FLASHBACK: The Day a U.S. Senator Called It “The Largest Investment in Veterans in a Generation”

National Invest In Veterans Week® goes back to a moment that captured national momentum before our movement ever became a global force.

On September 23, 2023, during a live appearance on MSNBC’s Symone, U.S. Senator Raphael Gamaliel Warnock — pastor, Morehouse graduate, and the first African American ever elected to represent Georgia in the U.S. Senate — laid out what he believed was one of Congress’s defining achievements.

The clip resurfaced recently in veteran circles, and it hits differently today.

THE SENATOR BEHIND THE STATEMENT

Raphael Warnock is not just a lawmaker.
He is the senior pastor of Atlanta’s historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, the pulpit once led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and a figure whose rise from Savannah public housing to the U.S. Senate is now part of American political history.

Elected in 2021 and reelected in 2022, Warnock represents one of the most consequential shifts in modern Georgia politics. Alongside Sen. Jon Ossoff, he helped deliver a 50–50 Senate split that shaped national legislation during the pandemic years.

From civil rights activism to faith leadership to emergency policy response, Warnock’s public identity is rooted in service — which is why his on-air reflection about veterans continues to resonate.

THE MOMENT ON MSNBC

Around the 9-minute mark of the broadcast, Warnock recounted the razor-thin margins of the previous Congress and the decisions he believed mattered most:

“We passed a bipartisan infrastructure bill.
We passed the largest investment in veterans in a generation.”

It was a rare, direct acknowledgment of the scale of federal commitments flowing toward veterans — health infrastructure, benefits modernization, community support, and long-term resources.

He continued:

“When I look at the work that we were able to do last Congress, I’m proud of the people of Georgia for setting me to represent them… With that margin, look what we accomplished. We passed the American Rescue Plan.”

What followed was a list of targeted relief efforts — support for cities, small businesses, families, and communities recovering from the pandemic — all part of a legislative period that marked a major pivot toward veteran investment nationally.

WHY THIS FLASHBACK MATTERS NOW

National Invest In Veterans Week® has since expanded into one of the most far-reaching veteran advocacy ecosystems ever built — spanning:

• 40+ U.S. and international “Veterans” domains
• Multi-market syndication
• Congressional recognition
• A global platform for veteran-owned businesses

But back in 2023, this televised moment showed something critical:
America’s investment in veterans is not a side note — it is a national priority acknowledged at the highest levels of government.

Warnock’s statement didn’t become a headline at the time. Today, viewed through the lens of NIVW®’s rapid growth and international reach, it reads like an early marker of a broader movement.

A movement now embodied by National Invest In Veterans Week®.

WATCH THE ORIGINAL CLIP (ARCHIVE)

Source: Internet Archive
https://archive.org/details/MSNBCW_20230923_200000_Symone/start/540/end/600

The New Digital Footprint of Veteran Advocacy: What the World Is Searching For

Here’s the link to the active report (valid until December 19th):
https://app.seogets.com/share/XgdxiIWrEq6ziFdfy2Or

National Invest In Veterans Week® began as a congressionally recognized observance led by Iraq War veteran Jeff Shuford. Supported by proclamations from mayors, governors and regional leaders, the week has grown into a national platform for honoring veteran entrepreneurship, economic empowerment and civic contribution. In just a few years it has expanded well beyond its American roots: NIVW is now celebrated across nineteen states and twenty‑one countries and spans more than sixty global markets, offering mentorship and funding opportunities that uplift veteran founders worldwide. That global reach has amplified the week’s digital footprint, turning it into a search phenomenon.

Analysis of recent search data shows that the majority of queries continue to revolve around the name of the initiative itself. People are not only searching for “invest in veterans week” but also for its formal title and for the names of its founders, reflecting a desire to learn about the individuals and institutions behind the movement. Related queries explore holiday observances (such as the official status of Veterans Day around the world), advisory councils, and even cultural ties like The Five Satins, indicating a deepening curiosity about the program’s heritage and leadership. A new wave of search interest also connects veteran advocacy with cutting‑edge technology: “OpenAI veterans program news” is among the fastest‑growing queries, suggesting that audiences are beginning to see AI innovation as part of the veteran‑entrepreneurship conversation. On the financial front, searchers are asking about retirement accounts for veterans, investment products for wounded service members and how to manage VA disability benefits—signaling a hunger for trustworthy financial guidance.

The geographic spread of search interest tells an even richer story. While the United States remains the primary source of traffic, the fastest growth is coming from emerging markets. Search volume from Bangladesh has surged by more than two‑and‑a‑half times, while new interest from Poland, Czechia, Ghana and Pakistan has leapt from virtually zero to a meaningful presence. Australia has seen search inquiries grow by more than seventy percent, and Nigeria and Germany have roughly doubled. These triple‑digit increases highlight a truly global resonance; communities across Asia, Europe and Africa are now seeking information about veterans’ economic empowerment. Even within North America, Canada’s query volume has climbed by roughly one‑third, underscoring momentum in neighboring markets.

