We are excited to launch the Cameron-Brooks Podcast. For almost 50 years, the Cameron-Brooks Team has partnered with high performing military officers assisting them with transitioning to a successful business career. We have a continuing relationship with a vast majority of our Alumni. Some of our successful Alumni include the CFO of Twitter, Chief Marketing Officer of Tyson Foods, COO of Hewlett Packard Enterprise, COO of RJ Reynolds, VP of Supply Chain at a Fortune 500 Medical Device Company, Executive Vice President of Logistics for Walmart Stores, Inc. to name just a few. The purpose of the Cameron-Brooks podcast is to draw best practices, lessons learned and career advice from our Alumni and other business partners to assist others in reaching their potential and goals. This podcast will help anyone who has a desire to grow both personally and professionally.
While the podcast will mostly be episodes of conversations with Cameron-Brooks Alumni, it will also include book reviews, career advice, interview tips and leadership lessons from Cameron-Brooks Team Members.
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We are excited to launch the Cameron-Brooks Podcast. For almost 50 years, the Cameron-Brooks Team has partnered with high performing military officers assisting them with transitioning to a successful business career. We have a continuing relationship with a vast majority of our Alumni. Some of our successful Alumni include the CFO of Twitter, Chief Marketing Officer of Tyson Foods, COO of Hewlett Packard Enterprise, COO of RJ Reynolds, VP of Supply Chain at a Fortune 500 Medical Device Company, Executive Vice President of Logistics for Walmart Stores, Inc. to name just a few. The purpose of the Cameron-Brooks podcast is to draw best practices, lessons learned and career advice from our Alumni and other business partners to assist others in reaching their potential and goals. This podcast will help anyone who has a desire to grow both personally and professionally.
While the podcast will mostly be episodes of conversations with Cameron-Brooks Alumni, it will also include book reviews, career advice, interview tips and leadership lessons from Cameron-Brooks Team Members.
Beau Hughes – HF Sinclair: Corporate Procurement Leader
It was an absolute pleasure to have my good friend, Beau Hughes, join me on the PCS to Corporate America Podcast. Beau works for HF Sinclair as a Procurement Supervisor in their Corporate Procurement team. Find out how Beau went from JMO to Corporate Procurement Leader in our latest podcast.
Beau was one of the first JMOs I had the opportunity to work with when I joined Cameron-Brooks in 2023. Since then, we’ve grown close, and I’ve enjoyed watching him build a successful life and career after the Army.
A former U.S. Army Logistics Officer, Beau launched his corporate career in November 2023 with HF Sinclair in Tulsa, OK. Right after accepting the offer through the November 2023 Career Conference, Beau and his wife welcomed their son into the world. Since then, things haven’t slowed down.
Within his first year, Beau earned a promotion and returned to a Career Conference as a hiring manager, where he hired another Cameron-Brooks Alumnus.
Beau’s transition from the Army to a rising leader in corporate procurement is full of lessons for junior military officers. His story is inspiring, practical, and worth hearing.
Transitioning to Civilian Life with Purpose
With a baby on the way and a strong desire to be more present at home, Beau made the decision to leave the Army in early 2023. Like many officers, he started the job search on his own and quickly saw how challenging it can be to navigate the civilian hiring process.
That’s when a friend pointed him to Cameron-Brooks. After connecting with our team in August, Beau attended the November 2023 Career Conference and landed a Procurement Specialist role with HF Sinclair.
“Cameron-Brooks made the process easy. I just had to show up prepared.”
Redefining Procurement: Strategy Over Purchasing
At HF Sinclair, Beau learned quickly that procurement is far more strategic than most people think.
“I get a little offended when people call it purchasing. We’re building partnerships to achieve the lowest total cost of ownership, not just buying stuff.”
His responsibilities include managing sourcing events, writing contracts, and being a strategic partner to internal teams. He found success quickly, even leading one of the smoothest refinery turnarounds in the company’s recent history.
Earning a Promotion and Managing Life Transitions
The first year wasn’t easy, but it was worth it. In March 2025, a little over a year after starting, Beau was promoted to Procurement Supervisor and relocated to El Dorado, Kansas.
Despite a steep learning curve and the demands of a new role, Beau felt supported throughout the process.
“You’re not just thrown to the wolves. You’re challenged, yes, but supported the whole way.”
During this time, Beau also navigated becoming a new dad, moving states, and buying a home. He also mentioned the value of having more predictability in his schedule. He’s not necessarily working less, but he has more control.
Beau’s Advice for JMOs
Beau had some solid advice for fellow officers considering a move to business:
Be hungry and humble – Learn fast, ask questions, and show up ready to work.
Own your learning – No one’s handing you a manual. Be proactive.
Stay authentic – Companies want the real you, not a script.
Trust the process – The Cameron-Brooks program works if you do the work.
“It’s not instant gratification, but it works. You just have to grind, learn, and grow.”
What Makes Cameron-Brooks Candidates Stand Out?
Now that Beau is a hiring manager, he sees firsthand the quality of Cameron-Brooks candidates:
PCS to Corporate America
We are excited to launch the Cameron-Brooks Podcast. For almost 50 years, the Cameron-Brooks Team has partnered with high performing military officers assisting them with transitioning to a successful business career. We have a continuing relationship with a vast majority of our Alumni. Some of our successful Alumni include the CFO of Twitter, Chief Marketing Officer of Tyson Foods, COO of Hewlett Packard Enterprise, COO of RJ Reynolds, VP of Supply Chain at a Fortune 500 Medical Device Company, Executive Vice President of Logistics for Walmart Stores, Inc. to name just a few. The purpose of the Cameron-Brooks podcast is to draw best practices, lessons learned and career advice from our Alumni and other business partners to assist others in reaching their potential and goals. This podcast will help anyone who has a desire to grow both personally and professionally.
While the podcast will mostly be episodes of conversations with Cameron-Brooks Alumni, it will also include book reviews, career advice, interview tips and leadership lessons from Cameron-Brooks Team Members.
