Army National Guard teammate featured in Tire Review

Matt Hilerio, Commodity Manager, Indirect Procurement for Bridgestone Americas and Spanish linguist for the Army National Guard, was recently featured in Tire Review, where he discussed how his military background prepared him for a career in the tire industry. Matt currently leads BRAVO, Bridgestone Americas newly formed Veterans’ Affinity Group.

“Personally, I was drawn to the tire industry because it continued to allow me to utilize the skills I learned in the military, such as leadership, project management, time management and adaptability – which are universal skills that serve employers well,” he says. As a part of recruiting the best and brightest teammates, Bridgestone is committed to hiring former service men and women and is a member of the Veteran Jobs Mission coalition, which is an organization that brings together companies committed to hiring U.S. military veterans and military spouses.

Matt joined Bridgestone in 2015 and is responsible for negotiating and managing contracts for professional services across various functional areas within Bridgestone.

Matt has served in the military at two different points in time. He began his career in the Army as an active duty infantryman in the 75th Ranger Regiment and then later the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell in Kentucky. He currently serves in the Army National Guard as a Spanish linguist in the 20th Special Forces Group, based in Louisville, Kentucky.

In 2002, Matt was one of the first light infantry units to serve in Afghanistan, and then again in Iraq in 2003. He served in several combat missions in both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, earning campaign medals.

“One of the most interesting parts of the military is the sense of adventure you get from the entire experience. Outside of learning Spanish, I have traveled all over the world and have been exposed to various cultures and different ways of thinking. I am Airborne and Air Assault qualified, and have jumped and rappelled out of several types of fixed and rotary wing aircrafts. Annually, my unit partners, along with other units and local law enforcement, like to facilitate a water-jump training exercise,” he says.