DAV Patriot Employers help veterans thrive beyond the hiring process

When transitioning out of the Air Force in 2015, Adam Cassidy thought he was ahead of the curve by sending over 175 applications to different employers. He only received about a dozen responses.

Cassidy’s struggle was one that many veterans face: breaking through the noise of the job market while balancing the transition into a new chapter of life.

After some trial and error, Cassidy landed a job at logistics and trucking company Werner Enterprises as a safety manager. When he learned of the company’s veterans program, he knew immediately that he wanted to get involved.

He started by offering to review veterans’ resumes for Werner’s hiring team. He knew that without someone capable of translating military skills, valuable experience could get buried at the bottom of the resume pile. For example, a military occupation title and description rarely cover the range of responsibilities that a veteran has likely acquired in that position. Many veterans also bring qualities like dedication and reliability to the workplace, but those “soft skills” may not appear on a resume.

This past August, Werner Enterprises was recognized as DAV’s Large Patriot Employer of the Year for its demonstrated excellence and dedication to the military and veteran community through its hiring, onboarding and retention practices.

“I love being in the service of others,” said Cassidy, who became a DAV life member in 2023. “That’s what drew me to the military. I tell our drivers that transportation is another way to serve. Less gunfire but the same principle—it’s about safely accomplishing the mission.”

Now, in addition to his role as director of safety, Cassidy helps chair the Werner Enterprises Veterans (WEVets) group. Based in Omaha, Nebraska, where Werner is headquartered, the fast-growing group is made up of over 300 members who help the company’s veterans capitalize on networking opportunities, develop in their careers and serve communities.

“Every year, we highlight employers who make a difference by hiring from the veteran community through our Patriot Employer Program,” said DAV National Employment Director Jeremy Yost, a Marine veteran. “But the consideration goes beyond just hiring veterans and military spouses. We want to recognize and assist employers who help them grow and thrive in their careers long-term.

“As our 2025 Large Patriot Employer of the Year, Werner is a great example of how to build veteran support systems into multiple areas of the business.”

Evaluation criteria for the Patriot Employer Awards include the strength of the company’s veteran recruiting and hiring efforts; retention and career-building efforts; policies supporting active-duty, disabled and veteran employees; and community outreach initiatives to support all veterans in communities where the business operates.

According to Yost, all companies that can demonstrate their support in these areas deserve a spotlight, but smaller businesses don’t always receive as much recognition for their hard work. With categories for small, midsize and large companies, the DAV Patriot Employer Program ensures equal appreciation and promotion across the board.

Along with Werner Enterprises, in 2025 DAV awarded NTT Global Data Centers Americas Inc. as the midsize employer and Artemis ARC as the small employer.

“Supporting veterans isn’t just something we do,” said Artemis ARC CEO Luke Sturges, who is a service-disabled Army veteran. “It’s something we deeply believe in. We know that veterans bring incredible talent, resilience and leadership to everything they do. We’ve seen firsthand how their experience strengthens teams and drives impact.”

“Since 2021, DAV’s Patriot Employer Awards have boosted awareness for the winning organizations within the military community,” Yost said. “But along with that audience, we hope other companies are watching and learning from the winners. We want them to borrow ideas and expand their own veteran and military support programs. And then we want to highlight them, too. It’s a win on all sides.”

While there are three award winners, all nominated employers who meet the eligibility requirements will be recognized as DAV Patriot Employers and receive a digital badge to display on their website.

Cassidy’s career at Werner shows that veteran success often happens when strong programs are met with individual action. While company policies lay the foundation, real impact comes from the everyday actions of employees who choose to support their veteran colleagues.

What makes a DAV Patriot Employer?

DAV Patriot Employers are committed to building intentional hiring practices that bring veterans, military spouses and other members of the military community into the fold through multiple access points. Here are some examples of how that may look, based on our 2025 winners:

Large employer hiring practices:

• Organizational commitment to hiring from the military community
• Multiple career pathways with dedicated training programs
• Military skills test waivers
• Apprenticeship programs for specific roles
• Partnerships for more exposure to the military community

Midsize employer hiring practices:

• Focus on sourcing, hiring and retaining veteran employees
• Partnerships for more exposure to the military community
• A committee to review military and veteran resumes

Small employer hiring practices:

• Annual veteran hiring goals and prioritization
• Veterans on the recruiting team
• Transition-related training opportunities
• Partnerships for more exposure to the military community

DAV Patriot Employers support their military employees throughout their career with targeted resources and opportunities. Here are some examples of that workplace support from our 2025 winners:

Large employer workplace support:

• Clear, structured career paths within the organization
• A veteran resource group that offers community, support and camaraderie
• Opportunities to build leadership and professional skills through mentorship and networking
• Veteran-focused volunteer events

Midsize employer workplace support:

• A veteran resource group introduced during onboarding
• Mentorship for veterans in their first civilian role
• Veteran culture strengthened through monthly meetings and regional events

Small employer workplace support:

• Flexible work arrangements to accommodate military service
• Training opportunities for professional certificates and core industry skills
• Mentorship with a senior leader for guidance, direction and tailored support
• A structured performance assessment process with clearly defined competencies
• Regular checkpoints throughout the year to support career growth