rate for veterans remains at near historic lows. Read more ➔
Orion Novotus President Cory Kruse Named 2018 HR Superstar by HRO Today
Tuesday, January 8, 2019
Orion Novotus is proud to announce that President Cory Kruse has been named a 2018 HR Superstar by HRO Today. According to HRO Today, “This year’s Superstars have a proven track record of innovating, challenging the status quo, and redefining the new normal for HR.”Read more ➔
L2 Capital Partners and Lakewood Capital Acquire Orion Talent and Orion Novotus
Tuesday, December 4, 2018
DEVON, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--L2 Capital Partners, L.P. (“L2” or “L2 Capital”) and Lakewood Capital, LLC (“Lakewood”) announced the acquisition of Orion ICS, LLC (“Orion Talent”) and its wholly owned subsidiary Novotus, LLC (“Orion Novotus” and with Orion Talent, collectively, “Orion” or the “Company”), together, a leading human capital management platform offering a unique combination of military, skilled professional, and Recruitment Process Outsourcing (“RPO”) solutions.Read more ➔
Orion CEO Mike Starich Writes about How to Fix a High Quit Rate in Recruiting Daily
Monday, November 12, 2018
As Americans continue to take advantage of a tight labor market to search for better- paying jobs, retention has become a serious concern for all companies. With healthcare, financial services, transportation and warehousing leading the way, 3.5 million workers voluntarily left their jobs in April 2018, the highest quit rate since the dotcom boom peaked in 2000. Read more ➔
USA Today Explores the Veteran Job Market, featuring Orion CEO Mike Starich
Friday, November 9, 2018
Storm Johnson was concerned about finding work upon leaving the military after five years as a Marine. He said he had some trouble preparing job applications, largely because it was difficult to translate what he did in the military to civilian job skills.Read more ➔
In Tight Labor Market, Companies Find Veterans Faster to Hire, Easier to Retain Than Civilian Candidates, Says New Orion Talent Survey
Wednesday, October 17, 2018
CARY, N.C.--At a time when finding top talent has never been harder, more than a sizeable majority of companies (79%) find that veterans offer businesses the qualified, committed and high-performing employees they need. According to Orion Talent’s new Veteran Hiring Survey: Exploring the Bottom-line Value of Hiring Veteran Talent, respondents are hiring veterans because of what they bring to the table rather than compliance requirements or because “it’s the right thing to do.” Read more ➔
Orion Novotus Ranks on HRO Today's 2018 Baker's Dozen for Top RPO Providers
Monday, September 17, 2018
Orion Novotus, a leader in recruitment process outsourcing (RPO), has been named among the top Enterprise RPO providers in the HRO Today's 2018 Baker's Dozen Rankings.Read more ➔
Cory Kruse, President of Orion Novotus, discusses candidate ghosting in Talent Economy
Thursday, September 6, 2018
The candidate who excelled during their interviews disappears during the final step of the hiring process. That enthusiastic college grad who accepts your job offer never makes it through onboarding. The promising new hire who settles so easily into their new role vanishes after two weeks without formal notice, unresponsive to texts and voicemails.Read more ➔
Orion Novotus and HRO Today Survey Reveals Key Agreements, Differences on Talent Acquisition Performance among HR and Hiring Managers
Friday, August 10, 2018
Recruiters underestimate hiring manager satisfaction; sourcing a growing pain point for both groups in tight labor market.Read more ➔
Brian Henry, Orion Talent’s Senior VP of Operations, Featured on Beyond the Uniform Podcast
Monday, July 23, 2018
There are two reasons to listen to this episode. First of all, Orion Talent (and recruiters in general) are an excellent resource that members of the military should consider as they approach their career transition. Second, Brian has over 20 years of experience in the recruiting space. He talks about a range of topics like changes in the hiring landscape, how to prepare for interviews, and other topics that would benefit any Veteran. Read more ➔
Dominick Serra, Account Executive at Orion Talent, discusses hiring veterans in the construction industry with KWA
Wednesday, November 22, 2017
In the next five years, the construction industry is expected to add 1.6 million jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. As a general contractor specializing in multi-family developments in Texas, this job growth comes as no surprise to us. Read more ➔
Orion Novotus Ranked #1 of Top RPO Providers in Midsize Deals
Monday, September 25, 2017
Orion Novotus, a leader in recruitment process outsourcing (RPO), has been named the number one Midsize RPO provider in the HRO Today's 2017 Baker's Dozen Rankings.Read more ➔
