Douglas Bushman joined the military to serve his country, challenge himself, and gain valuable skills and discipline. It was a point in his life where college and civilian work were no longer challenging him, and he wanted to be part of something bigger. He served in the Connecticut National Guard from 1993 to 2001 and, driven by his unwavering sense of duty, rejoined three years ago as a proud member of the New York Army Guard.
The hardest part about transitioning to civilian life was realizing how much slower everything moved. In basic training and advanced individual training, everything was fast-paced, focused, and mission-driven. In civilian life, that urgency and discipline weren’t always there. Even after all these years, he still gets up at 3 a.m. to start his day.
His military experience taught him discipline, leadership, and adaptability. He learned to make decisions under pressure, manage diverse teams, and stay mission-focused. Most importantly, it taught him to accept responsibility for mistakes and understand the mission comes first, but taking care of the team is equally vital. As a leader, he comes last, because his team members must always come first.
As executive director of the Fitchburg Housing Authority since January 2019 and CEO of Opportunities for Hope, Bushman oversees housing operations providing safe, affordable housing to hundreds of families. He is developing a veterans-only shelter at 76 Mechanic St. in Fitchburg, a deeply personal project aimed at supporting veterans as they transition back to civilian life. He is a licensed attorney and founder of the Bushman Law Group.
