The need for reintegration of veterans of the Global War on Terror and previous conflicts to their families, homes and communities is a major policy issue facing the Commonwealth. Military service provides unique sets of skills that can and must be adapted to civilian employment.

In November, 2007, the Secretary of Public Safety and DVS established the Virginia Veterans Workforce Development Task Force to design a comprehensive workforce development initiative for veterans in Virginia, with special emphasis on those with disabilities and those returning from the Global War on Terror. The Task Force is Chaired by Alfredo J. Sample, Sr., President and CEO of E & E Communication Solutions, LLC. The members include the Governor's Senior Advisor for Workforce, the Governor's Senior Advisor for Disability Issues and Concerns, state legislators, members of the Board of Veterans Services, relevant federal, state and local agency representatives, representatives of the Veterans Services Organizations, disabled veterans, representatives of the corporate sector, and other public and private partners. The Task Force also includes representatives the Virginia Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) and the U.S. Department of Labor (DoL).

The group is charged by the Secretary of Public Safety with the responsibilities to develop solutions to (1) effectively match veterans with employers and positions, (2) encourage public and private sector employers to hire veterans, (3) encourage public and private sector employers to hire veterans with disabilities, and (4) develop a more comprehensive technological approach to better inform veterans on where and how to obtain job and training opportunities in the private sector.

A comprehensive Workforce Development Taskforce Report (1.13MB) was completed in late August 2008. The report includes legislative and budgetary recommendations.

Members

Name	Position	Employer
Chairman Alfredo J. Sample, Sr	President and CEO	E & E Communication Solutions, LLC
The Honorable Barry Green	Virginia Deputy Secretary of Public Safety	Attending for Secretary Marshall
Martha Mead	Project Manager EO 19	Virginia Department of Veterans Services
Vincent M. Burgess	Commissioner	Virginia Department of Veterans Services
Daniel G. LeBlanc	Cabinet level official	Senior Advisor to the Governor for Workforce
The Honorable Frank W. Wagner	Senator	Senate of Virginia
Debra Ruh	President	TecAccess
Doris G. Thomas	President	Single Source Consulting Group, LLC
Preston Wilhelm, Sr.	Director, VA Jobs Investment Program	Virginia Department of Business Assistance
Marlin Forbes	Regional VP	Verizon Corporation
CW5 Eddie Whitt Attending for: MG Robert B. Newman	Virginia National Guard	The Adjutant General of Virginia
Laura Loda	Vice President Human Resources	The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
James A. Rothrock	Commissioner	Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services
Ed Turner Cabinet level official	Special Advisor to the Governor for Concerns of the Disabled in the Workforce	Governor's Office For Workforce Development
Jim Cocke	Chief	Virginia Employment Commission
William H. Mann, Jr.	Executive Director	Greater Peninsula Workforce Development Consortium
Thomas M. Stephen, Jr.	Executive Director	Virginia Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve
The Honorable Vivian E. Watts	Addressed as "Delegate"	House of Delegates
Bettye H. Simmons	Brigadier General, USA (Ret)	Board of Veterans Services
Paul R. Hinkhouse	Director, U.S. Department of Labor/VETS	Virginia Employment Commission
Michael Gardner	Partner	Troutman and Sanders, LLP
Col Oliver L. Norrell Attending for: MG Mitchell H. Stevenson	Commanding General, Fort Lee; Chairman	Virginia Military Advisory Council
Dr. Leroy Patrick Gross	President and CEO	Inomedic
Angela Chiang	Acting Deputy Director	Virginia Department of Minority Business Enterprise
Peter Blake	Vice Chancellor of Workforce Development	Community Colleges System

 

State Agency and Corporate Resources

Name	Position	Employer
Steven W. Liberman	General Contracts Manager	Klett Consulting Group, Inc.
Mark N. Klett
Jonathan Ballard	Special Assistant	Virginia Department of Veterans Services
Steve Adkins	Chief Deputy	Department of Human Resources Management
Aida Pacheco	Program Specialist: Hard to Serve Population	Governor's Office For Workforce Development
Joe Holicky	Senior Planner	Governor's Office For Workforce Development
Jerry L. Lindsey	Veterans Services Coordinator	Virginia Employment Commission
Anne C. Atkins	Director of Communication	Virginia Department of Veterans Services
Steven J. Combs	Director of Policy and Planning	Virginia Department of Veterans Services
Levi M. Cary	Interim Coordinator Wounded Veterans Internship Program	Virginia Department of Transportation - Civil Rights Division
Joe Shaw	Recruiter	Wounded Veteran's Program