AL LOPEZ
Navigate Your Military-to-Civilian Transition with Confidence
Studied at NeuroLeadership Institute
Hiring Manager at Sterigenics
Successful clients at
Available tomorrow at 9:30 PM UTC
My availability is designed to accommodate professionals with traditional work schedules while recognizing that I also serve as a full-time corporate executive. Coaching sessions are generally available Monday through Friday from 4:00–8:00 PM Central and Saturdays from 9:00 AM–12:00 PM Central. If these times don’t work for your schedule, please reach out. When possible, I’m happy to accommodate alternative meeting times.
Questions? Start chatting with this coach before you get started.
AL's Offerings
Custom hourly · $75/hr
Get help with Career Transition, Interview Prep, and .
AL’s Transitioning from the Military Qualifications
Experience level: Director
Leaving the military is more than a job search. Having retired after 24 years as a U.S. Navy Captain and successfully navigated that transition myself, I understand many of the questions that come with deciding what’s next. Through my own experience and my work mentoring transitioning service members (both officer and enlisted), I’ve helped individuals think through career options, translate military experience into civilian language, and prepare for conversations with recruiters and hiring managers. More importantly, I help people step back and make thoughtful decisions about the kind of career and life they want to build after military service. Whether you’re just beginning to explore your options or already interviewing for civilian roles, my goal is to provide an objective sounding board that helps you move forward with clarity and confidence.
AL can help with:
Career Transition
Interview Prep
Job Search Strategies
Professional Networking
Resume Review
Veterans Affairs
About AL
I am an operations executive, U.S. Navy Captain (retired), and certified coach who enjoys helping people think through difficult decisions, develop as leaders, and navigate career transitions. My professional experience spans military service and senior leadership roles in industry, giving me perspective on leading teams, solving complex problems, and growing in demanding environments. I currently coach in the areas of leadership and military transition as I continue working toward full ICF accreditation. My primary goal is to gain meaningful coaching experience while providing thoughtful, judgment-free conversations that help people move forward with greater clarity and confidence. Whether you’re preparing for your first leadership role, transitioning from military service, or simply looking for a sounding board on a challenge, I’m here to help.
Why do I coach?
I’ve spent much of my career leading teams, mentoring developing leaders, and helping people work through difficult decisions. Coaching is a natural extension of that work. At this stage, my goal isn’t to build a large coaching business. I’m working toward full ICF accreditation, which means I’m intentionally looking for opportunities to coach people from a variety of backgrounds and challenges. Every coaching conversation makes me a better coach, and if I can help someone gain clarity, make a difficult decision, or see a problem from a different perspective along the way, that’s time well spent. I don’t believe coaching is about just giving advice or pretending to have all the answers. It’s about asking better questions, listening carefully, and helping people discover solutions that fit their own goals and values. If that’s the kind of conversation you’re looking for, I’d be glad to work with you.
Work Experience
Director of Operations
Sterigenics
September 2021 - Present
Hiring Manager
As Director of Operations, I lead multiple manufacturing facilities and spend much of my time developing leaders, coaching managers through difficult decisions, improving organizational performance, and helping teams navigate change. The role has reinforced my belief that lasting results come from developing yourself and developing people, not simply managing processes.
Senior Vendor Manager
Amazon
November 2019 - September 2021
Interviewer
At Amazon, I worked alongside exceptionally talented people in a fast-paced, data-driven environment. The experience reinforced the importance of clear communication, influence without authority, and disciplined execution. It also underscored a lesson I’ve seen throughout my career: organizational reputation and individual leadership ability are not the same thing. Great leaders are developed through deliberate practice, feedback, and experience.
24 Years
US Navy
May 1995 - September 2019
Hiring Manager
Served for 24 years in the U.S. Navy, retiring as a Captain (O-6). Throughout my career I led organizations ashore and at sea, including serving as a Commanding Officer, Major Program Manager, Executive Officer, and Deputy Chief of Staff. Those experiences taught me that leadership is less about authority than developing people, building trust, making decisions under uncertainty, and helping teams succeed through change. Much of my most rewarding work involved mentoring officers and enlisted leaders as they prepared for greater responsibility and transitioned into new roles.
Education
United States Naval Academy
Bachelor of Science - BS, Computer Science
Operations Leadership
NeuroLeadership Institute
Level 1 Brain-Based Coaching Certificate, Coaching
Naval Postgraduate School
MS, Information Technology Management
Business Transformation
4 Reviews
Overall Rating
5.0
AL has helped Leland clients get into Sotera Health Company