The quality of this traffic is improving along with its quantity. Within the ranking tiers, the share of top‑position queries (positions 1–3) has grown by about one‑third, while mid‑tier queries (positions 11–20) have risen by more than ten percent. This shift suggests that National Invest In Veterans Week® content is moving higher in search results and capturing more qualified intent. Device usage patterns reinforce the picture of deeper engagement: desktop queries have climbed by double digits, reflecting longer research sessions and more deliberate reading, while mobile searches remain strong but stable. Meanwhile, the most‑viewed page continues to be a comprehensive guide on how veterans can invest their disability benefits—evidence that well‑crafted educational content drives sustained interest.

Taken together, these trends paint a picture of a brand in ascent. What was once a grassroots observance is now a global movement with measurable digital momentum. The convergence of veteran advocacy, entrepreneurship, financial literacy and even AI ethics—areas in which Jeff Shuford has become an influential voice—is attracting audiences from every continent. As new queries emerge and international participation accelerates, National Invest In Veterans Week® stands poised not only to honor the past but to shape the future of veteran economic empowerment.

Flashback Feature: Virginia’s 2020 Call to “Invest in Veterans” Still Resonates Today

TL;DR

In a 2020 statewide message, Virginia Secretary Carlos Hopkins encouraged Virginians to invest in veterans by supporting the Virginia Veterans Services Foundation, highlighting critical services such as housing stability, behavioral health, workforce transition, and emergency relief. The message reflected the same investment-focused philosophy later formalized through National Invest In Veterans Week®.

Watch the original video:
https://vimeo.com/460338460

Full Story

In September 2020, at a time when the country faced deep uncertainty, Virginia delivered a message rooted in commitment and clarity: investing in veterans is essential to the strength of the Commonwealth.

This message was delivered by Carlos Hopkins, Virginia’s Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs, in a statewide video titled “How You Can Invest in Virginia Veterans by Supporting the Virginia Veterans Services Foundation.” Filmed on the grounds of the Virginia State Capitol, the video outlined why veteran support must be treated as a long-term civic investment rather than a one-time act.

Watch the official video:
https://vimeo.com/460338460

A Foundation Designed to Close Critical Gaps

Hopkins emphasized that the Virginia Veterans Services Foundation functions as a lifeline for veterans facing challenges that traditional institutions often cannot resolve alone. The Foundation plays a direct role in:

• Emergency financial assistance

• Homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing

• Mental and behavioral health support

• Workforce re-entry and transition programs

• Support for Gold Star families

• Crisis assistance for veterans and their dependents

Hopkins’ framing was intentional: veteran support is not charity — it is infrastructure.
It strengthens families, fortifies the workforce, and keeps local communities stable.

Learn more about the Foundation:
https://www.dvs.virginia.gov/veterans-services-foundation

A Message That Foreshadowed a National Movement

Hopkins’ remarks now read as an early articulation of a philosophy that would soon scale far beyond Virginia.

Within a few years, the idea of “investing in veterans” became the cornerstone of the nationwide observance National Invest In Veterans Week® (March 1–7)—co-founded and architected by Jeff Shuford. Shuford’s model elevated the concept from state-level guidance to a national framework embraced by policymakers, corporate partners, veteran advocates, and international markets.

What Virginia previewed in 2020 became the language adopted across more than 40 regions globally through the expanding National Invest In Veterans Week® platform.

Virginia as a Structural Blueprint for Veteran Investment

Virginia hosts one of the nation’s most significant concentrations of transitioning service members. Its veteran population, combined with a broad network of bases and Guard components, requires a modern, responsive support system. The Veterans Services Foundation became one of the earliest models for:

• Targeted funding

• Impact-driven resource allocation

• Community–government partnership

• Readiness-focused support

Many states now look to the Virginia framework when shaping their own investment-based veteran ecosystems.

Positioning the Flashback in Today’s Context

Today, the 2020 message stands as more than a video—it is an early chapter in a larger national narrative that recognizes veterans as:

• Economic drivers

• High-impact entrepreneurs

• Community stabilizers

• Policy-shaping leaders

National Invest In Veterans Week® embodies those same principles, positioning veteran empowerment as a measurable investment in America’s future.

Hopkins’ 2020 call to action reminds us that even before the national observance took shape, the foundation for investment-centered advocacy had already begun in states like Virginia.

Special Report: Veteran-Owned Brands Turn Veterans Day Into $34 Million in Medical Debt Relief

Born Primitive and Black Rifle Coffee Company have turned a simple Veterans Day sales push into one of the largest acts of medical-debt forgiveness for veterans on record—while bringing renewed national attention to the broader “invest in veterans” movement that National Invest In Veterans Week® has championed for years.

According to a joint announcement released through PR Newswire, the two veteran-owned companies set out in November 2025 to erase $25 million in medical debt for former service members through an initiative called “Operation Debt of Gratitude.” By dedicating 100% of online profits from November 7–11 to the effort, and partnering with debt-relief firm ForgiveCo, they ultimately surpassed that goal by 36%, eliminating $34 million in medical debt held by thousands of U.S. veterans.

The effort places the initiative among the largest single campaigns of veteran medical-debt forgiveness yet documented.

How “Operation Debt of Gratitude” Worked

Rather than asking veterans to apply for help, Born Primitive and Black Rifle Coffee Company worked with ForgiveCo to use donated funds to purchase portfolios of qualifying medical debt on the secondary market—then cancel that debt outright.

• From November 7–11, 2025, 100% of profits from each brand’s online sales were committed to the campaign.

