2. Introduction
• Information technology and business executive Gary Rixson
serves as Vice President for business development at
Balance Innovations, a leading software solutions company
for retail. Outside of his professional career, Gary Rixson
supports a number of charities, including the Wounded
Warrior Project (WWP).
The WWP works to improve the lives of service members
and veterans who sustained physical or mental injuries,
wounds, or illnesses while serving the military on or after
September 11, 2001, as well as their families. The tragic
terror attack caused many to volunteer for military service
out of a sense of duty.
3. Wounded Warrior Project
• One of the WWP’s many programs is the Transition Training
Academy (TTA). Among its goals are developing new career
skills that provide real-world job opportunities using
focused instruction. The program explores the possibility of
an information-technology career path for warriors and
their families.
Instructors personally engage students using “learning-by-
doing” teaching techniques for a higher probability of
success. This technique is recommended for warriors who
have traumatic brain injuries or posttraumatic stress
disorder. For WWP Alumni and family members, TTA
courses and educational materials are offered free of
charge.