From jobless to workplace advocate

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.

In August 2025, 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.

How To Take Individual Action

Even if the company you currently work for doesn’t have an official initiative for supporting the veteran community, you can make an impact. Here are five ways you can help shape your workplace culture to be more veteran-centric:

• Organize a book club or skill-sharing session to educate colleagues and leadership about military experience or culture.

• Reach out to newer veteran employees to offer support and guide them through any onboarding challenges.

• Recommend veteran-focused service or volunteering events to leadership that align with your company’s values and mission.

• Help plan veteran appreciation events and awareness days that honor military service and foster pride across teams.

• Share DAV’s veteran hiring guide with your human resources and recruiting teams. It was built to educate employers on military-related hiring challenges and help them establish strong veteran and military programs.

To learn more about the awards and other employment services, visit dav.org/get-help-now/employment-entrepreneurship.

Liz Stetler is the Associate National Communications Director for DAV.

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