Mike Lynch

When Mike Lynch joined the U.S. Navy, he didn’t just learn technical skills — he learned how to problem-solve under pressure, how to lead, and how to never quit until the mission was complete. As an Avionics Electronics Technician, he spent six years leading teams, maintaining and repairing critical aircraft systems.

“That’s where my love for technology really started,” Mike says. “I loved troubleshooting, figuring out why something wasn’t working, and then making it run like new again.”

But when he separated from the Navy, he quickly learned that transitioning into a civilian tech role wasn’t as easy as he’d hoped.

Mike explored various careers, seeking something that matched his drive and curiosity. Yet no matter what he did, he kept gravitating toward tech.

“I’d end up being the ‘tech guy’ on every team,” he laughs. “Setting up systems, fixing issues, learning new software. It hit me: tech wasn’t just something I did in the Navy. It’s who I am.”

When the economy slowed, Mike decided it was time to make the jump for real. He wanted training, structure, and a path into IT that honored the discipline he’d built in the military. That’s when he found Per Scholas Atlanta.

Mike was researching tech training programs in Atlanta and discovered Per Scholas. He remembers. “At first, I couldn’t believe it was no-cost. The more I read, the more the mission behind Per Scholas resonated with me; I realized this was it. This is how I’ll return to making an impact in tech.”

Mike applied.

“Everyone I talked to at Per Scholas was encouraging,” he says. “They saw potential in me even before I saw it in myself.”

To make the full-time commitment possible, Mike applied for Per Scholas’ Zero Percent Loan program, which helps learners cover essential expenses during training.

“That loan was huge for me,” he says. “It took away the stress. I didn’t have to choose between paying bills and pursuing my education. I could actually focus on learning, and that made all the difference.”

Mike recalls his training: “My instructors and classmates never let me give up. We pushed each other. We celebrated every small win, like when someone finally passed a practice exam, the whole group would celebrate.”

He recalls his instructors not just teaching IT, but teaching confidence.

“They reminded us that we belonged in tech,” he says. “There’s something powerful about hearing that when you’re changing careers. It gave me a sense of worth that I hadn’t felt in a long time.”

Mike was seen as a leader, a role that helped him rediscover the leadership skills he’d honed in the Navy. And when he finally passed his CompTIA A+ certification exam, it was a moment of pure validation.

Within weeks of completing the program, Mike was interviewing for IT roles and quickly realized how much Per Scholas had prepared him for his future in the tech industry.

“In my first interview with Microsoft, they asked questions relevant to the content learned,” he says. “I knew the answers because we’d practiced those similar scenarios in class.”

The second interview, however, didn’t go perfectly. His camera glitched, the background froze… But his interviewer was also a veteran, and they connected instantly. They discussed leadership, adaptability, and overcoming setbacks; all topics covered in the military and at Per Scholas.

That connection, and Mike’s authenticity, landed him the role that would kickstart his career in IT.

Today, Mike works as a Senior Data Center IT Support Technician at Microsoft, where he’s been promoted to a senior-level position within his first year. He has earned multiple certifications and is currently pursuing his Master’s in Cybersecurity. 

Mike is now building a career, supporting his family, and doing something he loves.

“I’m proud again,” he says. “I wake up excited to learn, to grow, to see how far I can go. And I wouldn’t be here without the support of Per Scholas.”

When asked to describe Per Scholas in one word, Mike doesn’t hesitate: “Transformative.”

He pauses, then adds, “Per Scholas gave me my confidence by providing the knowledge, skills, and resources I needed to be successful as I pursued a new career. It reminded me that I can learn, that I can lead, that it’s never too late to reinvent myself. They don’t just teach you tech, they teach you how to tap into your potential.”