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- Jason Chinnock, the CEO of Ducati North America, joined the US Army right after high school.
- He served as a tank operator with the Third Armored Division and is a Desert Storm veteran.
- Chinnock emphasizes that teamwork and selflessness are vital traits that make veterans valuable employees.
Ducati motorcycles have been among the most coveted vehicles globally for nearly one hundred years.
The Italian manufacturer’s high-performance bikes are frequently likened to Lamborghini’s luxurious supercars. Few sights are as thrilling as a vivid red Ducati superbike racing along an Italian Autostrada.
In the previous year alone, Ducati achieved global sales of nearly 60,000 motorcycles—marking it as one of their top three sales years ever.
Since taking charge in 2016, Jason Chinnock has led Ducati’s operations in North America—the company’s largest market outside Italy.
Ducati
Before ascending to his current role within corporate leadership, Chinnock dedicated two years to serving in the US Army.
At just 17 years old and seeking financial assistance for college education, he enlisted and became an M1A1 Abrams tank driver.
“I initially joined to secure funding for my education; however, I gained so much more than just financial support,” Chinnock shared with Business Insider.
This military experience instilled in him essential qualities such as self-discipline and accountability while managing equipment worth millions during critical operations. “I was responsible for its maintenance; if it failed during combat or training exercises—that burden fell on me,” he explained further.
Allan Tannenbaum/Getty Images
His tenure with the Third Armored Division included deployment to participate in Operation Desert Storm within the Persian Gulf region.
Todays’ statistics show that he is among approximately
18 million veterans who have served within US Armed Forces, including around three million who participated specifically during Gulf War I.
The Case for Hiring Veterans: A Business Perspective
As an executive leader at Ducati North America, Chinnock holds military service candidates in high regard but acknowledges that simply having this background does not guarantee employment opportunities. However when faced with two equally qualified applicants vying for positions within his company—he recognizes distinct advantages held by those with military experience.
- The first advantage is selflessness:
“Veterans demonstrate selflessness by dedicating part of their lives—be it months or even years—to serve their country,” stated Chinnock.
This perspective remains unchanged regardless of individual motivations behind enlisting.
“Regardless of personal reasons driving them into service—they understand they’re contributing towards something greater than themselves,” he added.
- The second advantage lies within teamwork capabilities:
“Military training ingrains individuals with ’there’s no I; it’s we.’ This mindset fosters collaboration towards achieving common objectives,” noted Chinnock.
This ability proves crucial when building cohesive teams at his organization.
Additionally veterans often exhibit remarkable discipline alongside resilience when confronted by challenges.
“Pursuing excellence requires every team member at Ducati to contribute significantly—and I place immense value on this principle,” emphasized Chinnock while humorously noting how there’s “nowhere to hide” from responsibilities here unlike other workplaces where some may prefer anonymity behind closed doors.”
