A Gala of Gratitude: Honoring the 2025 Champions of Military Community Employment
The 15th Annual Lee Anderson Hiring Our Heroes Awards Gala, presented by Deloitte, honored the organizations and individuals whose unwavering commitment empowers transitioning service members, military spouses, veterans, and caregivers to build meaningful careers and brighter futures.
“Thank you for your commitment to our country, to the men and women who serve our country, to the military families who support these service members, and to the Hiring Our Heroes mission,” said Eric Eversole, president of Hiring Our Heroes. “We couldn’t do what we do but for your tremendous support. We are honored to call you family members in this critical mission of helping our service members and their families find meaningful work and purpose in their lives.”
Celebrating a Lifetime of Advocacy
This year, the President’s Award for Lifetime Achievement was presented to Wayne Peacock. During a distinguished 36-year career at USAA, including five years as president and CEO, Peacock guided USAA’s efforts to champion veteran and military spouse employment, advance legislation to improve professional license portability for military spouses, advocate for military families, and spearhead Face the Fight, a coalition to help end veteran suicide.
Under Peacock’s leadership, USAA’s philanthropic giving reached $50 million annually to support the wellbeing, economic mobility, and basic needs of military families. His unwavering dedication to the military-connected community has made a positive impact on countless lives.
During his acceptance remarks, Peacock encouraged the audience to go into the upcoming celebration of Veterans Day with a commitment towards action, not just gratitude.
“At this time of the year, we say, ‘please say thank you to a veteran,’” Peacock shared. “But I say please prioritize action to take advantage of [veterans’] talent and leadership that is so resonant in this community. Because it is a time not just to say thanks—it is a time for action.”
Recognizing Outstanding Contributions to the Military Community
The gala honored a number of organizations and individuals for their exceptional support of the military-connected community.
The Lee Anderson Veteran and Military Spouse Employment Award went to Werner Enterprises for their excellence in hiring and retaining military-connected community members. Werner Enterprises was selected from a group of finalists that included JPMorganChase and GE Aerospace.
Tiffany Daugherty from Johnson & Johnson was awarded the Colonel Michael Endres Leadership Award for Individual Excellence in Veteran and Military Spouse Employment in recognition of her significant impact on employment opportunities for veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses. Her fellow finalists were Gen Harrison-Doss from Visa and Rob Schroder from SteerBridge.
UnitedHealth Group received the Steve Robinson Post-9/11 Veteran Employment Award, distinguishing their sustained efforts to enhance employment opportunities for post-9/11 veterans and transitioning service members. They were joined in this category by finalists CSX and Zermount.
The Military Spouse Employment and Mentoring Award was awarded to Wells Fargo for their leadership and dedication to hiring and empowering military spouses. The other finalists were Booz Allen and UnitedHealth Group.
Lowe’s Foundation accepted the Military Community Nonprofit Leadership Award for their strong commitment to supporting veteran and military spouse employment and economic opportunity. The nonprofit finalists in this category were INvets and NextOp Veterans.
The 2025 Fellows Program Alumni Excellence Award was given to Mark McKiernan from First Command for his outstanding achievement in his profession, significant contributions to the military community, and strong commitment to Hiring Our Heroes’ values of service, leadership, and excellence after graduating from the HOH Fellows Program.
American Veterans Group received the Capital One Small Business Award for their work supporting veteran-focused nonprofits and connecting clients with military-connected talent through their innovative AVG Veteran Jobs Network.
A Standing Ovation
Each year, HOH proudly celebrates the remarkable achievements of those who uplift and empower the military-connected community.
To all the 2025 award winners and finalists: thank you for your leadership, passion, and steadfast commitment to building brighter futures through meaningful careers.
Remarks from Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. Dakota Meyer, USMCR, echoed the spirit of the evening–honoring those who transform service into opportunity and leadership into lasting impact. His words served as a powerful reminder of why Hiring Our Heroes celebrates these changemakers.
“You’re the bridge between sacrifice and opportunity, between service and stability, between the end of a mission and the start of a new one,” he said. “You’re proving that service doesn’t end with the uniform—it evolves through opportunity. You’re proving that service can live in the boardrooms, classrooms, job sites, and small businesses. You’re proving that when veterans succeed, America will win.”
