‍Washington,D.C. — At a time of evolving workforce realities, accelerated reskilling and education disruption, one of the nation’s most trusted tools for career exploration and decision support is back online. Vantage Point Consulting Inc., in conjunction with the American Council on Education (ACE), is proud to announce the official re-launch of the commercial version of Career Path DECIDE(CPD), the platform that has helped over 1.5 million military-affiliated users find clarity in their career and education journeys over the past seven years.

Now freely available to learners as a commercially-run platform, thanks to generous philanthropic support from Walmart, the Schultz Family Foundation, and the Tullman Family Office to ACE along with strategic partnership support from ACE and Student Veterans of America (SVA),CPD is available to empower an even wider population of learners — from Service members and Veterans to early-career explorers and adult career changers — to navigate and set future career goals with confidence and maximize the return on the education investments that will prepare them for those goals.

Back by Popular Demand

Originally licensed by the Department of Defense and widely used by Service members,Veterans, and military-affiliated families since its initial launch 2017, Career Path DECIDE was temporarily taken offline earlier this year as part of Federal Government budget cuts.

For thousands of CPD users navigating their transitions out of the military and seeking to optimize the use of Tuition Assistance dollars, the loss of CPD as a Government licensed resource exposed a deeper need for data-informed systems that support the mobility, readiness, and resilience of learners everywhere, both within and outside of the Military Service.

The platform’s awesome impact for learners and transitioning service members was well-documented: before the federal government-funded license was discontinued in April 2025, CPD was used by 55,000+ learners each month, helping individuals explore the ins and outs of high-value careers, evaluate potential degrees and credentials to prepare for their next steps, and connect their aspirational goals to the real-world pathways needed to achieve them. Among those learners:

●      38% using the platform did not have a specific career goal before coming to CPD.

●       22% came in with an initial goal, but changed to a new goal based on their exploration of data-rich career pathways and labor market data about salaries, job growth, and risk of automation or AI-disruption.

●      And 63% of active-duty Service Members using CPD leveraged the platform’s capabilities to set a career goal different from the job they were currently doing in the military – and received a personalized goals report pinpointing the optimal education investments to prepare for that different career path.

Today, CPD is back online and free for learners to use, reimagined for long-term impact.

“As a Navy Veteran who struggled while in service to know how to optimize my Tuition Assistance benefits to prepare for my transition, I feel passionate that CPD is more than a tool—it’s a lifeline for those who need to make confident decisions about how to prepare for their futures. We’re proud to bring it back, stronger and more accessible than ever.”  - Cristine Carpenter, President and Founder of Vantage Point Consulting Inc.

CPD retains its core purpose to support informed, confident decision-making around career goals and education investments while expanding access to serve not only military-affiliated learners, but students, early-career explorers, career changers,and lifelong learners navigating an increasingly complex landscape.

Designed by and for the Community It Serves

Developed and refined over the past eight years based on continuous feedback from Service members, Veterans, and military education counselors, CPD has become a trusted bridge from military life to civilian career success.

Whether you’re a transitioning service member mapping out civilian pathways, a student exploring college options, or an adult learner considering a new direction, CPD offers:

●      AI-powered exploration tools that surface personalized career and education pathways based on a user’s skills, interests,values, and job market demand to help learners decide on their desired career goal

●       Data-driven decision support on the optimal education opportunities to achieve that career goal, including projected ROI of degrees, job outlook,time-to-completion, and education program alignment

●      No-cost access, with relaunch made possible by the generosity of our sponsors and mission-aligned collaborators to ensure all learners and transitioning workers can take advantage of Career Path DECIDE without cost, with premium licensing options available to companies, workforce development organizations and education providers

“This re-launch doesn’t just restore access. It enables our company to continue to focus on our core mission of helping learners and workers discover and maximize their future potential through personalized advising powered by labor market and education provider data augmented by thoughtful use of AI."  - Dr. Jeffrey Carpenter, Executive VP of Vantage Point Consulting Inc.

Building for What’s Next

Now successfully re-launched and available to all learners, Career Path DECIDE will continue to evolve to meet the moment for our users’ career and education needs through strategic partnerships and innovative new features on the horizon, including:  

●      Brand New AI-guided conversation flows to support your exploration, offering real-time career & education thought partnership – a planning “co-pilot” right by your side.

●      Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) data integration, through a collaboration with the American Council on Education (ACE)to help users maximize recognition for their life and work experience in real,tangible credits toward their desired credential and faster time-to-completion.

●      Purpose-built, adaptable tools for the community supporting learners along their journey, including education counselors, academic institutions, employers, workforce boards and more

“I’m thrilled that Walmart, Shultz, and Tullman are investing in Career Path DECIDE and the power of the U.S. learning ecosystem—a democratic network of education, workforce, and community resources that thrives on openness, choice, and opportunity. Their support affirms CPD as a trusted tool that empowers learners to navigate complexity with confidence.”– Michele Spires, Assistant Vice President of One Dupont Ventures, National Service and Defense Solutions.

