Though Veterans Day falls on November 11, Veterans Day events will be conducted throughout the week, from November 10 to November 14. Let’s take this opportunity to understand the contributions made by those who have served the country and who are currently serving. Likewise, this week also gives us a chance to know more about the veterans and what they are doing now.
Former military members in the U.S. are generally hired by American companies for leadership positions. There are a lot of businesses in the country that are owned and led by veterans. According to the National Veteran-Owned Business Association (NaVOBA), there are more than 3 million businesses in the U.S. led by veterans.
Here are some U.S. companies that are led by veterans.
7-Eleven: Joe DePinto, who served five years as an Army Field Artillery Officer, is the president and CEO of 7‑Eleven, Inc. 7‑Eleven is an international convenience store chain that globally has more than 53,500 stores.
Casey’s General Stores: Casey’s General Stores, a chain of convenience stores in the Midwestern U.S. is led by Robert Myers. He is the chairman and CEO of the store chain. Myers who retired as a lieutenant colonel served 22 years in the U.S. Army.
FedEx : FedEx, the global transportation and logistics company, was founded by Frederick W. Smith, who served four years in the Marine Corps. He is the chairman and CEO of FedEx Corporation.
General Motors: Daniel Akerson is the former Chairman and CEO of General Motors. He served five years on a Navy destroyer as an officer.
Johnson & Johnson: Alex Gorsky currently serves as the CEO of Johnson & Johnson, manufacturer of multinational medical devices, pharmaceutical and consumer packaged goods. Gorsky served six years in the U.S. Army and retired with the rank of Captain.
Procter & Gamble: Procter & Gamble, commonly known as P&G, a multinational consumer goods company was led by Robert McDonald from 2009 to 2013. He is a former army officer and he served five years as a captain in the U.S. Army.
USAA: Josue Robles is the president and CEO of USAA, a financial services company. He served 28 years in the U.S. Army and retired as a major general.
Verizon Communications: Verizon Communications is led by Lowell McAdam. He is the chairman and CEO of Verizon. Prior to joining Verizon, he served six years in the Navy as a Seabee.