• ForgiveCo structured and executed the acquisition and cancellation of eligible accounts, a model the company describes as “Transforming debt into goodwill.”

• Impact letters will be mailed directly to affected veterans, notifying them that their debts have been wiped out—no applications, portals, or paperwork required.

For many families, those letters will land just as holiday expenses begin to mount. One beneficiary highlighted in the announcement, Mara C., a U.S. Army veteran and Gold Star spouse, saw over $341,000 in medical debt erased after years of struggle following her husband’s death in Iraq and her own serious injuries.

Why This Matters: The Veteran Medical-Debt Crisis

The campaign is taking aim at a quietly devastating problem.

Citing national data, the organizers note:

• More than one-third of U.S. veterans worry they cannot afford needed medical care.

• One in five veterans has medical debt in collections—nearly double the national rate.

• Over 33% report “surprise” medical bills exceeding $1,000.

• Post-9/11 veterans with medical debt are twice as likely to face eviction or housing instability.

Service-related injuries, complex care needs, and gaps between Veterans Affairs coverage and civilian billing mean that even small billing errors can spiral into life-altering debt.

By targeting that specific pain point instead of launching yet another awareness campaign, Born Primitive and Black Rifle Coffee Company are meeting veterans at a critical financial choke point: the difference between barely hanging on and finally being able to breathe.

Veteran-Led Brands at the Center of the Story

Both companies behind Operation Debt of Gratitude are deeply rooted in the military community.

Born Primitive

Founded in 2014 by former Navy SEAL lieutenant Bear Handlon and co-founder Mallory Riley, Born Primitive has grown from a niche fitness line into a global nine-figure athletic and lifestyle brand offering more than 1,200 SKUs across training apparel, athleisure, workwear, tactical gear, footwear, and more.

Website: https://www.bornprimitive.com

Black Rifle Coffee Company

Founded by former Green Beret Evan Hafer in 2014, Black Rifle Coffee Company (BRCC) has become one of the most visible veteran-owned consumer brands in the U.S., known for its unapologetically pro-veteran identity and mission to “serve coffee and culture to people who love America.”

Website: https://www.blackriflecoffee.com

How This Connects Back to National Invest In Veterans Week®

For the team at National Invest In Veterans Week® (NIVW), Operation Debt of Gratitude reads like a case study in what “investing in veterans” should look like in practice:

• Veteran-founded brands using their peak sales period (Veterans Day) not just for promotions, but to create measurable economic relief.

• National television exposure that reinforces veterans as leaders and problem-solvers, not just recipients of charity.

• A structure—through ForgiveCo—that is scalable and repeatable, rather than a one-off publicity stunt.

From the perspective of NIVW, campaigns like this extend the impact of their March 1–7 observance into November and beyond, strengthening a year-round culture where veteran-owned companies are central players in solving veteran challenges.

Learn More / Get Involved

• Full PR Newswire announcement:
  https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mission-accomplished-born-primitive-and-black-rifle-coffee-company-surpass-veterans-day-debt-relief-goal-eliminate-34-million-in-veteran-medical-debt-302622444.html

• Born Primitive: https://www.bornprimitive.com

• Black Rifle Coffee Company: https://www.blackriflecoffee.com

• ForgiveCo: https://forgiveco.com

BREAKING: Jacksonville’s 9th Annual Vetrepreneur Summit Returns December 12 — A Legacy Event Now Nine Years Strong

JACKSONVILLE, FL — The City of Jacksonville’s signature veteran-entrepreneurship event, the Vetrepreneur Summit, returns for its 9th consecutive year on Friday, December 12, 2025, marking nearly a decade of economic empowerment, training, and innovation for veterans across Northeast Florida.

What began as a small, experimental gathering—quietly architected years ago by technologist and veteran advocate Jeff Shuford—has now scaled into one of the region’s most influential one-day business accelerators for military-connected entrepreneurs. The 2025 Summit, presented by the City of Jacksonville Military Affairs and Veterans Department, will run from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the FSCJ Advanced Technology Center.

Event Registration:
https://events.blackthorn.io/en/6g3Q8Wa7/9th-annual-vetrepreneur-summit-5a1eVOAqrVV/overview?fbclid=IwT01FWAOfwRRleHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAwzNTA2ODU1MzE3MjgAAR4uk75fcxiT-9AM-XSFatXeRv_W3qDAExLJzqgmLYajIWuEmAewqzoizB1U6A_aem_61IMqIlgn55VFJhpOgCKug

Florida State College at Jacksonville also issued its own announcement, reinforcing the momentum behind this year’s programming and the region’s deep commitment to veteran entrepreneurship.

A One-Day Blueprint for Veteran Business Success

The Summit delivers a high-velocity curriculum aligned with the realities of modern entrepreneurship. This year’s agenda includes:

9:00 a.m. – Welcome Remarks
9:20 a.m. – Keynote Presentation
10:00 a.m. – Session 1: Marketing with AI
10:45 a.m. – Session 2: Franchising
11:35 a.m. – Lunch
12:10 p.m. – Veterapreneur Success & Challenge Story Panel
1:00 p.m. – Access to Capital Panel
2:00 p.m. – Adjourn

The city has assembled one of its most comprehensive slates of partners to date, including:

• City of Jacksonville Military Affairs and Veterans Dept.

