For Lauren De Jesus and Jared Persons, joining the military always felt like a natural path. Both grew up in military families and developed a deep respect for service. So it was no surprise when they each decided to become officers in the U.S. Army. What has surprised them, though, is just how much their time in uniform continues to shape their careers at Boston Scientific today.
As an engineer officer, De Jesus led complex construction missions across the Middle East. Persons, a logistics officer, managed the supply chains that kept battalions mission ready. Both learned to lead through uncertainty, bring teams together around a shared purpose and adapt quickly under pressure — skills they say remain central to their work today.
"Be comfortable being uncomfortable"
De Jesus was born in Germany, where her parents were stationed at the time, and grew up moving from base to base. After graduating from college through the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program, De Jesus served over six years as an Army engineer officer focused on construction. From building gravel pads for equipment to retrofitting trailers into operational office spaces, she led hands-on engineering projects across Kuwait and Germany.
She credits a mission-first mindset with helping her solve complex problems in ways that meaningfully impact people’s lives. That mindset followed her to Boston Scientific, where she started in 2016 as a project manager in Endoscopy. While skilled at leading projects, launching a medical device product with no prior experience was daunting. Her secret? Ask questions, build relationships and trust your team. Today, she leads security operations for our Global Security and Resiliency team at our corporate headquarters in Marlborough, Massachusetts
“Being in the military taught me to be comfortable being uncomfortable,” she says. “You’re constantly learning something new, stepping into roles you’ve never done before. And you’re expected to deliver quickly. That’s how you innovate.”
Avoiding complacency in any role
Persons says the call to serve was never far from his mind. With a lineage of military service stretching back to his great-grandfather in World War II, joining the Army felt like a natural and meaningful path. Persons served four years as a logistics officer with the 1st Infantry Division, where he led operations ensuring troops had the food, fuel and equipment needed to complete their missions.
During the Army’s Air Assault School, a grueling 10-day program known for its intensity and precision, Persons says he learned the importance of creating a well-crafted plan. “Complacency can lead to failure,” he says. “That mindset of doing things right the first time has stayed with me ever since.”
Since joining Boston Scientific more than six years ago, Persons has continued to apply that discipline in his role as a New Product Integration planner at Maple Grove, Minnesota.
He’s also found a new way to serve through the VETS employee resource group. “Being part of VETS has been one of the most rewarding experiences,” he says. “It keeps me connected to other veterans and gives me the opportunity to support military families in the community.”
Adds Persons: “At Boston Scientific, we’re helping more than 44 million patients every year. Working for this company means we’re each serving in our own ways every single day.”
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