Vets @ Work

Overview of the Program

The KKR Vets @ Work program highlights the extensive range of talents and leadership abilities veterans can bring to private sector employers. The program formalizes and strengthens KKR’s efforts to promote veteran-focused career development and support retention practices at our U.S.-based private equity portfolio companies. KKR’s participating Vets @ Work companies have hired approximately 96,000 veterans and military spouses since 2011.¹

Since the launch of the Vets @ Work program in 2011, KKR has deepened our relationships with participants by developing a series of tools and resources for our participating portfolio companies, including expert third-party advisors, and opportunities for our portfolio companies to share best practices with each other through facilitated semiannual group discussions and webinars.

Learn more about our program and related events via KKR Blog posts authored by members of the KKR Vets @ Work team as shown below.

Celebrating Veterans at KKR

KKR is proud of the U.S. veterans working at the Firm and at KKR Capstone today. They include individuals who served in the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and the U.S. Air Force. Many of these employees are also involved with the KKR Vets @ Work program.

James Connolly

Managing Director, Capital Markets

Branch: US Navy

Highest Rank Achieved: Lieutenant

Service: 1986-1994

Military Experience: Pilot, Aircraft Commander, Mission Commander; Squadrons: VP-6, VPU-2

KKR Team: KKR Capital Markets

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Lee French

Senior End User Computing Specialist, Information Technology

Branch: Army

Highest Rank Achieved: Staff Sergeant

Service: 2001 – 2009

Military Experience: 88N - Transportation Management Coordinator. Spent a year in Kuwait helping to move military trucks, tanks, Humvees and helicopters into and out of the theater in Iraq.

KKR Team: Information Technology

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Jake Heller

Partner & Head of Tech Growth, Americas

Branch: United States Navy

Highest Rank Achieved: Lieutenant (O3)

Service: 1999 - 2007

Military Experience: Commander of High Speed Boat Detachment at Special Boat Team 12. Decorated Veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

KKR Team: Tech Growth

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Kris Kesting

Principal, Client and Partner Group

Branch: U.S. Coast Guard

Highest Rank Achieved: Lieutenant (O3)

Service: 2010-2016

Military Experience: Kris served in a variety of roles that included leading counter-narcotics missions in the Eastern Pacific where his teams interdicted over 8,000kg of contraband, as well as managing large scale events and inspecting commercial ships in New York Harbor.

KKR Team: Client & Partner Group

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Jim Lees

Managing Director, KKR Credit

Branch: US Navy, Surface Warfare Officer

Highest Rank Achieved: Lieutenant

Service: 1987-1996

Military Experience: Jim is proud to be the 3rd generation of his family to have served as US Naval Officers. Aboard the USS Joseph Hewes (FF-1078), Jim led divisions in the operations and engineering departments. This frigate was homeported in Charleston, SC and deployed to the Mediterranean, Indian Ocean and North Arabian Sea in 1989. Following active duty, he also served in the Navy Reserves for an additional four years.

KKR Team: KKR Credit, KKR Capital Markets

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David H. Petraeus

Partner, Chairman of the KKR Global Institute

Branch: US Army

Highest Rank Achieved: General

Service: 1974-2011

Military Experience: During his military career, General Petraeus served in Cold War Europe, the United States, Central America, Haiti, Bosnia, Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan. In the decade that followed the 9/11 attacks, he was deployed for some 6-1/2 years, culminating his career with six straight commands, five of which were in combat.

KKR Team: KKR Global Institute

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Paul E. Raether

Senior Advisory Partner

Branch: US Navy

Highest Rank Achieved: Lieutenant (junior grade)

Service: 1968-1971

Military Experience: Paul was a Deck Officer on various ships and served in the combat zone in the Vietnam War.

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Michaelangelo Robles

Senior End User Computing Specialist, Information Technology

Branch: Marine Corps.

Highest Rank Achieved: Corporal

Service: 1988-1992

Military Experience: Mike served as a Field Wireman in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, providing Joint Services Communications Support in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

KKR Team: Information Technology

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Carlo Salvarani

Principal, KKR Capstone

Branch: US Marine Corps, Armor Officer

Highest Rank Achieved: Captain

Service: 2010-2014

Military Experience: Carlo served as an Armor Officer in various leadership roles and deployed to combat as a Platoon Commander during Operation Enduring Freedom.

KKR Team: KKR Capstone

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Grant Thomas

Director, Credit

Branch: US Air Force

Highest Rank Achieved: Captain

Service: 2007 - 2013

Military Experience: Contracting Officer responsible for sourcing, negotiating, and managing contracts with DoD suppliers. Deployed to Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan in 2011 and was the head of construction contracts for Regional Command Southwest. His final assignment was at the Space and Missile Systems Center where he worked on satellite acquisition programs.

KKR Team: Leveraged Credit

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Chris Workman

Managing Director, Client and Partner Group

Branch: Army (Armor)

Highest Rank Achieved: First Lieutenant

Service: Active Duty (6/1994 – 1/1997); National Guard (1/1997 – 11/2003)

Military Experience: Active Duty: First Armored Division (Friedberg, Germany) – Tank Platoon Leader, Battalion S-1/Adjutant, Tank Company Executive Officer

Army National Guard (Ohio, Michigan, New York) – Tank Platoon Leader, Liaison Officer, Acting Company Commander during post-9/11 security mission in NYC

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