Introducing UNTURNING STEEL.

UNTURNING STEEL, INC. (UTS) is a Connecticut-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by William “Bill” Leahy in response to his personal experiences as a veteran and, more importantly, the service-related suicide of his older brother, MAJ. Sean P. Leahy, USMC. Our mission is to Bring American Military and Manufacturing Communities Together in Mutual Aid by providing our service members with,

Community through mentorship
Certainty through experience and professional certification
Purpose through meaningful employment

UTS provides all this and 3-6 months of invaluable real-world experience through the innovative use of the DoD SkillBridge program. At no cost to the service member, we match them with approved manufacturing facilities, where they fill essential roles in operations, maintenance, engineering, and leadership while remaining on active duty. This allows us to deliver highly customized and university-accredited hands-on training while setting the conditions for a seamless and confident transition into civilian life.

What is UNTURNING STEEL?

UTS is a DOD Skill

bridge program designed to set the conditions for individual service members to safely and successfully transition out of military service. As a DOD Skillbridge program, UTS is able to provide career opportunities to active-duty service members up to 6-months prior to their separation date. This allows individual service members and military families to gain invaluable real-world experience and insight to make informed life decisions.

UTS is also a Manufacturing Operation Excellence & Reliability certification program accredited by the University of Tennessee - Knoxville, Reliability & Maintainability Center (RMC). Our partnership with the RMC allows us to award scholarships for the prestigious UTS-RMIC certification program at no cost to the service member. During the program, they will receive expert mentorship and support from UTS Coaches and industry partners as they fill essential roles in operations, maintenance, engineering, and leadership. The goal of the UTS program is to deliver a highly customized curriculum and hands-on training to prepare our candidates for the role they are pursuing fully. We aim to set the conditions for our graduates to be valued and respected impact players on day one.

Why UNTURNING STEEL?

Each year, 200,000 Active Duty Service Members face one of the most challenging phases of their military journey: the transition to civilian life. After years of selfless service, many veterans return home without a clear path forward. The sense of camaraderie, self-worth, and mission that defined their military careers is suddenly gone. This loss often leads to profound struggles. Tragically, more than 6,000 veterans succumb to the silent crisis of suicide each year, feeling isolated, uncertain, and without purpose.

Meanwhile, American manufacturing has over 500,000 open positions for skilled, dependable workers to sustain our economy and revitalize our communities. These industries, the backbone of our nation’s strength, grapple with filling critical roles with reliable, mission-driven talent.

Unturning Steel delivers an innovative, win-win solution by bridging these two vital communities. We empower service members with the skills, support, and opportunities they need to thrive while providing manufacturers with a dependable talent pipeline to drive operational excellence and continuous improvement.

Where and When Unturning Steel is Happening

In 2023 and 2024 we hosted two successful pilot programs. We learned a lot, refined our program. We are currently securing opportunities, funding, and eligible candidates and are now prepared for full-scale operations in 2025.

Pilot Programs

Green Bay, WI, Summer 2023
Pilot Program 2: Knoxville, TN, Summer 2024

In 2025 UTS aims to facilitate two cohorts, one nationally and one in our home state of Connecticut. Your contribution will allow us to offer our service members opportunities in these areas.

2025 Opportunities

Connecticut
San Antonio, TX
Chicago, IL
Wellston, OH
Hannibal, MO
Knoxville, TN

How Unturning Steel Works

How you can Help

Our goal is to raise $30,000 to help fund scholarships and place more veterans into life-changing careers in American manufacturing and expand our reach to more communities across the country. We need your help now. Your contribution allows us to demonstrate what we are cabale of and the the value of the program, positioning us to effectively pursue government and foundation grants to fully fund the program in perpetuity.

Here’s what your donation will unlock for us.

Service Member Scholarships
Community Outreach
Opportunities for Traditional Funding

What We Will Deliver

We envision a world where no veteran feels abandoned after their service.

A world where every veteran has the opportunity to transition from the frontlines to factory floors and boardrooms, helping to power America’s industries and rebuild our communities.

In this world, American manufacturing thrives, powered by veterans who bring their discipline, leadership, and reliability to industries that desperately need them. Companies once struggling to find talent are now led by purpose-driven individuals who know what it means to serve something greater than themselves.

In this world, veteran suicide rates plummet because every veteran knows they are not forgotten. They find meaning in their work, pride in their contributions, and strength in the communities they help build. They no longer fight their battles alone.

This is the world we are building at UNTURNING STEEL. With your support, we are not just creating careers. We’re saving lives. We’re building America’s future.

Join the Movement. Answer the Call. Power the Mission!

Join the Mission: Connecting Veterans to American Manufacturing

By Unturning Steel Incorporated

Join the Mission: Connecting Veterans to American Manufacturing

It's more than a mission—it's a life-saving movement