Explore Freely, Decide Confidently

As Vantage Point Consulting reintroduces CPD to learners across the country, the mission remains unchanged:

To democratize access to expert-level career and education guidance, at no cost,for everyone. Whether navigating the military-to-civilian transition, choosing a major, making a mid-career leap, or supporting others in their journey, CPD is your personalized, no-cost roadmap to opportunity.

Get started today at www.careerpathdecide.org.

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‍About Vantage Point Consulting Inc.

Vantage Point Consulting Inc. is a veteran and woman-owned small business with over 20 years of experience in helping deliver public sector innovation, education design,and data-driven technology solutions to government, education, and non-profit partners.  With expertise in career pathway design, user-centered technology, and data-informed decision tools,Vantage Point empowers individuals and organizations to build brighter futures.

To learn more, please visit www.vantagepoint-inc.com or contact info@vantagepoint-inc.com.

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About ACE:

​​​​​The American Council on Education (ACE) is a membership organization that leads higher education with a united vision for the future. We galvanize our members to make change and we collaborate across the sector to design solutions for today’s challenges, serve the needs of a diverse student population, and shape effective public policy. As the major coordinating body for the nation’s colleges and universities, our strength lies in our diverse membership of nearly 1,600 colleges and universities, related associations, and other organizations in the United States and abroad. A​​​​​​CE is the only major higher education association to represent all types of U.S. accredited,degree-granting colleges and universities. Our members educate two out of every three students in all accredited, degree-granting U.S. institutions.

For more information, please visit www.acenet.edu or follow ACE on X @ACEducation and LinkedIn.

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Media Contact for Vantage Point Consulting Inc:

Wendy Garcia, Director of Business Development & Marketing

wendy.garcia@vantagepoint-inc.com

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Media Contact for American Council on Education:

Jon Riskind, Executive Director of Public Affairs and Policy Communications

jriskind@acenet.edu

202-939-9453

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Washington, D.C. – March 11, 2025– What happens when decades of public service suddenly come to an end? Across the country, experienced government professionals are facing unexpected career transitions due to workforce reductions, agency reorganizations, and evolving job requirements. In response, Vantage Point Consulting Inc., a Veteran- and Woman-Owned Small Business, has launched the Displaced by DOGE Network, a nationwide career support platform designed to help public servants take control of their future.

Vantage Point Consulting has spent nearly two decades working with federal and state agencies, higher education institutions, and workforce development organizations to create solutions that support career pathways, professional development, and strategic workforce planning.Leveraging this expertise, the Displaced by DOGE Network was developed to provide government employees with the tools, resources, and community they need to transition confidently into new opportunities.

“As federal and state agencies restructure, thousands of experienced professionals are left wondering what’s next,” said Dr. Jeffrey Carpenter, Co-Founder of Vantage Point Consulting and Co-Community Founder of the Displaced by DOGE Network. “Our goal is to ensure that public servants who have dedicated their careers to serving their communities have access to the right resources, opportunities, and connections to successfully transition into new roles.”

For many public servants, sudden career shifts can be overwhelming. Colby Britton, a federal employee with over two decades of government service, knows this firsthand. His career began at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), followed by roles at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General (DOT-OIG). With a family to support, Britton expected to remain in government service for at least another decade until an unexpected job loss forced him to navigate a complex and unfamiliar transition process.

“I wasn’t ready to leave government service. The reality of needing to find new employment, navigating job applications, and realizing how different federal resumes are from the civilian sector was overwhelming,” said Britton. “I knew that if I was facing these challenges,others were too. That’s why I joined the Displaced by DOGE Network to help build a community where we can support one another through these transitions.”

The Displaced by DOGE Network is an innovative platform that provides a structured, interactive space where government employees facing job uncertainty can connect with peers, explore career opportunities, and gain access to essential career development tools. Members can take advantage of AI-driven job matching to connect with employers actively seeking public sector expertise.Virtual job fairs and networking events provide direct engagement with hiring managers, while one-on-one career coaching, resume support, and skill-building workshops help job seekers prepare for new career paths.

The platform’s unique approach blends technology with community support, ensuring displaced professionals don’t have to navigate these challenges alone. "Navigating a career transition isn’t just about finding a job, it’s about knowing where to start and how to market your government experience in new industries," said Jackson Viccora, Community Co-Founder and workforce technology expert. "This network bridges that gap by providing structured resources, peer connections, and direct employer engagement, making the process smoother and more effective."

A key component of the network is the Displaced by DOGE Job Board, a nationwide hiring platform that streamlines the job search process for both job seekers and employers. Using AI-driven technology, it matches professionals with roles suited to their skills and experience,ensuring a more efficient, targeted job search. Job seekers can upload resumes,set real-time alerts, and connect with employers who value public sector expertise. An interactive job map further simplifies the transition process by allowing users to find opportunities based on location.

