SMS’ Veterans Advisory Council – 2024 in Review 

In 2024, SMS established the Veterans Advisory Council (VAC) as a means of supporting and recognizing employees through meaningful initiatives and heartfelt commitments that honor Veterans. Notably, 30% of our employees are Veterans, which underscores the importance of the VAC within SMS. This initiative quickly gained recognition, as evidenced by SMS receiving the 2024 Department of Labor VETHIRE Gold Medallion, recognizing our outstanding commitment to Veteran support and employment. 

The VAC’s first action was to create an online Friends and Family Memorial Wall on our SharePoint portal, creating a virtual space for remembrance and connection. These digital memories set the tone for the council’s commitment to honoring Veterans’ memories. We solemnly observed Memorial Day with a company-wide moment of silence, reflecting on the profound sacrifices made by those who served our Nation. 

Furthering their mission of fostering connections among Veterans, the VAC also actively participated in the Veterans Affairs’ 2024 National Buddy Check Week from October 21-25, fostering connections and support among Veterans.  

The Veteran’s Day donation matching campaign stood out as a highlight of our year. Through our collective efforts, we raised substantial funds for critical Veteran support organizations in the month of November. The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) received $1,500, Fisher House was gifted $1,100, and America’s Vet Dogs benefited from $1,400. SMS matched each donation, we ultimately contributed approximately $7,600 to these vital organizations. 

In December, several of our VAC members individually volunteered in support of Wreaths Across America in the National Capital Region and beyond, continuing our commitment to honoring Veterans’ memories. 

Reflecting on the VAC’s inaugural year, Chris Partridge, VAC Chair and SMS Director of Strategic Solutions Development, stated, “Our first year has been a testament to the power of community, compassion, and collective support, and we look forward to building on this foundation in the coming year.” 

Looking forward to 2025, the VAC Council is excited to expand our support to SMS’ Veteran employees. Planned initiatives include hosting guest speakers during our quarterly meetings, extending our engagement with different technical programs throughout SMS, and continuing to build connections and provide valuable resources for Veterans. We remain dedicated to improving our existing programs and finding new ways to support Veterans and their families.