RICHMOND, VA – October 24, 2025 – Governor Glenn Youngkin joined nearly 500 business and military leaders yesterday at the Greater Richmond Convention Center for the 2025 Virginia Veterans and Military Affairs Executive Forum. Hosted by the Virginia Chamber Foundation, Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS), and the Virginia Veterans Services Foundation (VVSF), the event highlighted strategies to strengthen Virginia’s position as a national leader in supporting service members, veterans, and military families.

“I want to thank the Virginia Chamber for being such an extraordinary partner on behalf of our veterans,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “By bringing together businesses across the Commonwealth to participate in the Virginia Values Veterans (V3) program, we’ve been able to grow participation from 1,700 companies when I took office to over 3,800 different employers today, resulting in the hiring of 53,000 veterans across Virginia in the last three and a half years. In the same period, we’ve seen the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependent Education Program (VMSDEP) grow from 4,500 participants to nearly 10,000. With our announcement at today’s forum of our new partnership with the American Corporate Partners (ACP) to provide 1,000 coaches and mentors for Virginia’s veterans and military spouses over the course of the next two years and our efforts to press towards 50,000 participants in the Virginia Veterans Network (VVN) we launched last year, we’re taking our efforts to serve our heroes to the next level.”

The program included roundtable discussions with leaders from across sectors focused on improving veteran employment outcomes, strengthening support for military spouses, and aligning workforce strategies with the Commonwealth’s economic priorities.

 Keith Martin, Interim President and CEO of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, emphasized the economic importance of this work. “Supporting the Commonwealth’s veterans and military community is a cornerstone of Blueprint Virginia 2035,” said Keith Martin. “The leadership, discipline, and innovation that veterans bring to the civilian workforce are vital to our state’s competitiveness. By connecting military talent to opportunity, we strengthen not only our economy, but the foundation of Virginia’s future success.”

“Virginia continues to set the standard for how states can partner with the military community,” added Linda Stanley, Chair of the Virginia Chamber Board of Directors. “Yesterday’s discussions highlighted what’s possible when the private and public sectors work together to ensure that those who serve have access to meaningful careers and a strong quality of life.”

Blueprint Virginia 2035, the Virginia Chamber’s comprehensive business plan for the Commonwealth, provides recommendations to support mission readiness, empower military families, retain top military talent, and drive economic mobility for veterans and spouses, ensuring Virginia remains a national leader in military investment and opportunity.

“The partnership between the Virginia Department of Veterans Services, the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, and over 3,800 employers that make up the Virginia Values Veterans (V3) program has delivered tremendous success for the past 16 years,” said Commissioner Chuck Zingler. “The combined efforts and partnerships formed by these organizations and leaders offer significant promise as we move forward to reduce under-employment for our veterans and spouses. Today’s conference highlighted the importance of the military family, and the significant impact our veterans, spouses and families bring to our businesses, industries, schools, healthcare, and communities. Their sacrifices have helped to solidify the Commonwealth’s bright future. As we celebrate 250 years of America in Virginia, we must remain focused in keeping them a critical component of this initiative and continue to serve as a leader in delivering the promises of freedom, security, and prosperity.”

“These V3 Governor Awards not only highlight the special achievements of these Virginia employers we honor today but also all of the more than 3,800 V3 Certified Employers – who represent virtually every type of business, industry and profession from small to the largest,” said Virginia Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs Craig Crenshaw. “Since its inception, this unique public-private partnership has resulted in the hiring of over 176,000 Virginia veterans and military spouses throughout the Commonwealth. Congratulations to all our award recipients and all V3 employers for your continued efforts.”

V3 Award Recipients:

• Small Sized Company (1-50): BAFO Services, LLC
• Medium Sized Company (51-300): Knight Federal Solutions Inc.
• Medium Sized Company (301-1,000): Top Guard Security
• Enterprise Sized Company (1,000+): Amazon Corporate, LLC

For more information on the 2025 Virginia Veterans and Military Affairs Executive Forum and other events, including the Economic Summit and Forum on International Trade where the Blueprint will be presented to the Governor-elect, visit vachamber.com.

About the Virginia Chamber Foundation: 

The Virginia Chamber Foundation is the 501(c)(3) arm of the Virginia Chamber, which tracks economic competitiveness and advances long-term policy solutions. Through in-depth research and analysis, strategic initiatives, and sector-specific Industry Councils, the Foundation develops, advances, and tracks the proposed priorities within Blueprint Virginia – a comprehensive plan to position the Commonwealth as the best state for business. These Councils convene leaders from across key industries to provide expert insight on public policy issues shaping Virginia’s future. The Foundation will present the next iteration, Blueprint Virginia 2035, to the Governor-Elect at the 2025 Virginia Economic Summit and Forum on International Trade on December 5. Learn more at https://vachamber.com/foundation/about-the-foundation/

About the Virginia Chamber of Commerce:

The Virginia Chamber of Commerce is the largest business advocacy organization in the Commonwealth, with more than 30,000 members. The Virginia Chamber is a non-partisan organization that champions the interests of the business community in the legislative, regulatory, and political arenas to serve as the catalyst for positive change in all areas of economic development and competitiveness for Virginia. Learn more at www.vachamber.com

About the Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS)

The Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS) is a state government agency with more than 50 locations across the Commonwealth of Virginia.  DVS traces its history to 1928 and the establishment of the Virginia War Service Bureau to assist Virginia’s World War I veterans.  Today, DVS assists veterans and their families in filing claims for federal veterans benefits; provides veterans and family members with linkages to services including behavioral health, housing, employment, education, and other programs. The agency operates long-term care facilities offering in-patient skilled nursing care, dementia/memory care, and short-term rehabilitation for veterans; and provides an honored final resting place for veterans and their families at three state veterans cemeteries. It 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.

About the Virginia Values Veterans (V3) Program 

More than 3,700 businesses, state and local government agencies, and educational institutions are part of the Virginia Values Veterans (V3) Program. These employers have hired more than 171,000 veterans and military spouses since the program’s inception in 2013. Part of the Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS), 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.

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