May 1, 2017   SOURCE: BusinessWire

NASA Astronaut Scott Kelly to Join First Data’s Military Advisory Council

First Data (NYSE: FDC) is proud to announce today that Scott Kelly, former NASA astronaut, is joining the company’s Military Advisory Council. The council advises the company on employment, experience, and entrepreneurship program strategies to increase engagement with veterans, National Guard and Reserve members, and military spouses across the country.

“It is an honor to have Scott serve on our Military Advisory Council,” said Tom Higgins, EVP and chief administrative officer at First Data. “Since his retirement from NASA, Scott has continued to serve as an advocate for veterans and the military community. The breadth of knowledge he will bring to our team is invaluable.”

“Service members and their families bring a certain level of resilience and commitment that make them valuable members within their communities, as well as in the workplace,” said Kelly. “I look forward to serving their needs and helping to ensure the right programs are in place for their long-term success, during and after their military service.”

Kelly has spent more time in space than any other American on a single mission, having lived for nearly a year on the International Space Station. Between 1999 and 2015, Kelly completed two long-duration space station missions and two shorter-duration space shuttle missions. Kelly was the first pilot to fly an F-14 with an experimental digital flight control system installed and performed subsequent high angle of attack and departure testing. He has logged more than 8,000 flight-hours in more than 40 different aircraft and spacecraft.

Kelly also served as a captain in the United States Navy, and was a naval aviator for 25 years. He received his commission via the Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) following graduation from the State University of New York Maritime College in May 1987.

First Data’s Military Advisory Council was established in 2015 and includes a diverse panel of veterans committed to supporting and sustaining the all-volunteer military force and their families. Current council members include: Colonel (Ret.) Jack Jacobs, U.S. Army; Sergeant Major (Ret.) Raymond F. Chandler III, U.S. Army; Colonel (Ret.) Michael F. Canders, U.S. Air Force; First Sergeant (Ret.) Delphine Metcalf-Foster, U.S. Army; Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Justin Constantine, U.S. Marine Corps; Captain (Ret.) Pete Sammis, U.S. Coast Guard; and Captain Matthew P. Nolty, U.S. Navy.

First Data’s Military and Veteran Affairs team implements an enterprise-wide, metric-driven engagement strategy called First Data Salutes to support the military community through employment, education, and entrepreneurship. First Data has received numerous awards and accolades for its veteran initiative, including being named one of Military Times’ “Best for Vets: Employers.” Additionally, First Data was honored as “Outstanding Large Employer” by Disabled American Veterans, listed as a Top Ten Company for Veterans by DiversityInc, and named #1 Military Spouse Employer by Military Spouse Magazine.

About First Data

First Data (NYSE: FDC) is a global leader in commerce-enabling technology and solutions, serving approximately six million business locations and 4,000 financial institutions in more than 100 countries around the world. The company’s 24,000 owner-associates are dedicated to helping companies, from start-ups to the world’s largest corporations, conduct commerce every day by securing and processing more than 2,800 transactions per second and $2.2 trillion per year.