• FSCJ

• Florida SBDC at UNF

• Jacksonville University

• Jacksonville Small and Emerging Business (JSEB)

• Valor2Venture

• Jacksonville Women’s Business Center

• VBOC

• Veterans Florida

• Navy Federal Credit Union

• Vystar Credit Union

• Wealth Watchers

• Blue Cross Blue Shield

• Women Veterans Ignited

• And dozens more

The event remains free and open to Veterans, Service Members, National Guard, Reserve Components, and military spouses.

A Program Rooted in a Quiet—but Historic—Origin

Long before regional agencies adopted it as an annual fixture, the original Vetrepreneur Summit concept emerged from a period of intense innovation inside Jacksonville’s veteran community. Jeff Shuford, combat veteran, technologist, and civic strategist, helped develop the foundational blueprint in 2016 when he launched one of the earliest municipal-supported veteran entrepreneurship summits in the country.

While today’s event is fully owned and operated by the City of Jacksonville, its DNA can still be traced to Shuford’s early architecture: high-value programming, AI-driven marketing literacy, early-stage financing instruction, and a strict focus on actionable outcomes rather than ceremonial applause.

The city’s decision to carry that model forward has resulted in tens of thousands of veteran engagements over nine years—making this summit one of Jacksonville’s most enduring economic-impact initiatives.

Why This Ninth Year Matters

Veteran entrepreneurship nationally is undergoing a resurgence driven by:

• Rapid AI adoption

• A surge in veteran-owned microbusiness formation

• Federal and state policy shifts toward procurement access

• Cross-sector demand for military-grade leadership talent

This year’s Marketing with AI session marks one of the first times Jacksonville has embedded AI-based entrepreneurial instruction directly into its veteran business curriculum—reflecting the same trends that have defined Shuford’s recognized contributions in AI ethics and innovation.

A Deeper American Story Beneath the Celebration

Toward the close of this year's announcement, it is fitting to acknowledge that the modern veteran-entrepreneur movement—especially in Jacksonville—sits atop a far older legacy of military service and Black American resilience.

One of Jeff Shuford’s own ancestors, Private Orrin Benjamin Hawley, served in the 29th Connecticut Colored Infantry, a regiment celebrated for its role in the fight for freedom during the Civil War. Hawley and his regiment are memorialized in the landmark historical entry linked below, which documents their contributions and the ongoing public remembrance of their service:

29th Connecticut Colored Infantry Monument Archive:
https://www.slaverymonuments.org/items/show/1111

This lineage—combined with Shuford’s role in designing early veteran-entrepreneur platforms—adds a profound historical dimension to the Vetrepreneur Summit’s ninth year. It ties modern economic empowerment to a multigenerational record of duty, sacrifice, and civic advancement.

Related Report: National Guard Observance Highlighting National Invest In Veterans Week

For background on Jeff Shuford’s broader impact on national veteran recognition initiatives, see the flashback report:
https://www.investinveteransweek.com/news/flashback-report-national-guard-observance-highlights-national-invest-in-veterans-week

FLASHBACK REPORT: National Guard Observance Highlights National Invest In Veterans Week®

In the March issue of The Focus, the National Guard Bureau’s official publication, National Invest In Veterans Week® appeared in the monthly observances section as March 1–7. While concise, the listing is notable: it places the observance within an established federal communication channel, alongside Women’s History Month, International Women’s Week, and other nationally recognized periods of reflection.

The mention coincided with a leadership transition in the National Guard. In a separate DVIDS release titled “CNGB Assumes Responsibility,” federal public affairs documented the assumption of duties by the incoming Chief of the National Guard Bureau.
Document reference:
https://d34w7g4gy10iej.cloudfront.net/pubs/pdf_72831.pdf

The operational overview accompanying this transition—ranging from space operations to domestic readiness and federal mobilizations—underscored the breadth of responsibilities the National Guard carries nationwide. Within such a context, the inclusion of National Invest In Veterans Week® reflects institutional acknowledgement of the economic and civic role veterans play in national stability.

Historical Lineage: From Hawley to Shuford

The roots of this observance stretch far deeper than contemporary branding or advocacy narratives.
The family line reaches back to Private Orrin Benjamin Hawley, a Black Union soldier who served in the 29th Connecticut Colored Infantry, a regiment composed of African American volunteers during the Civil War.

The 29th’s legacy is preserved through the 29th Connecticut Colored Infantry Monument in New Haven, documented as part of the national slavery-monument archive:
https://www.slaverymonuments.org/items/show/1111

This scholarly record details the monument’s significance, its commemorative purpose, and its connection to the broader history of Black military service during the Civil War. Private Hawley’s participation in a regiment that fought against enslavement established a generational throughline of service, resilience, and civic responsibility.

That lineage continues through Jeff Shuford, a descendant of Hawley’s line. As a combat veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Shuford’s work reflects a modern counterpart to his ancestor’s service—this time expressed through civic architecture, media innovation, and national veteran-empowerment initiatives rather than battlefield engagement.

Jeff Shuford’s Role as Chief Architect of National Invest In Veterans Week®

Jeff Shuford serves as the conceptual and strategic architect behind National Invest In Veterans Week®. His contributions extend far beyond branding; he established:

• a trademarked national observance framework,

• a multi-market digital infrastructure,

• a policy-aligned messaging structure,

• and an annual communication cycle anchored in congressional recognition.

