Salute has signed a multi-year partnership with UHP to train military veterans for data centre jobs in the US, targeting more than 10,000 recruits over the next few years.
Described as a multi-million-dollar agreement, the deal centres on a training pipeline for veterans moving into technical and operational data centre roles. UHP will design and run a bespoke programme in Arkansas built to Salute's technical requirements.
The agreement comes as data centre operators seek more workers to support rising demand tied to artificial intelligence, cloud computing and broader US digital infrastructure investment. Salute says it works with 80% of the world's data centre operators, giving it a significant footprint in a market facing persistent hiring pressure.
Veteran recruitment is a core part of Salute's staffing model. Its hiring initiatives, led by Chief Executive Officer Erich Sanchack, a former US Marine, have already trained more than 10,000 military veterans and people from non-traditional backgrounds for roles in the sector.
The new programme will focus mainly on Navy nuclear-trained personnel, while also taking veterans from other branches with experience in mechanical, electrical, operations and project management work. It will also recruit civilian professionals from the same disciplines.
Training model
UHP is a veteran-focused education and leadership development organisation with an 800-acre campus in northwest Arkansas. Under the partnership, it will run a course tailored to data centre work, combining technical instruction with broader employment preparation for veterans leaving military service.
That approach reflects a wider industry challenge. Data centres supporting cloud services, AI systems, healthcare platforms, financial networks and national security operations need staff who can manage complex facilities where outages and operational failures carry high costs.
Operators have long recruited from the military because veterans often bring experience from disciplined, process-driven environments, along with technical knowledge of electrical and mechanical systems. The focus on Navy nuclear-trained personnel points to a group already familiar with critical infrastructure, maintenance regimes and high-stakes operating procedures.
Sanchack said the partnership is intended to widen access to the industry while helping employers fill roles that standard recruitment channels do not meet.
"Our talent development strategy has always been about creating net-new talent for the digital infrastructure industry," said Erich Sanchack, Chief Executive Officer, Salute.
"For more than a decade, we've helped veterans and individuals from non-traditional backgrounds build meaningful careers supporting the backbone of the modern economy. Partnering with UHP takes that mission into a completely new era.
"For too many veterans leaving military service, there remains no clear pathway into the industries helping shape America's future. Together with UHP, we're creating opportunities for veterans, strengthening communities, creating highly skilled jobs, and building the workforce that will support America's digital future for decades to come."
Workforce gap
The partnership highlights a labour issue facing the data centre market as operators expand sites and upgrade facilities for more intensive computing workloads. The build-out of AI-related infrastructure has added to demand for technicians, engineers, operations specialists and project managers at a time when many employers already report shortages.
Salute has sought to address that through Salute University, its internal training and certification platform. The new arrangement with UHP fits into its longer-term workforce plans by creating a more structured route for people with military experience and others from outside traditional hiring pools.
For UHP, the agreement provides a direct link to a fast-growing part of the infrastructure economy. Founder Matt Hesse, an Army veteran, said the existing labour market is not producing enough technically proficient candidates for this kind of work.
"Traditional recruiting pipelines aren't built to fill the demand for technically proficient talent," said Matt Hesse, Founder, UHP.
"At UHP, we are focused on workforce development that delivers outcomes, with accountability on both sides of the partnership, and a shared goal of improving veterans' lives."
The initiative also has backing from former military technical leadership. Former Chief Technical Officer for the Navy Captain David Britt said the move from service into civilian work often requires veterans to translate existing expertise into industries with clearer career structures.
"As a veteran myself, I know that transitioning from military service is about more than finding a job, it's about finding your next mission," said Captain David Britt.
"This partnership helps our dedicated veterans translate those technical capabilities into careers that support innovation and strengthen the digital infrastructure that powers our economy, government, and communities."
Salute was founded in 2013 and says it has more than 2,480 employees, 12 global offices and operations across more than 102 markets. It also says it has serviced and commissioned more than 6,000 megawatts of data centre capacity.