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A Talent Management System for Veterans

A Talent Management System for Veterans

Along with the many programs and organizations that are dedicated to serving veterans and their families, there are also several federal agencies that are instrumental in ensuring that veterans successfully reintegrate back into their communities. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is the first agency that everyone thinks about, but there is also the Department of Labor, Department of Agriculture, and Housing and Urban Development, just to name a few. The Department of Defense (DOD) is often overlooked since it is considered to function only to currently serving military members, and then the focus usually goes to VA when it is a matter related to veterans. The future success of veterans and their families actually starts when they are still serving, that is the reason why this success is rooted in the DOD, with its various personnel programs, including education, training, and health care.

Matthew P. Donovan, the 9th Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, joins the Service to Self podcast to share his thoughts on the importance of a vibrant, responsive military talent management system to the readiness of the armed forces and how this system also ensures successful transitions into the civilian workforce once military service is over. Mr. Donovan’s office, Personnel and Readiness, is the agency within the Pentagon responsible for setting the foundation for the transition between DOD and the VA for service members as they reintegrate into their civilian communities. He provides updates on recent initiatives within the Pentagon to ensure that DoD remains responsive to the evolving needs of service members, veterans, and military families.

Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services harnesses the power of federal agencies, like DoD and the VA, in developing public-private partnerships that provide solutions to barriers that veterans face during the journey of transition and reintegration. Creating partnerships that include government partners, the private sector, labor, other non-profits, and academia is an example of our work through Operation Service to Employment. Dixon Center’s Workforce Solutions educational program is designed to aid hiring managers across companies recruit, train, integrate, and retain veterans and military family members, we identify and shape relationships with other agencies and organizations to make your existing private sector programs more impactful.

Service Before Self introduces you to people and programs that are having an impact today; their successes and lessons learned in creating effective programs in which veterans reach their full potential. This is Dixon Center’s goal, collaborating with agencies like the DoD, VA, Department of Labor, Housing and Urban Development and others, to ensure that veterans and their families thrive after their military service ends. To learn more about Dixon Center’s efforts in assisting veterans in reaching their post-military goals, see the Dixon Center Bugler: Operation Service to Employment and contact Colonel (Ret.) Sam Whitehurst, VP of Programs & Services, at swhitehurst@dixoncenter.org.

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Outreach & Communications Update

“Build a strong digital presence, utilizing social media to foster relationships and expand visibility.” – Outreach & Awareness: Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services: Three-Year Business

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Update On Task Force Movement’s Activities

Update On Task Force Movement’s Activities

“What we’ve seen through Task Force Movement is results. Results matter. Results speak for themselves. And the people that drive results are those who are going to change the world. That’s what we are here to do.”

– Dan Kunze, Vice-Chairman, Task Force Movement

The first three months of 2024, Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Service has continued to play a leading role in Task Force Movement (TFM) as the task force celebrates its two-year anniversary. 

Dixon Center organized and led TFM convenings as part of the American Legion’s Washington Conference in February. These convenings brought partners together to identify solutions for the military-connected community entering the trucking, cybersecurity, and healthcare professions.

Dixon Center forged a relationship with the African-American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey and built upon our existing partnership with the Minority Professional Trucker’s Association to launch the Driven By Equity workforce development program for independent trucking owners/operators. This pilot program will provide minority, veteran, and women truck drivers with the tools and training necessary to be successful small business owners.

We coordinated 35 scholarship opportunities for veterans with our partnered training providers and universities and colleges. These scholarships will lead to industry-recognized cybersecurity certifications and are the first steps to careers that are a gateway to the upper middle-class.

Additionally, Dixon Center participated in the Carolina Cyber Network’s Spring Convening in Fayetteville, NC where Dixon Center placed a spotlight on the importance of combining supportive services with cyber apprenticeships to ensure veterans and their families succeed.  

Dixon Center looks forward to continuing to bring our experience to the table in workforce development, military and civilian training and credentialing, as well as implementation of policy and legislation on behalf of transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses with our partners in TFM.

Dixon Center leading a discussion on providing opportunities for the military-connected community in the healthcare sector at the American Legion’s Washington Conference.

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Outreach & Communications Update

“Build a strong digital presence, utilizing social media to foster relationships and expand visibility.” – Outreach & Awareness: Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services: Three-Year Business

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National Vietnam War Veterans Day

National Vietnam War Veterans Day

“Our nation owes an eternal debt of gratitude for their sacrifice and that of their families”.

– Sara Heidenheimer, Program & Administrative Manager, 
Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services

Last week, March 29th, we celebrated National Vietnam War Veterans Day. 

On that day of remembrance we visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. Members of our team joined local celebrations where they live, and we recognized the achievements of our Vietnam veterans.  

National Vietnam War Veterans Day was established to recognize the sacrifice of those who fought in Southeast Asia. There are 610,000 living veterans out of the 2.7 million who served in Vietnam.