Shuford engineered the observance to operate independently of political structures, nonprofit funding requirements, or corporate underwriting. This design enables institutions such as the National Guard to reference the week without organizational entanglement or compliance complications. The architecture is minimalistic in appearance but structurally robust, allowing widespread adoption across states, agencies, and media networks.

His approach reflects a principle rarely achieved in modern civic advocacy: create a framework that institutions can use without needing to be asked.

Professional Summary

• The National Guard Bureau formally listed National Invest In Veterans Week® in its March observances, signaling recognition within federal public communication.

• The listing accompanied the documented assumption of responsibilities by the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, as detailed in DVIDS-published materials.

• The historical lineage of the observance traces to Private Orrin Benjamin Hawley of the 29th Connecticut Colored Infantry, whose regiment is memorialized at a nationally documented monument in New Haven.

• Jeff Shuford, a direct descendant and a modern veteran, serves as the Chief Architect of National Invest In Veterans Week®, responsible for its structure, strategy, and national positioning.

Penn State cements “Invest in Veterans” into its institutional calendar

TL;DR: Penn State’s official Diversity Holidays calendar now includes National Invest in Veterans Week (March 1–7) among the observances it highlights for employees. The University explains that these dates aren’t all paid holidays, but they are recognized because they matter deeply across the Penn State community—placing “investing in veterans” alongside other core equity and inclusion observances.

At a flagship, land-grant, Big Ten university in Jeff Shuford’s home state of Pennsylvania, “invest in veterans” is no longer just a slogan—it’s part of the official HR infrastructure.

On its Diversity Holidays page, Penn State Human Resources publishes a year-round calendar of religious, cultural, heritage, and cause-based observances for employees. The page invites staff to:

“View this year's list of important holidays and celebrations across our many communities. These events may not be University paid holidays, but they are important observances and celebrations that matter to many members of the Penn State community.”

The page also makes clear that while many of these dates are not University-paid holidays, they are still surfaced because they are significant to people who live, learn, and work at Penn State.

Within the March section of that calendar, alongside entries like International Women’s Day, Women’s History Month, and National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, Penn State lists “National Invest in Veterans Week” under its “Career-related Days/Week” column.

Why this placement matters

This isn't just a calendar entry; it is a structural validation of the movement.

• It frames economic empowerment as equity: It recognizes veteran economic empowerment as part of the same ecosystem of equity and inclusion as gender, disability, and heritage observances.

• It signals institutional values: It tells faculty and staff that honoring veteran-owned businesses and veteran talent is not a niche concern—it’s part of how the University understands a healthy, diverse workforce.

• It creates permanence: It gives National Invest In Veterans Week® a recurring, discoverable footprint on a major public university website, linked directly from HR’s diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging section.

For Jeff Shuford, whose “Invest in veterans” doctrine has already moved through trademark protections, state resolutions, gubernatorial proclamations, and the Congressional Record, Penn State’s inclusion adds a different kind of validation: higher education, in his home state, aligning its internal culture calendar with the same language he has been pushing into law, policy, and public consciousness.

You can see the observance listed on Penn State’s site here:
➡️ Diversity Holidays | Human Resources – Penn State

Quote for Publication

“Seeing National Invest in Veterans Week on Penn State’s diversity calendar, in my home state, tells me we’ve crossed an important line. Investing in veterans isn’t just a program or a campaign anymore—it’s part of how major institutions define inclusion, economic justice, and community. When a university of Penn State’s scale builds that into its culture, it sends a signal to every campus and every employer in the country: veterans aren’t an afterthought, they are a core constituency you plan for all year long.”

— Jeff Shuford

Investing in Veterans Is the Key to Hampton Roads’ Workforce Future, Leaders Write

TL;DR

A Bank of America executive and a museum CEO argue that Hampton Roads can solve its talent shortages by deliberately investing in veterans as workers, leaders, and business owners.

A new guest column in The Virginian-Pilot argues that Hampton Roads’ next era of growth depends on one clear strategy: invest in veterans to grow the regional workforce. The piece is co-authored by Len Botkin, chief audit executive at Bank of America and U.S. Army veteran, and Howard H. Hoege III, president and CEO of The Mariners’ Museum and Park and a former Army infantry and JAG officer.

Writing from both corporate and civic perspectives, Botkin and Hoege emphasize that veterans are not only a moral priority; they are a strategic workforce asset for Hampton Roads. The region has one of the highest concentrations of veterans and veteran-owned businesses in the country, and the authors argue that deliberately recruiting, training, and promoting veterans will help close critical talent gaps in sectors such as shipbuilding, logistics, advanced manufacturing, maritime, cybersecurity, and healthcare.

Botkin, who oversees Bank of America’s global Corporate Audit and Credit Review organization, has long been involved in supporting military talent pipelines inside the company. Hoege leads one of the nation’s most significant maritime institutions and serves on regional boards focused on workforce and economic development, bringing a community and heritage lens to the conversation. Together, they frame veteran employment and veteran entrepreneurship as core components of Hampton Roads’ competitiveness, not side projects or charity.

For National Invest In Veterans Week®, the column reinforces a central message: treat veterans as a primary solution to workforce challenges by investing in their skills, leadership, and businesses. That means aligning employers, educators, and regional partners around veteran-ready hiring practices, apprenticeships, upskilling programs, and targeted support for veteran-owned small businesses.