The Displaced by DOGE Job Board isn’t just for job seekers, it’s a direct hiring solution for employers. Organizations gain access to highly skilled, mission-driven professionals with leadership, expertise, and a strong commitment to public service. The platform’s automated job scraping ensures employers job listings appear with minimal administrative effort. Employers looking for increased visibility can also take advantage of additional features such as rotating featured jobs, custom employer highlight posts, and employer spotlights within the Displaced by DOGE community.

"By hiring from this community, employers are not only filling critical roles with top-tier candidates but also supporting a dedicated workforce in their career transitions," said Wendy Garcia,Community Co-Founder and workforce change management expert. "This platform ensures that experienced public sector professionals have access to the right opportunities, and that employer’s benefit from an incredible pool of mission-driven talent."

The Displaced by DOGE Network is now open for early access. Public servants affected by workforce changes can join the community Displaced by DOGE  to connect with peers, access career resources, and explore new job opportunities.

Employers, state, and local agencies seeking to engage with the job board platform to connect with top-tier public sector talent and utilize innovative recruitment tools can contact info@displacedbydoge.com for more details.

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Vantage Point Consulting Inc. is proud to have been awarded a Prime Contract on the newly established OPM USALearning®(USAL) Training and Education Support Products and Services IDIQ contract. Vantage Point Consulting was one of just nine companies selected to be part of this highly competitive and brand-new small business set-aside with a total ceiling value of $1.7B.

This 10-year contract vehicle is designed to provide all U.S. government – to include Federal agencies, Department of Defense, as well as state and local municipalities –with streamlined acquisition and access to highly qualified vendors in support of end-to-end learning, training and education products and services. The scope of available services includes Formal and Informal Learning, Instructional Systems Design (ISD), Knowledge Management, Social Learning and Collaboration, Learning Simulation (Live & Virtual), Learning Applications and Games,Organizational Assessments, Learning Strategies, Mentoring Programs and Executive Coaching, and a broad array of Educational Support Services.

“We are really excited by this opportunity and looking forward to supporting clients across the entire government sector as they leverage the OPM USALearning® contract to address their critical learning and education needs.” said Vantage Point Consulting President, Cristine Carpenter. “This new contract vehicle is important and provides us with the ability to support the OPM USALearning® (USAL) program and its efforts to provide all government agencies access and support through its “Best-in-Class” Federal Shared Service Provider (FSSP) acquisition services for training and education support products and services.”  

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About Vantage Point Learning Solutions

“We truly believe providing individuals with meaningful and impactful learning experiences is vital for helping them realize their fullest potential and enable career success.” said Wendy Garcia, Director of Business Development and Account Lead for Vantage Point Consulting Learning Solutions. “That is why Vantage Point Consulting is so focused on providing the full breadth of services and products needed to harness the power of learning and empower high performing individuals, organizations and workforces.”

For the OPM USALearning® contract, Vantage Point Consulting has assembled and works in collaboration with a highly qualified team of leading small businesses that collectively bring the capabilities and capacities required to deliver innovative and impactful total learning solutions for government agencies, regardless of the size, scope, or complexity of the challenge.

Vantage Point Consulting (Prime) – is a Woman,Veteran, Minority-owned small business that specializes in education and workforce development providing both services and products designed to empower both individuals and organizations. Services include learning solutions,strategy and consulting, human-centered and inclusive design, fully in-house multimedia services, application design and development, and data analytics.Vantage Point provides an innovative set of product capabilities that include career pathway applications and accelerators, mentoring platforms, online community and knowledge management, and specially developed education and workforce data services.

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Team Vantage Point Members, include:

·  Center for Human Capital Innovation (CHCI) – a strategic consulting firm providing expertise in organizational needs assessment, training and education program design, human capital strategy and management, executive coaching, leadership and talent development, and people analytics.

·  Digital Consultants – a certified SBA 8(a) bringing expertise in mission training support,instructional design, and a broad array of education support services andclassroom technologies.

·  Eduworks – providing deep expertise in data-driven and AI enabled training solutions that include SCORM, xAPI, and a comprehensive suite of tools for competency-based training to deliver highly interactive, social, mobile, and adaptive learning.

·  Potawatomi Training – a certified SBA 8(a) American Indian Tribal (AIT) providing  deep expertise across the full spectrum offormal and informal learning design, as well as rich capabilities in the design of simulated learning applications and games.

·  SimIS – a Veteran Owned Small Business providing specialized expertise in the design of Total Learning Architectures, knowledge management, training policies and standards, and the application of SCORM and xAPI into training and learning solutions.

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To learn more about our Learning Solutions and Team Vantage Point, contact usalearning@vantagepoint-inc.com.

To initiate a requirement with USALearning® Training and Education Support Product and Services, contact www.usalearning.gov/contact.

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