GM Supports U.S. Veterans Seeking Employment and Professional Development

Automaker sponsors Veteran’s Innovation Partnership Fellowship

WASHINGTON, DC -- February 13, 2015: General Motors announced its support for the U.S. Department of State Veterans Innovation Partnership (VIP), which offers military veterans a one-year paid fellowship in a U.S. Government agency.

“We know that transitioning from military to civilian life can seem like a daunting task, and we want to do everything in our power to help them,” said Ken Barrett, GM chief diversity officer. “These men and women have given so much for our country that they deserve our best efforts to make a difference in their life.”

Launched by the U.S. Department of State in support of Executive Order 13518, Employment of Veterans in the Federal Government, VIP supports veterans’ transition to diplomacy and development careers by assisting with educational opportunities to study international relations; establishes fellowship opportunities at U.S. Government foreign affairs agencies, and facilitates international public and private employment opportunities.

GM employs thousands of military veteran employees and has supported the U.S. armed forces for generations. GM is a corporate sponsor of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s “Hiring Our Heroes” program, which helps returning veterans and their spouses find jobs and a partner in the a coalition of private sector businesses dedicated to hiring 100,000 veterans by 2020.

The company also established GM’s Service Technical College, which offers free training to veterans and returning service members to prepare them for technical and non-technical entry-level roles in a dealership. GM also assists veterans by supporting The Achilles Freedom Team of Wounded Veterans, which helps wounded veterans overcome injuries through athletics.

“The Veterans Innovation Partnership is about recognizing not just how the State Department can help veterans, but about how veterans can help the State Department – we want to tap into the important leadership and service experience that they offer,” said Andrew O’Brien, special representative for Global Partnerships. “We are grateful to partners like General Motors for their commitment in making a program like this possible.”