Our nation owes an eternal debt of gratitude for their sacrifice and that of their families. Today’s veterans can talk about their combat experiences in large part because our Vietnam veterans could not or would not. Much of our battlefield knowledge and effectiveness can be attributed to what we learned from our Vietnam veterans.

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“Build a strong digital presence, utilizing social media to foster relationships and expand visibility.” – Outreach & Awareness: Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services: Three-Year Business

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Season 4 of Service Before Self Podcast

Season 4 of Service Before Self Podcast

“Michael “Mick” Yauger was a friend and mentor to many in the military and veteran community, including me and Secretary Murphy.”  

– Colonel (Ret.) Sam Whitehurst, Vice President, Programs & Services,
Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services

Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services recently kicked off Season 4 of the Service Before Self Podcast with an interview with Robin Kelleher, Co-Founder and CEO of Hope for the Warriors and recipient of the Eugene and Ruth Freedman Leadership Award. If you missed it, you can find it here or at your favorite podcast platform. Like with Robin, every two weeks, throughout Season 4, Dixon Center will be engaging in conversations with individuals and organizations that are making a difference in the lives of veterans and their families. If you want to hear about the hot button issues that are impacting military-connected individuals, or to hear about the most effective ways for engaging and supporting our military and veteran communities, please subscribe to our podcast.

Our next episode drops on March 28 and will feature a conversation with Secretary Patrick J. Murphy, the first Iraq War veteran who served in Congress, former Under Secretary of the Army, Chairman of Task Force Movement, and someone who is making a difference in the lives of veterans and their families.  Secretary Murphy is also this year’s recipient of the Michael “Mick” Yauger Point Man Award.

Listen this Thursday, to hear more about how Mick Yauger shaped leaders in the veteran community, like Secretary Murphy, and to hear Secretary Murphy’s insights and perspective on how to best support veterans and their families.

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Outreach & Communications Update

“Build a strong digital presence, utilizing social media to foster relationships and expand visibility.” – Outreach & Awareness: Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services: Three-Year Business

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Productive & Inspiring Meetings of the Minds

Productive & Inspiring Meetings of the Minds

“Connecting to, conversing with, and collaborating on ideas with other likeminded people is critical to our overall success as an organization.”– Eileen Greenlay, Director of Development

Recently, Col. Duncan Milne, President, and Eileen Greenlay, Director of Development, of Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services visited with funders, introduced themselves to new friends, consulted with our Fedcap partners, and attended networking events during a trip to New York City.During our separate conversations with New York Health Foundation and Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, we uncovered that both Program Officers work together on large initiatives that benefit veterans in New York with some of our partners such as Hope for the Warriors and RAND.At an event at Civic Hall, we were introduced to New York Tech Alliance and Cyber Security Consulting Ops and plan to bring them both on board in our cybersecurity initiatives.While talking cybersecurity with our partner, London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) Foundation, we also enjoyed finding out that one of our contacts, son of two former Marine Corps veterans and an Army veteran was born on the installation – Camp Pendleton, CA where Col. Milne was stationed for 10 years.Dixon Center – we are the capacity builder, the dot connector, the collaborator seeker, and the strategic partner. And we bring small worlds together.

Col. Duncan Milne and Eileen Greenlay with Leaders of the London Stock Exchange Group’s Veterans Network

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Outreach & Communications Update

“Build a strong digital presence, utilizing social media to foster relationships and expand visibility.” – Outreach & Awareness: Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services: Three-Year Business

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Farewell Vanessa Stergios – Thank You

Farewell Vanessa Stergios – Thank You

“Vanessa Stergios – Fair Winds and Following Seas.”– Duncan S. Milne, Colonel, USMC (Ret.), President,Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services

For the past five years Vanessa Stergios has been an amazing member of our team and served as our Director of Development. At the end of this month we will say farewell to Vanessa as she is taking a position with the National Children’s Alliance. 

Vanessa led our development through the pandemic and through times of certainty and uncertainty. She always ensures our programs have the resources needed. She led through our ground breaking Vision Summit. She managed holiday mailings, end of year requests, tax letters and processing everything from car donations to cyber donations. Vanessa, is a true professional. She goes above and beyond helping implement our women veterans emergency financial assistance program.

Vanessa is always making the lives of veterans and their families better. 

Please join us in thanking Vanessa for her tireless work over the last several years.Our goal is to make this as seamless a transition as possible over the next several weeks. We are fortunate to have Eileen Greenlay in place to take the position of Director of Development effective immediately. 

