Randy Preston

Mission Beyond the Uniform

Randy Preston’s career lives at the intersection of service and leadership, bringing the same commitment to Veterans at Leidos QTC Health Services that he brings to soldiers in uniform. As an Operations Supervisor for Veterans Affairs (VA) Pre-Discharge on Team 363, Preston manages a team of Medical Case Specialists who prepare and schedule cases for Veterans navigating medical boards or transitioning from active duty to retirement. At the same time, he serves in the Texas Army National Guard as a Medical Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO). He said, “My official job title is Health Care Specialist, but most people know it as a Combat Medic. As a Medical NCO, my job is to train junior medics, treat service members, and ensure unit medical readiness.”

Preston’s career at Leidos QTC reflects steady growth fueled by experience and trust. He joined the company in October 2023 as a Customer Service Agent supporting the Reserve Health Readiness Program. In December 2024, he was promoted to his current role as Operations Supervisor in VA Pre-Discharge. Tackling civilian leadership with military service is demanding and often requires precision and flexibility. “Balancing both is work with no breaks,” he shared, describing how weekends frequently shift from rest to military training before another full workweek begins. He explained, “Communication with my superiors is important so everyone is aware of where I will be and what I will be able to contribute to, especially when military training takes me away for more than just a standard weekend.” Throughout training periods, Leidos QTC has supported his service, allowing him to meet military requirements without obstacles. “I do my part to keep my team informed of my departure, and when I leave and come back it is seamless,” he said.

The skills Preston built in uniform show up daily in his civilian role. Early on, his experience as a medic translated directly into working with Service Members, helping them navigate paperwork and understand medical readiness requirements. Today, leadership is his strongest bridge between military and civilian work, which includes training his team, managing pay corrections, and ensuring recognition through awards. Knowing that deployment is always a possibility, which once made long-term planning difficult, Preston says that has changed. He noted, “Leidos QTC has a relaxed feeling and works with me since I communicate with them about my ever-changing situation. It also helps knowing that after 19 years of service, I am retiring from the military this year, and the current unit I am in is a non-deployable unit.”

Preston is candid with his advice to Guard and Reserve members considering employment at Leidos QTC: “I would inform anyone looking to work for Leidos QTC that they need to bring more to the table than just their military experience. It is a great job that I take pride in knowing that I am assisting Veterans like myself.”