Veteran Employee Profile: Spotlighting Melissa Lystad’s Path to Purpose

December 3, 2025

Melissa Lystad’s introduction to military service began in an unexpected way. Unbeknownst to her, her fiancé had been talking to recruiters, and an invitation for a pizza dinner was extended. Little did she know that decision would soon lead to a lifelong sense of purpose.

“My now husband and I were barely scraping by, and a free pizza dinner offered during a military pitch sounded fantastic,” she said. “While there, my husband mentioned that I have an affinity to learning languages, as I was already using Spanish in my work at the local clinic, and both recruiters took a hard run at me.”

Following pizza and paperwork, Lystad’s long and meaningful journey with the U.S. Navy began. She enlisted in 1997 and progressed through a variety of roles as a foreign language analyst.

“My decision to join the Navy has changed my life, and for that I am forever grateful,” she said. “In my 22-year military career, I’ve been lucky enough to visit some of the most amazing places on earth.”

Lystad retired from service as a Cryptologic Technician, Interpretive (CTI) Chief Petty Officer in 2019. That same year, she joined CACI as part of a program that provides foreign language services to the customer, seamlessly aligning her Navy expertise with the company’s mission.

With CACI, Lystad has grown her skills through exposure to new projects and challenges. In her current role as CACI’s only Foreign Language Talent and Tradecraft Manager, she is responsible for anticipating the needs of fellow language analysts and ensuring they have access to the most current tools, training, and insights.

“I’ve worked for CACI for over six years now following my military separation,” she said. “This my third role with the company, and I’m still really happy to be here.”

Lystad’s time in the Navy not only shaped her skills but her mindset and work ethic. She carries these values forward with her as she breaks new ground with CACI.

“The Navy taught me to document everything, guided by the phrase, ‘if it ain’t on paper, it didn’t happen.’ I also learned the importance of strong communication — always yelling up the chain, not down,” she said. “That mindset, along with the network I’ve built over the years, helps me support our analysts with clarity and confidence.”