WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - Jonathan "JD" Due spent 20 years leading soldiers in the U.S. Army before discovering his next mission: helping fellow veterans navigate the complex transition from military service to civilian leadership roles.
Due's journey from active duty to executive director of the Center for Military Transition at William & Mary's Raymond A. Mason School of Business exemplifies a growing trend of veterans leveraging their military experience to drive community change and support other service members.
The transition from military to civilian life presents significant challenges for the nation's veterans, but a new generation of veteran leaders is emerging to bridge these gaps through innovative programs, community outreach, and policy initiatives. From Montana reservations to Virginia business schools, veterans are transforming their service experience into platforms for community leadership, creating ripple effects that extend far beyond individual success stories.
Academic Excellence Drives Veteran Leadership Development
Due's recognition as a Hoover Institution Veteran Fellow for 2024-2025 highlights the caliber of veteran leadership emerging from academic programs. The fellowship program brought together ten exceptional veterans from across U.S. military branches to focus on pressing policy challenges and create meaningful change in their communities.
At William & Mary, the Center for Military Transition is positioning itself as a national leader in helping veterans transition into high-level civilian management positions. The program addresses what administrators identify as common challenges: gaps in confidence, information, and creativity that transitioning service members often experience.
"The CMT is developing programs to mitigate the challenges faced by transitioning service members," according to the school's description of its mission. The center leverages the university's location, reputation, and extensive connections with military leaders and corporations to create opportunities that connect veterans' unique experience with world-class education.
The Pat Tillman Foundation represents another avenue for veteran leadership development, identifying remarkable service members, veterans, and military spouses and empowering them with academic scholarships and lifelong leadership development. The foundation selects up to 60 Tillman Scholars annually from thousands of applicants, creating a network of nearly 1,000 scholars committed to strengthening communities.
Workforce Development Programs Deliver Measurable Results
Texas demonstrates the tangible impact of veteran-focused workforce development through its statewide initiatives. The West Texas District Workforce Solution Centers received the prestigious Mark Sanders Award for Exceptional Service to Veterans from the National Association of State Workforce Agencies in 2024.
The Texas centers' success stems from strategic initiatives and innovative outreach efforts that produced concrete results. Through major hiring events "March to Success" and "Salute to September," more than 450 veterans and reservists connected with nearly 100 employers. Additionally, the centers conducted 18 Off-Base Transition Training workshops in El Paso alone.
These workforce solution centers span nine locations across West Texas, including Abilene, Amarillo, El Paso, Fort Bliss, Lubbock, Midland, Odessa, San Angelo, and Wichita Falls. The Texas Veterans Commission nominated the centers for the national award, recognizing their partnership with the Texas Workforce Commission in administering the Jobs for Veterans State Grants program.
Community-Based Navigation Addresses Cultural Barriers
Eddie Foote's work as a Warrior Bridge Resource Navigator with Veterans Navigation Network demonstrates how veteran leaders address specific cultural and geographic barriers to successful transitions. A Northern Cheyenne and Nakota veteran from Montana, Foote travels across the state connecting Native veterans with vital resources, mentorship, and community support.
Foote's personal journey from addiction and incarceration to recovery and service illustrates the transformative potential of veteran peer support programs. He organizes resource fairs on reservations, mentors fellow veterans, and shares his own experience of sobriety and healing to reach underserved veteran populations.
The Veterans Navigation Network model recognizes that effective veteran support requires culturally competent approaches that acknowledge the unique challenges faced by different veteran communities. Foote's work specifically addresses the intersection of military service, Native American identity, and rural geographic isolation.
State-Level Leadership Drives Policy Innovation
Maryland's Department of Veterans and Military Families exemplifies how veteran leaders translate military experience into government service that benefits entire veteran populations. Secretary Tony Woods reshaped the department with what Governor Wes Moore described as "heart, vision, and an unwavering commitment to veterans, military families, caregivers, and survivors".
Woods' leadership delivered measurable improvements in veteran services, including enhanced care at Charlotte Hall Veterans Home and reduced appointment wait times at the department's benefits service offices. His successor, Deputy Secretary Ross Cohen, brings experience from Blue Star Families and Hiring Our Heroes, demonstrating the interconnected nature of veteran support organizations.
Maine's Bureau of Veterans' Services takes a comprehensive approach to veteran support, recognizing that transition challenges persist long after military separation. The bureau positions itself as a one-stop resource for veterans, family members, and currently serving personnel, acknowledging that over 300,000 Mainers have been affected by military service.
Local Recognition Reinforces Community Integration
Municipal governments increasingly recognize veteran contributions to community leadership through formal recognition programs. The Town of Smithtown, New York, hosted a ceremony at Town Hall to honor six outstanding U.S. veterans for their service to the nation and continued community contributions.
Supervisor Ed Wehrheim led the May 28, 2025 ceremony, which marked the beginning of what officials described as a meaningful new tradition dedicated to recognizing veterans' courage, sacrifice, and ongoing leadership. These local recognition programs reinforce the connection between military service and civilian community engagement.
Building Sustainable Networks for Long-Term Impact
The emergence of veteran community leaders reflects a systematic approach to leveraging military experience for civilian benefit. Programs like the Pat Tillman Foundation create lasting networks where scholars "carry forward Pat's legacy and are making an impact with effects that will ripple outwards for years to come".
These leaders share common characteristics identified by the Tillman Foundation: they have served their country and believe their best years of service lie ahead, demonstrating commitment to strengthening communities at home and around the world. The foundation selects scholars based on core values of service beyond self, both in and out of uniform.
The transition from military service to community leadership represents more than individual career changes. Veterans like Due, Foote, Woods, and Cohen are creating institutional frameworks and support systems that will benefit future generations of service members. Their work addresses immediate transition challenges while building sustainable networks for long-term veteran success and community benefit.
Through academic programs, workforce development initiatives, culturally specific support services, and policy innovation, these veteran leaders demonstrate that military experience provides a foundation for civilian leadership that strengthens entire communities. Their success creates pathways for other veterans while addressing broader social challenges through service-oriented approaches developed during military careers.