Honoring Our Veterans: Service, Sacrifice, and Strength

This Veterans Day, we recognize and thank the men and women of Schnabel Engineering who have served our country. Their dedication, discipline, and sense of purpose enrich our culture and reflect the values that drive our work every day.

Tim Adams, Senior Engineer – Columbia, SC

Tim Adams served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve and on active duty from 1985 to 1991. As a radio operator with Company D, 8th Tank Battalion, he trained while completing his undergraduate degree in engineering at the University of South Carolina. After graduation, he was activated and deployed to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait with the Second Marine Division during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

“Training in the California Mojave Desert helped prepare me for service in the deserts of the Middle East,” Tim recalled. “Serving in the Marine Corps shaped my adult life and instilled a focus that has driven me throughout my professional career.”

Tim is proud to continue serving others through his engineering work. “I’m grateful to work alongside so many veterans here at Schnabel,” he said.

To the veterans within Schnabel and across the country—thank you for your courage, your sacrifice, and your example. Your spirit of service continues to inspire us all, reminding us that the work we do every day can also serve something greater than ourselves.

Rob Indri, Senior Associate Engineer – Greensboro, NC

Rob Indri served in the Army National Guard from November 2001 to April 2012 as an indirect fire infantryman (11C, mortars) and infantryman (11B). His service in the reserves included two deployments—first to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for detainee operations, and later to Iraq during the early years of his time with Schnabel.

“When I deployed to Iraq, there was an incredible outpouring of support for me and my family within Schnabel,” Rob shared. “Folks across the company donated vacation hours to help make up the difference between a sergeant’s pay and an engineer’s salary. The selflessness of those individuals made a deep impact on our lives, and I will forever be grateful.”

Rob reflects on his time in the military as a period of personal growth and lasting camaraderie. “I served alongside a diverse cross-section of America—mostly poor kids from every backwater and bayou across this great country,” he said. “For someone who grew up in New Jersey, it was eye-opening and wonderful.”

What stands out for Rob from his time in Iraq is the professionalism of his unit. “In the noise, confusion, and chaos of conducting operations in Iraq ,we were prepared, disciplined, and followed the rules of engagement to the letter,” he said. “To all my brothers and sisters, and the country that stood by us while we served and after—Happy Veterans Day and thank you.”

Nickolas Rohler, CADD Designer – Alpharetta, GA

Nickolas Rohler served in the United States Army from 2010 to 2016 as a Cavalry Scout. Stationed in Baumholder, Germany, from 2010 to 2013, he earned his silver spurs during the Cavalry Spur Ride and deployed to Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom in 2011, attached to an infantry platoon.

Following his deployment, Nickolas was stationed at Fort Stewart, Georgia, where he served as an armorer for a cavalry unit—responsible for maintaining and securing the unit’s combat equipment and assisting in the transfer of assets during a unit shutdown.

“The military helped shape me into who I am today,” Nickolas said. “I learned the importance of teamwork, trust, and dedication—what it truly means to be part of something bigger than yourself. It pushed me to understand what I was capable of and taught me to maintain discipline even in controlled chaos.”

He credits his time in the service with shaping his personal and professional life. “The values I gained continue to guide me,” he said. “It also gave me a bond with other veterans that’s indescribable—a connection that continues to influence who I am and how I live.” Outside of work, Nickolas volunteers with a wounded warrior group and helps other veterans that struggle with PTSD. He has a few veterans that he mentors through the veteran Vet Court program.