Honeywell's Commitment to Military Service: Zach Koop's Inspiring Journey

When Zach Koop signed up to serve his country, his first thought was of service to his country. His second was of the career he’d built at Honeywell Aerospace. Would his projects stall? Would his team be left without support? Would his absence jeopardize his professional path?

Those questions weighed heavily until Honeywell made the answer abundantly clear.

Zach’s leaders reassured him that his service was valued and his role would be waiting for him when he returned. His teammates stepped up and covered his responsibilities without hesitation. And human resources walked him through the details of military leave, ensuring the transition was seamless.When Zach Koop’s military unit was being called to active duty, his first thought was of service to his country. His second was of the career he’d built at Honeywell Aerospace. Would his projects stall? Would his team be left without support? Would his absence jeopardize his professional path?

Those questions weighed heavily until Honeywell made the answer abundantly clear.

Zach’s leaders reassured him that his service was valued and his role would be waiting for him when he returned. His teammates stepped up and covered his responsibilities without hesitation. And human resources walked him through the details of military leave, ensuring the transition was seamless.

That support gave Zach something invaluable: peace of mind. 

“There’s a lot you have to prepare for when you leave for military service,” Zach said. “Honeywell made sure my career was one thing I didn’t have to worry about.”

When his leave ended and Zach returned, Honeywell welcomed him back. His leaders encouraged him to use the leadership skills he’d honed in the military in his role. His team helped ease the transition, catching him up on projects and re-integrating him into daily work.

“Honeywell not only honored my military service, they showed me firsthand what it means to be valued both as an employee and an individual,” Zach said. 

Support Before and After Deployment

Honeywell supported Zach in a number of ways:

✓  Pre-Departure Support: Before leaving for Officer Candidate School (OCS), Zach was assured that his role and benefits would remain secure. 
✓  Financial Stability: Honeywell maintained his salary and benefits throughout the entire 18-month period, including full health and dental coverage for himself and his family. 
✓ Connection to the Company: Honeywell kept in frequent contact, checking on his well-being and sharing company updates. A dedicated HR contact and team specializing in military leave supported him throughout.
✓ Seamless Reintegration: Upon his return, Zach was given up to 90 days to reintegrate and spend time with family before resuming his engineering role.

Our employees who take military leave are already juggling a lot,” said SueLynn Junkert, Senior HR Specialist. “Our goal is to make that part easier. I'm honored to have supported Zach while he was on military leave, and I appreciate the sacrifice he and others make by serving in the military and being a Honeywell employee.”

Just 11 months after returning from extended military leave, Zach was promoted to Engineering Manager—a testament to the leadership skills he honed during his service. His military experience played a pivotal role in setting him apart for this opportunity.

Department of Defense Freedom Award

Zach’s commitment to both his country and Honeywell, as well as the support Honeywell provided, was recognized with the Department of Defense Freedom Award, the highest honor given to employers for their support of National Guard and Reserve service members. Zach’s nomination was chosen by more than 1,000 others, making this the first time in Honeywell’s history that the company has received this award. 

For Zach, the award is deeply personal. His journey illustrates how Honeywell’s promises translate into real action: ensuring service members never have to choose between duty to their country and their careers.