Service, Strategy And Strength: Aisha M.’s Journey From The Air Force To Cummins Inc.

When Aisha M. joined the U.S. Air Force at 18 years old, she couldn’t have imagined how deeply her years of service would shape the rest of her career. “Service doesn’t stop when the uniform comes off,” she says – and she’s living proof of that. After two decades in the Air Force, Aisha transitioned from the flightline to the corporate world, but her mission remains the same: to lead with integrity, teamwork and purpose.

Today, as a Strategic Talent Pathways Leader on the Talent Acquisition Diversity, Sourcing & Talent Attraction Strategy Team, Aisha channels her passion for developing people into helping Cummins attract and grow diverse talent around the world.

“My Air Force career started as an electrical systems technician working on equipment that supported the flightline,” Aisha recalls. “For my last 14 years, I served as a Military Human Resource Manager. As a senior non-commissioned officer, I played a key role in the Air Force’s professional development initiatives and provided guidance to leaders on HR processes and procedures.”

Those experiences built a foundation of adaptability, collaboration and resilience that Aisha carries into her work at Cummins. “Even after 20 years in the military, I’m not sure if I was actually prepared to come back to the civilian world – let alone Cummins,” she says with a laugh. “But what the military did prepare me for was assessing and executing tasks under pressure. Being able to recognize a problem, strategize a plan then execute –  it was a necessity in the military and it’s something I use every day in my role now.”

In her position, Aisha leads programs that help Cummins attract diverse talent through innovative pathways. “Re-establishing and updating the programs I manage, meeting and talking with stakeholders and sometimes working through a space of ambiguity can be daunting,” she explains. “But knowing that there will be success in it has been my guiding light.”

Aisha also brings her passion for teamwork into every project. “One of the biggest lessons the military taught me is how to work with people from very diverse backgrounds all striving toward one goal,” she says. “I love learning about people — what they do, what motivates them – so I can find connection points and help them achieve their goals. Ultimately, when they achieve, we all achieve.”

That mindset aligns closely with Cummins’ approach to collaboration. “Being a company that’s over 100 years old speaks volumes about how teamwork, collaboration and innovation are embedded in the culture,” Aisha notes. “I’ve personally seen it through our Employee Resource Groups. The more I get involved, the more connections I build – and often those connections lead to unexpected opportunities to collaborate across teams.”

Since returning to Cummins earlier this year, Aisha has been inspired by the company’s culture and career stories. “Hearing how people have grown and moved throughout their careers here is so motivating,” she says. “It reminds me of my Air Force journey where I had the chance to lead, be led and contribute to something bigger than myself.”

Working remotely from her home in San Antonio, TX,  Aisha values the trust and empowerment she experiences daily. “Communication and empowerment are key when you work remotely,” she says. “Thankfully, I feel empowered to lead and manage our alternative hiring programs and I have the freedom to share my thoughts for improvement. That level of trust is huge.”

Aisha also appreciates how Cummins lives its values – especially integrity. “Integrity is doing what you say you will do and doing what is right, even when no one is looking,” she says. “Working from home can be challenging because it’s easy to fall into a rut but having genuine purpose keeps me accountable. That internal self-determination helps me reflect integrity every day.”

Beyond her day-to-day work, Aisha is especially proud of Cummins’ commitment to giving back. “This may seem small to some, but I love that every employee gets volunteer hours each year,” she says. “I’m a huge advocate of community service and I’m happy to see that the company I work for places real value in it.”

For Aisha, returning to Cummins felt like coming home to a place where her values and experience could thrive. “What drew me back was the opportunity to be involved in projects and programs that help the company flourish,” she says. “I believe in the programs I manage so it’s easy to share information about them with stakeholders because I truly see their impact.”

When asked what she looks for when considering where to work, Aisha’s answer is simple and grounded in authenticity: “You should be able to envision yourself there. You want a place that values inclusion, career development and growth – and that’s exactly what I found at Cummins.”