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Outreach & Communications Update

“Build a strong digital presence, utilizing social media to foster relationships and expand visibility.” – Outreach & Awareness: Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services: Three-Year Business

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American Legion Washington Conference

American Legion Washington Conference

“Through their leadership and expertise in supporting veterans and their families, Dixon Center was a key contributor to the recent American Legion Washington Conference.”– Joe Sharpe, Director, National Veterans Employment & Education Division, American Legion

Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services organized, coordinated, and led a panel of thought-leaders, researchers, and practitioners addressing veterans’ mental health and wellness at the American Legion Washington Conference February 26-28. The American Legion Washington Conference brings American Legion leadership, including hundreds of chapter presidents, from across the country, to Washington, D.C. to engage with Senators and Congressional Representatives on the most important issues impacting veterans and their families.Reducing veteran suicide is at the top of the American Legion’s legislative agenda for the 118th Congress and Dixon Center led a discussion that identified not only the challenges that lead to isolation and disconnection in the veteran community, but also identified a holistic approach to wellness that “creates lives worth living.” We also highlighted the need for more research into alternative approaches that can complement traditional methods for mental health and wellness, the need for education and training on gun and ammunition safe storage (70% of veteran suicides involve a firearm), and the importance of including families, along with veterans, in wellness programs.The Legionnaires were engaged throughout, and we concluded with thoughtful and earnest questions from the audience.  Their commitment to enhancing the wellness of the military-connected community was on clear display throughout the conference.

Dixon Center leading a convening of leaders, practitioners, and researchers who are committed to reducing veteran suicide and enhancing overall wellness for veterans and their families (at the American Legion Washington Conference).

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Outreach & Communications Update

“Build a strong digital presence, utilizing social media to foster relationships and expand visibility.” – Outreach & Awareness: Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services: Three-Year Business

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Our Donors Make the Best Ambassadors

Our Donors Make the Best Ambassadors

“Creating and maintaining relationships with our donors is a big part of increasing awareness of our mission.”– Colonel Duncan Milne, USMC (ret.), President,Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services

Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services is engaging our donors. These people give from their hearts and their donations make a real impact. The caring individuals and families who invest in our work are critical to our mission. They allow us to create real solutions that make the lives of our nation’s military veterans, and their families, better. In 2024, our development team is sharing our appreciation to dozens of new and reoccurring donors. We are highlighting the impact their generosity is making. To become an ambassador and support our work: donate today. 

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Outreach & Communications Update

“Build a strong digital presence, utilizing social media to foster relationships and expand visibility.” – Outreach & Awareness: Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services: Three-Year Business

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Season 4 of Service Before Self Launching

Season 4 of Service Before Self Launching

“You can find the Service Before Self Podcast on your favorite podcast platform.”– Sam Whitehurst, U.S. Army (RET.), Vice President,Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services

We are excited to announce the launch of Season 4 of the Service Before Self Podcast, sponsored by Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services. This season we will engage with thought-leaders in the military and veteran community who are on the leading edge of addressing the evolving needs of transitioning service members, veterans, military spouses, families, caregivers, and the families of our fallen. Our first episode in March will feature Robin Kelleher, Co-Founder and CEO of Hope for the Warriors. Robin has been a leader in supporting those who have served and their families since 2006 and her organization was recently awarded the 2023 Eugene and Ruth Freedman Leadership Award.

If you are an individual or organization that is trying to understand the everchanging landscape of how to integrate veterans and their families into your organizations or communities, join us on the podcast as we will have guests who will share their perspective on the challenges facing military-connected individuals, best practices on addressing those challenges, and innovative ways of delivering services and support.You can find the Service Before Self Podcast on your favorite podcast platform—Spotify, Apple Music, iHeart Radio and others. Subscribe to us so you’ll receive notifications when our episodes are posted and follow us on social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Threads.  

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Outreach & Communications Update

“Build a strong digital presence, utilizing social media to foster relationships and expand visibility.” – Outreach & Awareness: Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services: Three-Year Business

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Marking 10 yrs of Support from Metzger Foundation

Marking 10 yrs of Support from Metzger Foundation

“Because of Dixon Center, untold numbers of veterans and their families lead productive and successful lives.”– Carolyn and Herbert Metzger Foundation

The Carolyn and Herbert Metzger Foundation has once again stood up for our veterans, with its recent renewal of support to Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services.  As a World War II veteran, Herbert Metzger recognized the unique and evolving needs of veterans. For over 10 years, through their Foundation, Herbert and his wife, Carolyn, have dedicated resources to addressing these needs to Dixon Center. This continued support has allowed us to build out several of our workforce development programs and allocate more resources to our health and wellness initiatives.Carolyn and Herbert Metzger committed to living a purpose driven life, both by their words and deeds. Today, their three daughters follow the example of their parents and maintain their legacy of generosity. The Foundation’s partnership ensures Dixon Center is a “go to” resource for all who are part of our network and who join us in our noble purpose – to make the lives of veterans and their families better.With deep gratitude, Dixon Center humbly accepts the trust the Metzger Foundation has placed in our work.

Carolyn and Herbert Metzger

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Outreach & Communications Update

“Build a strong digital presence, utilizing social media to foster relationships and expand visibility.” – Outreach & Awareness: Dixon Center for Military and Veterans Services: Three-Year Business