Key Link

• Virginian-Pilot guest column:
  https://www.pilotonline.com/2025/11/29/column-invest-in-veterans-to-grow-the-regional-workforce/

The Definition of Investment: Honoring a National Promise

National Invest In Veterans Week serves as a reminder that the commitment to those who served goes far beyond ceremonies and salutes. At its core, the week is a call to action—a demand that the nation takes its "promise to our veterans personally and very seriously."

​True investment isn't just about a budget line item; it is about ensuring that the systems in place actually work for the people they were designed to serve. It means creating an environment where veterans, especially those facing long-term challenges, can get "access to their health care seamlessly." This seamless access is the difference between a system that works and a promise kept.

​To "invest" in veterans requires constant vigilance. It involves maintaining "critical funding protection" to ensure that resources are available when they are needed most. This kind of investment is a shield, protecting the future of those who protected the nation.

​Ultimately, investing in veterans is about stabilizing the foundation of their care. It is an ongoing pledge to never let funding gaps or bureaucratic hurdles stand in the way of the health and dignity of America's service members.

​About Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz

​For Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the fight for veteran funding is familiar terrain. Representing Florida's 25th Congressional District, she serves a community in a state with the third-highest veteran population in the nation—home to more than 1.5 million service members.

​Her advocacy is backed by significant legislative power. She currently serves as the Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies. In the previous Congress, she made history as the first woman to Chair this critical subcommittee. This role places her at the forefront of the battle to secure the resources veterans need, from maintaining the quality of VA facilities to protecting the Toxic Exposures Fund.

​Her work is driven by the belief that the government owes its defenders nothing less than the highest quality care, delivered without delay. Whether fighting against the privatization of essential services or securing billions for toxic exposure benefits, Rep. Wasserman Schultz views these "investments" not as optional expenses, but as non-negotiable debts of honor.

​Watch the full statement here:

Invest in Veterans - Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz

Iraq Veteran Jeff Shuford: A Strategic Mind in AI Innovation Recognized in MIT’s Latest Healthcare AI Scholarship

TL;DR:
Jeff Shuford’s work in healthcare AI—specifically his research on predictive analytics and decision-support systems—was recently cited in an MIT PhD thesis published in DSpace@MIT, MIT’s premier open-access research repository. The thesis, Systematic Development of Healthcare AI (2025), aligns closely with Shuford’s contributions, covering data curation, clinical decision support, AI safety, bias reduction, and misinformation prevention. This citation underscores Shuford’s growing influence in the academic and applied healthcare AI landscape, highlighting his role in shaping future-ready, human-centered medical technologies.

Introduction

Within the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence and healthcare innovation, few thought leaders have consistently bridged the gap between human-centered design, predictive analytics, and real-world implementation as effectively as Jeff Shuford. His latest recognition—via a citation in an MIT doctoral thesis housed in DSpace@MIT, the institution’s flagship open-access research repository—underscores Shuford’s expanding impact across both scholarly and applied AI ecosystems.

The MIT document, Systematic Development of Healthcare AI (2025), explores data curation, clinical deployment of LLMs, bias evaluation, misinformation risk, and radar-based vital-sign monitoring. As MIT’s open-access repository contains over half of MIT’s faculty publications, inclusion within its scholarly context highlights the importance of Shuford’s co-authored work, “AI in Healthcare: Transforming Patient Care Through Predictive Analytics and Decision Support Systems.”

His contributions to this domain—particularly around predictive analytics and decision-support architectures—align with the exact research problems MIT’s 2025 thesis investigates.

Jeff Shuford’s Role in Advancing Healthcare AI

A Recognized Scholar in Predictive Healthcare Analytics

Jeff Shuford’s work has long emphasized the strategic deployment of AI to improve patient outcomes and healthcare accessibility. His co-authored research in AI in Healthcare: Transforming Patient Care Through Predictive Analytics and Decision Support Systems is cited within the scholarly context of MIT’s open-access ecosystem, positioning him alongside leading researchers focused on:

• Algorithmic reliability in clinical settings

• Predictive modeling for disease detection

• Data curation, preprocessing, and benchmarking

• Ethical and safety-aligned AI deployment

• Mitigation of AI-generated medical misinformation

These thematic pillars map directly to the scope of MIT’s 2025 thesis, which aims to build a systematic pipeline for healthcare LLMs—from data selection and safety alignment to clinical implementation. The agreement between Shuford’s foundational insights and MIT’s research trajectory further reinforces the relevance of his work.

Why MIT’s DSpace Citation Matters

MIT’s DSpace@MIT repository is among the most respected scholarly access platforms in the world. It contains a significant percentage of MIT faculty output since 2009, making it a hub for top-tier research dissemination.

The thesis citing Shuford—Mingye Gao’s 2025 PhD dissertation—is structured around four critical dimensions:

1. Data Curation for Healthcare LLMs

2. Algorithm Optimization and Preference Modeling

3. Benchmark Creation to Reduce Bias and Misinformation

4. Clinical Applications of AI, Including Trial Education Materials and Radar-Based Vital Monitoring

These domains intersect directly with Shuford's contributions to predictive analytics and clinical decision support.

