Virginia Department of Veterans Services Recognizes Exceptional Women Veterans and Employers For Contributions To Virginia Women Veterans
The Virginia Department of Veterans Services recently recognized two Virginia women veterans for their contributions to the lives of their fellow veterans and four Virginia companies for their exceptional efforts in their hiring of Virginia women veterans and military spouses. All were honored June 15 during the 2022 Virginia Women Veterans Summit in Richmond.
The 2022 Change Maker Award was presented posthumously to Dr. Kate Hendricks-Thomas, Ph.D. of Alexandria. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, she was honored for her work promoting mental health for service members and veterans in her role as a behavioral health researcher. Dr. Hendricks-Thomas passed away in April 2022 at the age of forty-two.
The 2022 Trail Maker Award was presented to Jacqueline R. Slater of Middlesex County. Ms. Slater served in the Virginia Army National Guard for over thirty-two years retiring with the rank of Sergeant Major specializing in Human Resources. She was honored for her leadership in leading, guiding, and coaching her fellow soldiers – male and female – to help them fulfill their important missions. She continues to serve as a resource for veterans to assure they receive the benefits they earned from their service.
Four Virginia companies were presented with 2022 Virginia Women Veterans V3 Awards. The companies, each of which is a Virginia Values Veterans (V3) Certified Employer, were cited for “going above and beyond” as demonstrated by innovation or best practices that promote or increase the hiring of women veterans. The awards reflect the number of women veterans hired by each employer from January 1 through December 31, 2021. The four winners based on the size of each company were:
Enterprise Company: (99 hires) (photo above)
CACI International Inc. – Arlington
Large Company: (13 hires)
Zeiders Enterprises Inc. – Woodbridge (13 hires)
Medium Company: (7 hires) (photo above)
Cape Henry Associates, Inc. – Virginia Beach
Small Company: (5 hires)
Azimuth Corporation – Alexandria
“It was my privilege to personally present these awards to Ms. Slater, to the family of Dr. Hendricks-Thomas and to representatives of these four outstanding Virginia companies,” said Daniel Gade, Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Veterans Services. “Each has shown their unwavering commitment to bettering the lives of women veterans and military spouses and all Virginia veterans. Virginia has one of the largest number of women veterans of any state with over 109,000. It is important to recognize the contributions of individuals and employers who help the Commonwealth continue its mission to remain the #1 state in America for veterans and their families to live, work and thrive.”
Hosted by the Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS) and the Virginia Employment Commissioner (VEC), the theme of the ninth annual Virginia Women Veterans Summit was Empowered Sisters in Arms Inspiring Generations. More than 200 women veterans and others attended the Summit and with hundreds more viewing the program which was livestreamed online. Featured speakers included Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, First Lady Suzanne Youngkin, Virginia Secretary of Veteran and Defense Affairs Craig Crenshaw, former U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard, VEC Commissioner Carrie Roth and recognized experts on issues of importance to women veterans.
Participating partners in the 2022 Virginia Women Veterans Virtual Summit were Cox Communications, PenFed Foundation, Amazon, Comcast, Leidos, Military Womens Memorial, Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation, Apex Systems, BAE Systems, Virginia Department of Human Resource Management (DHRM), Fort Lee Credit Union and Cohen Veterans Network.
For more information about the 2022 Virginia Women Veterans Summit, including video highlights of the program, please visit www.dvs.virginia.gov.
About the Virginia Values Veterans (V3) Program
More than 2,300 businesses, state and local government agencies, and educational institutions are part of the Virginia Values Veterans (V3) Program. These employers have hired more than 85,000 veterans since the program’s inception in 2012. Part of the Virginia Department of Veterans Services (VDVS), the V3 Program helps employers develop and implement long-term strategies and nationally recognized best practices in recruiting, hiring, and retaining veterans. For more information, please visit www.dvsV3.com.
About the Virginia Department of Veterans Services
The Virginia Department of Veterans Services (VDVS) is a state government agency with more than 40 locations across the Commonwealth of Virginia. VDVS traces its history to 1928 and the establishment of the Virginia War Service Bureau to assist Virginia’s World War I veterans. Today, VDVS assists veterans and their families in filing claims for federal veterans benefits; provides veterans and family members with linkages to services including behavioral healthcare, housing, employment, education and other programs. The agency operates two long- term care facilities offering in-patient skilled nursing care, Alzheimer’s/memory care, and short-term rehabilitation for veterans; provides an honored final resting place for veterans and their families at three state veterans cemeteries. It also operates the Virginia War Memorial, the Commonwealth’s tribute to Virginia’s men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice from World War II to the present. For more information, please visit www.dvs.virginia.gov.