Serving Two Missions: Travis Hunt’s Impact at SCA Health and the United States Coast Guard

Travis Hunt, director of payor analytics at SCA Health, understands what it means to be a leader. With 23 years of military experience including both active duty and his current role in the United States Coast Guard Reserve, he has found ways to utilize lessons learned and bring them into the civilian world. His efforts were recently recognized, as he received a promotion in rank to chief petty officer (E-7) within his unit. Hunt spoke with us about his military experience, promotion, and how SCA Health has supported his continued involvement in the United States military.

Answers provided by Hunt are represented as TH.

 Q: Tells us about your military background, and what brought you to SCA Health?

TH: I joined the military and went to boot camp in 2001, prior to 9/11. I was on my way to my first unit when 9/11 happened. I got stuck in Detroit for a week and then helped assisting boats that were moving back and forth between New Jersey and New York. In 2009, I finished my degree and applied for the FBI. That year there were around 120,000 applicants, so I didn’t get very far in the recruitment process. I got into medical consulting and joined SCA Health in 2019.

Q: Why is military service so important to you?

TH: I grew up in the 1980s, I saw military service as doing something for the betterment of the people, a way for me to give back. With my family history of military service, I saw it as my way to contribute. I enjoy giving back to the community and to the country, so I saw the military as a way to do that. Once I finished my active duty, I still wanted to be involved in something where I was helping others, so I stayed on with the reserves and got into healthcare. I believe that everyone should participate in civil service, no matter how small. It’s a feeling that never leaves you.

Q: Can you explain the process behind your promotion to chief petty officer? What are some of your responsibilities at your new rate and rank?

TH: Within the Coast Guard, chief petty officer and above are the senior non-officer ranks. In a way, it’s almost like a different world. Once you reach this rank you become part of a brand-new environment. Funny enough, I had people who I haven’t talked to in 10 years reach out and congratulate me! Some of them I have no idea if they’re even still in the military! Once you're at chief petty officer and above your main responsibility becomes to grow the enlisted ranks and those below you. To be honest, it’s so new that I’m still learning about what new responsibilities I have. It’s been quite a while since I’ve had a chief in my unit, so, in a way, I’ve been doing some of these things already by focusing on growing those below me and helping them move upward.

Q: How has it been balancing your reservist duties with full-time employment here at SCA Health? Do you feel like you’re being supported by the company?

TH: SCA Health has been great to me. I’ve been with a lot of companies who say they’re proud of your service and appreciative of your efforts, but, at the same time, they approach reservists with a mindset that they are not fully bought in or a part of the team. I’ve never had that feeling with SCA Health.

Since I’m in the reserves, I still have to go away for two weeks a year and one weekend per month. I have to leave unexpectedly at times, and, thankfully, with my role I’ve not had to deploy in years. When I’ve had to leave on short notice, I’ve never felt that my job with SCA Health was at risk, or that they had the feeling I wasn't committed to my job.

That’s a really important piece for service members, that feeling that their civilian role is not at risk, and for many, it can be the reason they leave if they don’t have that sense of security. I know that SCA Health supports me in my military role, and they know I am entirely bought in.

Being a part of the reservists is a way for me to continue to give back, and one of the great things about SCA Health is how they give back. It’s not just with our internal resource group that supports veterans, it's our other resource groups focused on other populations within SCA Health, and how everyone places a collective focus on service, no matter how big or small.

Q: What aspects or skills from your military career have transferred over into your role here with SCA Health?

TH: One of the big ones is being flexible. It’s interesting because the military wants to make you rigid, in terms of being disciplined. At the same time, however, you have to be flexible in terms of what may happen, it often won't be on the schedule you’re expecting. It also really helps with people management, being able to ground yourself and be patient. When I was working on a cutter (a type of Coast Guard boat) I worked with a lot of different personalities. That experience and working with those people has been very helpful in my role with SCA Health.

Also, mentorship has been huge for me. In my military service I’ve really enjoyed helping the people I lead move up the ladder. In the corporate world it’s not as common that someone will move to fill a spot you previously had, but I still really enjoy helping mentor those I work with to help them grow and advance as well. I tell them that my job is not just the deliverables, it’s to help you grow your job and your career. I don’t feel like I’m doing anyone a favor by helping them, I genuinely enjoy seeing people that I used to lead growing in their own roles and lives. When they get promoted, it’s not “I got them promoted,” it’s “they promoted themselves.” It’s a great feeling.