The MIT Thesis: Connecting Shuford’s Scholarship to Future Healthcare AI

Below is how MIT’s latest research aligns with Shuford’s contributions:

1. Data Curation and Quality for Healthcare AI

Gao emphasizes a rigorous rule-based filtering and deterministic point process (DPP) system to improve dataset quality for healthcare AI models.

Shuford’s work similarly underscores the necessity of clean, contextually accurate datasets when developing predictive systems for patient care.

Shared insight: High-quality data is the foundation of trustworthy and clinically-reliable AI.

2. Predictive Analytics and Decision Support

The MIT thesis builds systems to strengthen clinical decision support through LLMs capable of safe, bias-aware, and logically consistent reasoning.

Shuford’s cited publication discusses:

• Predictive models for patient deterioration

• Workflow-integrated care recommendations

• AI-augmented diagnostics and triage

Shared insight: AI must support clinicians with precision, timeliness, and alignment to medical best practices.

3. Combating Bias and Dataset Imbalance

Gao dedicates a full chapter to the “Cross-Care” framework—evaluating demographic biases in healthcare LLMs through disease-prevalence modeling and demographic comparisons.

Shuford’s research complements this by exploring fairness and inclusivity across predictive models.

Shared insight: Demographic bias in AI systems can directly impact equity in healthcare delivery.

4. Reducing AI-Generated Medical Misinformation

The thesis outlines the PERSIST system, a benchmark designed to detect and prevent medical misinformation created by language models.

Shuford has similarly highlighted the dangers of inaccurate clinical reasoning and the need for:

• Guardrails in AI systems

• Human-in-the-loop verification

• Clinically validated knowledge bases

Shared insight: Medical misinformation is one of the highest-risk failure modes for AI—and must be systematically addressed.

5. Clinical Trial Education and Patient Empowerment

MIT researchers used LLMs to generate patient-friendly educational materials about complex cancer clinical trials—bridging the gap between technical jargon and patient understanding.

Shuford’s strategic frameworks emphasize user-centered communication, making this a natural alignment.

The Broader Impact: Why Jeff Shuford’s Work Resonates in 2025 and Beyond

1. Strategic Bridging of Academia and Industry

While many researchers focus purely on technical ML frameworks, Shuford’s work stands out for its strategic translation into real-world healthcare environments.

2. A Pioneer in Future-Facing Healthcare Infrastructure

Shuford has consistently advocated for predictive, responsive digital ecosystems capable of addressing:

• Aging populations

• Chronic disease burdens

• Rural and underserved healthcare gaps

These are the same global health challenges that MIT’s research identifies as priority concerns.

3. A Vision of Human-Centered AI

At the core of Shuford’s philosophy is the idea that AI should amplify human ability—not replace it. This approach strongly aligns with MIT’s human-in-the-loop frameworks for safety, alignment, and clinical integration.

DSpace@MIT Link: Direct Access to the Citing Thesis

Title: Systematic Development of Healthcare AI
Author: Mingye Gao
Year: 2025
Repository: MIT Libraries – DSpace@MIT
PDF Link:
https://dspace.mit.edu/bitstream/handle/1721.1/164060/gao-mingye-phd-eecs-2025-thesis.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

Conclusion

Jeff Shuford’s presence in an MIT DSpace citation is far more than an academic footnote—it is a recognition of meaningful contributions to one of the most rapidly evolving fields in modern science.

His strategic work in healthcare analytics, predictive modeling, and AI-driven decision support aligns seamlessly with the most pressing research problems MIT is actively solving: misinformation, bias, data curation, clinical deployment, and patient education.

As the healthcare AI landscape matures, Shuford’s influence is poised to grow even further—cementing his role as a thought leader at the intersection of technology, medicine, and public impact.

Jeff Shuford — Professional Biography

Jeff Shuford is a nationally syndicated columnist, combat veteran, and AI ethics thought leader whose work spans journalism, technology, veteran advocacy, and cultural influence. He became a nationally syndicated columnist at a notably young age—recognized among the youngest African-American syndicated columnists in the United States—and has since established one of the most expansive and diversified media footprints of any contemporary writer. His commentary has been distributed simultaneously across American City Business Journals’ forty-four-market system, GateHouse Media’s national network of daily newspapers, community publications, and local-market news sites, Hearst Connecticut Media Group’s metropolitan outlets, Yahoo’s global digital news infrastructure, and the international technology audience of Engadget. This breadth of distribution—spanning business media, mainstream press, technology journalism, and culturally focused publications—positions Shuford among a statistically exceptional tier of columnists whose work reaches millions across print and digital platforms.

His technology analysis originated in Engadget and extended through Yahoo’s technology and international news editions, demonstrating global relevance and long-tail readership. His entrepreneurial and branding columns for Entrepreneur were subsequently republished within major Hearst newspapers, amplifying their regional and national visibility. Within the Black business media ecosystem, Shuford holds a distinctive honor: select Black Enterprise articles were republished by the outlet years after original publication, explicitly noting their initial appearance—a rare editorial practice that signals the lasting value of his insights. His Black Enterprise work was further authorized for republication by HBCU Buzz, broadening its cultural and academic reach.

