Joining Forces and Transportation Sector Leaders Convene around Veteran Hiring

Secretary Foxx with Marine Corps veteran Steven Speduto at the Joining Forces event on Veteran Hiring in Transportation, where Steven introduced Secretary Foxx to a convening of transportation industry and labor leaders.

In his 2015 State of the Union address on Tuesday, President Obama said, "If you want somebody who’s going to get the job done -- and done right -- hire a veteran."

On Thursday, Joining Forces and Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx carried that message forward by inviting leaders from across the transportation sector to the White House. They brought together representatives from the federal government, public transportation, labor unions, and private companies. During the event, these industry leaders shared stories about how veterans were successful additions to their workforce.

The Director of Recruitment for YRC Freight, the General Manager and Rail and Transit Administrator for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, the Executive Vice President of Amtrak, the President of American Waterways Operators, and the President of the Associated General Contractors of America led the discussion and were unanimous in their praise for their veteran employees’ contributions to their companies’ operations and culture.

Marine Corps veteran Steve Speduto embodied the great contributions many veterans are making for these companies and in our workforce. Steve was recruited and hired by UPS, where he quickly rose to the rank of store manager less than ten months after leaving active duty.

The event further highlighted the broad range of federal resources available to employers from the Departments of Defense, Labor, and Veterans Affairs to help ease the transition for veterans into the workforce. These employer resources can help increase access to job-seeking veterans, open apprenticeships to veterans, and translate veterans skills for the workforce.

Secretary Foxx highlighted the strengths that veterans have to offer the transportation sector, explaining that not only do veterans bring technical aptitude, they bring a culture of leadership, safety, and accountability that is key to a safe and efficient transportation system.

By joining forces, we can empower local communities to hire their veterans and benefit from the skills and leadership they bring to the table. To learn more about the how to support our veterans and military families, visit us at WhiteHouse.gov/JoiningForces. To learn more about the Department of Labor’s resources for veterans, visit http://www.dol.gov/vets/.