More than military friendly.
We are Veteran Ready.
Three days inside the gates of the United States Military Academy, where the employers, federal agencies, and military leaders who hire military-connected talent build what works next.
A premier event for veteran hiring and retention.
The Veteran Ready Summit is dedicated to building practical, sustainable strategies for hiring and retaining military-connected talent — veterans, transitioning service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and military spouses.
It is not a career fair and it is not a series of talking points you watch. It is three days of focused content, networking and self-assessment, and senior-level perspective among the people accountable for the outcome.
- Three days
- Screenings and a sponsor reception Sunday evening, then two days of working sessions, breakouts, and keynotes across the full veteran-employment lifecycle.
- West Point
- Convened inside the United States Military Academy, above the Hudson River.
- Federal & DoD
- The Department of Labor, the White House Office of the National Cyber Director, Army Reserve leadership, and Medal of Honor recipients have all taken this stage.
The venue underscores our Veteran Ready goal.
The 2026 summit convenes at West Point during the Army's 250th anniversary year, in the week the Wreaths Across America convoy moves south toward Arlington. Attendees work the agenda by day and stand inside the traditions their hiring decisions support.
A guided tour of the grounds is open to every attendee, and the Army/Navy game weekend bookends the program.
The recognition weekend →Three keynotes confirmed.
More featured speakers are still to be announced, including a Medal of Honor recipient.
DJ Skelton
Called “the most wounded Commander in U.S. military history," DJ wrote Our Hero Handbook while recovering at Walter Reed and later founded Paradox Sports. DJ carries a message written not in words, but in the life he has lived. Speaking on transition, mental health, and resilience.
Benjamin Patton
Grandson of General George S. Patton, his I Was There filmmaking workshops have served more than 1,500 veterans since 2011. Speaking on what the evolution of post-traumatic stress teaches veterans, civilians, and leaders.
Randy Couture
UFC Hall of Famer, three-time NCAA All-American wrestler, and a Sergeant in the 101st Airborne. He founded the Xtreme Couture GI Foundation for injured veterans and co-created Merging Vets and Players, which addresses the transition combat veterans and professional athletes share.
Who has taken this stage
Past summit stages have included Undersecretary of War for Personnel and Readiness Anthony Tata, the Hon. James Rodriguez of the U.S. Department of Labor; the Hon. Patrick Murphy; and Medal of Honor recipients Clint Romesha and Dakota Meyer in addition to speakers from Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs), Veteran Employment Resource Groups (VERGs), and industry representatives.
Industry speakers have represented transportation, advanced manufacturing, higher education, the semiconductor industry, and others.
The 2026 call for speakers closes September 7. We publish the agenda by the end of the month.
Agenda & speakers →What gets worked on at the summit.
Programming spans the full veteran-employment lifecycle — from sourcing and onboarding through leadership development and federal incentives.
- 01 Government resources for veteran hiring
- 02 Supporting military spouses
- 03 Hiring from higher education
- 04 Apprenticeship and career skills programs
- 05 SkillBridge and other transition programs
- 06 Recruiting from Guard and Reserve
- 07 Breaking the stigma on veterans’ mental health
- 08 Pathways for veterans in emerging tech roles
- 09 Veterans in leadership development
- 10 Veteran-centric onboarding and training
- 11 Veteran ERG (VERG) best practices
- 12 Maximizing ROI on veteran hiring
- 13 Leveraging data for hiring and retention
- 14 Leadership in championing Veteran Ready
- 15 Local and state resources for military talent
- 16 Cross-industry hiring program design
A week of recognition surrounds the program.
The summit is bookended by ceremonies that honor military service and renew commitments to military-connected employment — at West Point during the summit, and in Washington, DC later that week. Most are included with registration.
- Summit week
ESGR Statement of Support signing
Companies publicly affirm their support for National Guardians and Reservists by signing the Department of Defense’s Statement of Support. The 2026 signing takes place onsite at West Point.
- December 15
Wreaths Across America convoy stop
The “Escort to Arlington” convoy makes a special stop at West Point during the Army’s 250th anniversary and WAA’s “Remember Me” campaign.
- Summit close
Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence
The summit culminates with the award announcement — a transitioning service member receiving a brand-new truck and instant business ownership.
- December 19
Arlington National Cemetery wreath laying
Participation in the Wreaths Across America Day ceremony at Arlington, in Washington, DC later that week, after the summit.
Who you will be sitting with.
Talent acquisition and HR leaders from national employers, workforce and apprenticeship program designers, federal and state agency staff, educators, military leadership, VSOs, and non-profit partners — in one room, small enough to actually meet.
- Employers
- Federal agencies
- Military leadership
- Educators
- VSOs & non-profits
- Small business
Bring your hiring team to West Point.
Registration, sponsorship, and the mobile app all run through Whova. Your pass covers the full program and most of the recognition events around it.
2026 Sponsors
See all sponsors and tiers