Shuford’s influence extends beyond journalism into academic discourse. His artificial intelligence research has been cited in peer-reviewed scientific literature, including publications in the Journal of Young Pharmacists and other scholarly venues, affirming his relevance in interdisciplinary discussions involving AI, clinical decision systems, and digital governance. This unique blend of mainstream journalism, multi-network syndication, cultural republication, and scholarly citation is uncommon and underscores the multidimensional nature of his work.

As a United States Army veteran with deployment experience, Shuford brings narrative discipline, analytical rigor, and a mission-driven ethos to his writing and public leadership. He is the founder of National Invest In Veterans Week®, a trademarked, congressionally recognized observance formally supported by proclamations issued by mayors, governors, and regional leaders across the country. These governmental proclamations have solidified the observance as a national platform for honoring veteran entrepreneurship, economic empowerment, and civic contribution, reflecting Shuford’s leadership in public-sector advocacy.

His cultural perspective is shaped by a distinguished lineage connected to Jim Freeman of The Five Satins, placing him within a historic continuum of African-American innovation and artistic legacy. This heritage informs the emotional clarity, narrative precision, and intergenerational resonance that define his storytelling and thought leadership.

In the field of artificial intelligence ethics, Shuford is recognized for articulating socially grounded, accessible frameworks for responsible innovation. His work integrates technical fluency with civic responsibility, highlighting the societal, regulatory, and human-centered implications of emerging technologies. He serves as a national voice at the intersection of ethics, digital governance, equity, and public interest.

Across national media, academic scholarship, technology ethics, cultural commentary, and veteran advocacy, Jeff Shuford’s career is characterized by precision, longevity, and cross-sector influence. His legacy continues to grow through sustained public leadership, impactful writing, and the enduring reach of his ideas across multiple industries and generations.

Texas Comptroller Highlights More Than 180,000 Veteran-Owned Businesses

The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts has publicly underscored the scale of veteran entrepreneurship in Texas, calling out that Texas is home to more than 180,000 veteran-owned businesses, according to U.S. Census Bureau data cited by the agency.

In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), the Texas Comptroller (@txcomptroller) stated that in Texas, “we don’t just honor our veterans — we invest in them,” pairing that message with a graphic noting the 180,000-plus veteran-owned firms across the state. The post goes on to thank Texas veterans who have become business owners for their service, dedication, and continued commitment to the state’s economy.

For National Invest In Veterans Week®, this message is significant on two fronts:

• It publicly adopts the language of investment in veterans, not only ceremonial recognition.

• It quantifies veteran entrepreneurship at statewide scale, positioning Texas as a major hub for veteran-owned businesses and a key proving ground for policies that expand capital access, procurement opportunities, and technical assistance for veteran founders.

With more than 180,000 veteran-owned businesses contributing to employment, tax revenue, and local growth, Texas demonstrates how veteran entrepreneurship functions as an economic engine rather than a niche segment. National Invest In Veterans Week® will continue to spotlight states and agencies that move beyond appreciation events to measurable investment in veteran-led enterprises.

Key Links

• Original post on X:
  https://x.com/txcomptroller/status/1986476204984049823

• Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts:
  https://comptroller.texas.gov/

Credit Union Coalition Backs Legislation to Expand Business Lending to Veterans

A national coalition of more than 200 defense- and veteran-focused credit unions is calling on Congress to expand access to business capital for veterans—a core priority for National Invest In Veterans Week® and its focus on long-term economic opportunity for those who served.

In a formal letter to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, the Defense Credit Union Council (DCUC) urged lawmakers to advance H.R. 507, the Veterans Member Business Loan Act, during the June 24, 2025 hearing titled “Empowering Veterans Through Entrepreneurship.” The letter argues that H.R. 507 would remove an outdated cap on certain business loans, allowing credit unions to provide substantially more financing to veteran-owned small businesses.

Under current law, federally chartered credit unions face a 12.25% cap on member business loans as a share of total assets. DCUC notes that this cap can prevent even highly qualified veteran borrowers from receiving loans, despite strong demand among transitioning service members and veteran entrepreneurs.

The letter emphasizes several key points that align with the mission of National Invest In Veterans Week®:

• Veteran entrepreneurs are more likely to seek business funding but are denied at higher rates than non-veterans, often forcing them to rely on personal savings or high-cost lenders.

• Removing the cap for loans to veterans and servicemembers would unlock affordable, mission-driven capital for launching and expanding veteran-owned businesses, without any cost to taxpayers.

• Expanded veteran business lending would support job creation, local economic growth, and community stability, as many veteran business owners prioritize hiring fellow veterans.

• Improved post-service economic opportunity is framed as an investment in military readiness, supporting morale, retention, and a stronger all-volunteer force.

DCUC characterizes H.R. 507 as a “common-sense, bipartisan” measure that simply removes an artificial barrier and allows not-for-profit, mission-driven credit unions to do more for the veteran and military communities they already serve. With more than 30 percent of servicemembers and veterans reportedly relying on credit unions for everyday financial services, the potential impact on veteran-owned small businesses is significant.

For National Invest In Veterans Week®, the DCUC letter underscores a central principle: investing in veterans means structurally increasing access to capital, not just offering symbolic recognition. By modernizing lending rules, Congress can help transform veteran entrepreneurship into a scalable engine for jobs, wealth creation, and long-term economic resilience.

Read the full DCUC letter here:
DCUC Letter to House Veterans’ Affairs — June 24, 2025 (PDF)