Jay Ardrey leverages industry certifications to achieve professional, post-military success.
By Andri Orphanides
Of the more than 1.2 million active US service members, roughly one-sixth reenter civilian life each year. The transition can prove challenging, particularly when it comes to finding a meaningful career. While military training instills extensive skills and the ability to manage significant responsibilities, translating that experience into a civilian job opportunity is often difficult. Many veterans face the reality that the highly structured, mission-driven environment that characterizes military service doesn’t always align with the demands and expectations of the civilian job market.
The American Petroleum Institute (API), which represents all facets of America’s natural gas and oil industry, is dedicated to addressing this challenge. It has been a strong supporter of veterans transitioning to civilian life through the Energy4Vets and Individual Certification Programs (ICP), providing veterans with valuable certifications that open doors to rewarding careers in the oil and natural gas industry.
Meet Jay Ardrey
One notable success story is that of Jay Ardrey, a US Navy veteran who achieved strong professional success through API’s ICP certifications. Through API’s commitment to empowering veterans, Jay found the experience and credentials necessary to build a successful energy industry career.
Jay’s professional journey began in 1996 when he enlisted in the Navy. With a strong score on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), a test that matches candidates with military jobs based on their aptitudes, he was selected for nuclear power training—an intense program that sharpened his ability to absorb and apply complex information.
After his service, Jay returned to Oklahoma to be closer to his family, where he began working for a small engineering company. This job allowed him to apply his training to military contract design and manufacturing, as well as oil and natural gas projects. He worked there for several years before moving to ONEOK, a company that transports natural gas, natural gas liquids (NGLs), refined products and crude that help meet domestic and international energy demand.
Discovering API and ICP Certification
While transitioning to a Mechanical Integrity role at ONEOK, Jay discovered the transformative impact of API’s ICP certification on veterans’ careers. These certifications have offered veterans like Jay a pathway to well-paying and secure careers.
We caught up with Jay to ask him how ICP certification has helped advance his career.
The following has been edited for clarity and space.
Q: How did you learn about API’s Individual Certification Programs?
JA: I first learned about ICP certification when I joined ONEOK’s Mechanical Integrity Group. I began attending the Mechanical and Integrity Summit hosted by API, an event that ONEOK has participated in for many years. My involvement expanded when I joined the Summit Planning Committee, which led to the opportunity for my entire ONEOK team to attend the summit. Through my work on the committee, I learned about the Energy4Vets Program and began supporting it with Andri. During the summit, I connected with several industry professionals who emphasized the importance of ICP certifications. They explained that these were valuable and essential for many industry roles. And that they could give me a competitive edge when it came to job security and advancement.
Q: Why did you eventually pursue ICP certification?
JA: Working on Mechanical Integrity at ONEOK, the certifications were important. Many people on my team are certified through ICP, because it supports our work and in many cases is required. For me, it was clear that having this credential would help me contribute better and take on even greater responsibilities.
Q: How has obtaining ICP certification differentiated you from others in the industry?
JA: Having ICP certifications has been a huge career differentiator that has opened many new opportunities for me. It has given me recognizable credibility to perform my work. And it has given me access to well-paying jobs and projects that require these credentials.
Q: Is there a specific example you can cite that highlights how ICP certification has created a new career or advancement opportunity?
JA: At ONEOK, our Mechanical Integrity team is responsible for the integrity of fixed equipment, piping and pressure vessels across our facilities. ICP certification is a requirement for many of these roles, so it has directly impacted on our ability to perform our jobs.
Q: What advice would you give to veterans considering a career in the oil and gas industry?
JA: There are many paths in oil and gas that directly relate to skills acquired in the military. Even roles you wouldn’t typically think of—for instance, the infantry offers valuable training in teamwork and procedure following. That’s a perfect match for what the oil industry is looking for when hiring new talent. Similarly, the experience with shipboard operations in the Navy translates seamlessly to equipment operations in the oil and natural gas industry.
The ICP certifications are WEAMS-accredited, with exam costs covered by the GI Bill. To learn more and to discover how the ICP program can propel your future, visit https://www.api.org/products-and-services/individual-certification-programs#tab-veterans.
Andri Orphanides is the Director of Individual Certification Programs for the American Petroleum Institute.
API represents all segments of America’s natural gas and oil industry, which supports nearly 11 million U.S. jobs and is backed by a growing grassroots movement of millions of Americans. Its approximately 600 members produce, process and distribute the majority of the nation’s energy, and participate in API Energy Excellence®, which is accelerating environmental and safety progress by fostering new technologies and transparent reporting. API was formed in 1919 as a standards-setting organization and has developed more than 800 standards to enhance operational and environmental safety, efficiency and sustainability.