(ARLINGTON, Va.) — The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) today expressed strong support for Veterans in Energy as it prepares to hold its inaugural meeting this week in Washington, D.C. The group, launched in July, provides transition, retention and professional development support to the growing population of military veterans who have chosen energy careers.
“The men and women of the armed services possess many of the attributes highly valued by America’s electric co-ops, including dedication, ingenuity and an uncompromising work ethic,” said NRECA CEO Jim Matheson. “It’s a great privilege to work alongside our veterans, and it’s critical that we support them in what we hope will be lasting and gratifying energy careers.”
Veterans in Energy aims to accomplish three main goals in 2016-17: recruit a leadership team comprising energy industry military veterans, establish brand identity and incorporate the group as a 501(c)(3) organization. To help accomplish these goals, Veterans in Energy will hold a National Leadership Summit Oct. 13-14 at the Capital Hilton, featuring leaders from the energy industry and federal government.
Speakers include Deputy Secretary of Energy Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall; Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employment and Training Mike Michaud; U.S. Navy Lt. Brad Snyder, a Paralympian and gold medalist swimmer; leaders from the First Lady’s Joining Forces initiative; and utility executives. They will explore efforts to support the transition from military to civilian life and discuss how veterans can have strong, successful careers in energy.
Veterans in Energy is an outgrowth of the Utility Industry Workforce Initiative, a working group that brought together six utility industry trade associations (Nuclear Energy Institute, Edison Electric Institute, American Gas Association, American Public Power Association, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and Center for Energy Workforce Development), four federal agencies (Departments of Energy, Labor, Defense and Veterans Affairs) and two labor groups (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and Utility Workers Union of America) to identify new initiatives the energy industry can undertake to support veterans working in energy jobs.
More information and a conference agenda are available at www.veteransinenergy.org.
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association is the national service organization that represents the nation’s more than 900 private, not-for-profit, consumer-owned electric cooperatives, which provide service to 42 million people in 47 states.
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