Air Traffic Controller
$138KHigh match
Stable demand
Live · Guide v1.06395 · Career GuideValidated · Lightcast Labor DataUpdated · Q2 20262026 Cohort Active
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NAVY · 6395Career Guide · Operations · VWC.CG.6395.R.04
6395 · NAVY · OfficerAir Traffic Control
Air Traffic Control
LDO.
Navy 6395 (Air Traffic Control LDO). 480 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $75K–$138K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.
Training hours480DoD pipeline
ACE creditACEUp to 9 semester hours recommended in Aviation Management or Air Traffic Control
Tech roles4mapped to your code
Civilian pathways5validated
Cert coverage1/4direct + partial
/ 01 · Tech Roles
Roles your code maps to.
Industry tech roles your 6395 background maps to — picked from BLS-anchored occupations using your training, cognitive skills, and systems experience.
Sort · Match descending
/ 02 · Skill Bridge
The gap, named.
What 6395 training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.
Already have05
- 01Airspace Management→ Cloud Resource Allocation
- 02Emergency Procedures→ Disaster Recovery
- 03Rapid Prioritization→ Incident Response
- 04AN/SPN-43C Air Traffic Control Radar Beacon System→ Commercial airport surveillance radar systems
- 05Procedural Compliance→ Adherence to security and operational best practices
To learn05
The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not a generic checklist.
+Kubernetes basics+Prometheus and Grafana+Network security principles+Networking fundamentals+Systems analysis
How VWC fits
Vets Who Code is a free, full-time software engineering accelerator for veterans, active duty, and military spouses. We close the fundamentals — terminal, web platform, AI tooling, portfolio projects — so the rest of this list becomes specialization, not square one.
See VWC Programs →/ 03 · Civilian Pathways
Where your code lands.
Aviation Safety Inspector
$95KGood match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
- — FAA Safety Inspector Certification
- — Commercial Pilot License
Airport Operations Specialist
$78KGood match
Stable demand
Skills to develop
- — Airport Certified Employee (ACE) certification
- — Knowledge of airport regulations and safety procedures
Logistics Manager
$90KModerate match
High demand
Skills to develop
- — Supply chain management certification
- — Project management skills
Emergency Management Specialist
$75KModerate match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
- — Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) certification
- — Disaster planning and response training
/ 04 · Hidden Strengths
What the code built.
Cognitive skills your 6395 training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.
Rapid Prioritization
Air Traffic Controllers constantly make split-second decisions, prioritizing aircraft movements based on urgency, safety, and efficiency, especially during peak traffic or emergencies.
Transfers to
This ability to quickly assess situations and prioritize tasks translates to any fast-paced environment where critical decisions must be made under pressure.
Situational Awareness
Maintaining a 360-degree understanding of airspace, aircraft positions, weather conditions, and potential hazards is crucial for preventing accidents and ensuring smooth operations.
Transfers to
Your high-level awareness of your surroundings and the ability to anticipate potential problems makes you invaluable in roles requiring proactive risk management and decision-making.
Procedural Compliance
Air Traffic Controllers adhere to strict regulations and protocols to guarantee safety and efficiency, leaving no room for deviation.
Transfers to
Your commitment to following established procedures and protocols ensures consistent quality and reduces the risk of errors, making you a reliable and trustworthy asset.
Degraded-Mode Operations
Air Traffic Controllers are trained to handle system failures, adverse weather, and other unexpected events, maintaining safety and efficiency under stressful conditions.
Transfers to
Your experience in managing crises and adapting to unexpected challenges demonstrates your resilience and problem-solving skills, making you a valuable asset in any dynamic environment.
/ 05 · Non-Obvious Matches
Roles the recruiter won't suggest.
Adjacent civilian roles your training maps to that conventional military-to-civilian advice tends to miss.
Logistics Coordinator
SOC 13-1081You've been managing complex air traffic patterns and coordinating movements under pressure. That experience directly translates into managing the flow of goods and resources in a supply chain. You're a natural at optimizing routes, anticipating potential delays, and problem-solving on the fly.
Adjacent · MatchEmergency Management Specialist
SOC 11-9161You've honed your ability to stay calm under pressure, assess risks, and make quick decisions while managing air traffic. As an emergency management specialist, you'll use these skills to develop and implement disaster response plans, coordinate resources during crises, and ensure public safety.
Adjacent · MatchProject Manager
SOC 11-9021You've been orchestrating the complex ballet of air traffic, ensuring that every aircraft arrives safely and on time. That's the same mindset needed to manage projects, where you'll be coordinating teams, managing timelines, and ensuring that goals are met efficiently and effectively.
Adjacent · Match/ 06 · Training & Certs
What you trained on.
Academy
Air Traffic Control Officer School
Naval Air Station Pensacola, FL480hHours
12wkWeeks
ACECredit
Up to 9 semester hours recommended in Aviation Management or Air Traffic Control
Topics · 7
- Airspace Management
- Radar Procedures
- Meteorology
- Navigation
- Air Traffic Control Regulations (FAA and ICAO)
- Emergency Procedures
- Communication Systems
Partial coverage · 1
- FAA Air Traffic Control Specialist (ATCS)70%
Differences in FAA regulations, specific equipment used in civilian air traffic control facilities, and local procedures.
Recommended next · 03
- Certified Aviation Manager (CAM)Adjacent
- Project Management Professional (PMP)Adjacent
- Airport Certified Employee (ACE) - Airfield OperationsAdjacent
/ 07 · Systems Translation
What you ran, in their words.
Military systems you operated and their civilian equivalents for your resume.
| Military System | Civilian Equivalent | Domain |
|---|---|---|
| AN/SPN-43C Air Traffic Control Radar Beacon System (ATC Radar) | Commercial airport surveillance radar systems (e.g., Raytheon, Thales) | Signals |
| AN/SPN-46(V) Instrument Carrier Landing System (ICLS) | Instrument Landing Systems (ILS) at civilian airports | Operations |
| Air Traffic Control Radar Beacon System Identification Friend or Foe (ATCRBS IFF) | Secondary Surveillance Radar (SSR) Mode S transponders | Signals |
| Naval Air Traffic Control (ATC) procedures and phraseology | FAA Air Traffic Control procedures and phraseology | Operations |
| Carrier Air Traffic Control Center (CATCC) equipment | Airport control tower systems and software | Operations |
| Precision Approach Radar (PAR) | Precision Approach Radar (PAR) used in civilian aviation for low-visibility landings | Signals |
| Flight Data Processing System (FDPS) | Air Traffic Management (ATM) systems like EUROCONTROL or FAA NextGen | Operations |
/ Translator · Live
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