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2026 Distinguished Service Awards

Thursday, May 14, 2026 | 8:30 - 10:30 am
Army Navy Country Club (1700 Army Navy Drive, Arlington, VA 22202)

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2026 Award Winners
2026 Sponsors


2026 Sponsorship Opportunities
2026 Award FAQs
2025 Event Photos

Distinguished Service Awards 2026 White Logo

Honoring veterans and those who have made meaningful contributions to help veterans succeed.

Our Distinguished Service Awards honor

veterans and those who serve them.

Celebrate those who dedicate their lives to service at the 2026 Distinguished Service Awards. Join NVC as Northern Virginia's business community honors veterans and the organizations that serve them. Experience this special event that includes a powerful, inspiring program and unparalleled networking with mission-driven leaders. Be part of a ceremony that uplifts those who embody a lifetime of commitment and contribution. 

We will proudly recognize:

  • Exceptional veteran-owned businesses
  • Nonprofit service organizations
  • Standout veteran employees
  • Veteran employee resource groups

2026 Distinguished Service Awards sponsorship opportunities are now available. Contact NVC Investor Relations Manager Jocelyn Park for more information. 

Registration Details


Table of 10

NVC Members: $825

Non-Members: $1,050

Table of 10

Member: $425

Non-Member: $540

Individual Tickets: $90 NVC Members | $110 Non-Members

Register Today!
For registration questions, email NVC's Events Team
Registration DeadlineTuesday, May 12.

2026 Distinguished Service Awards: Honorees

Veteran-Owned Business of the Year

Honoring successful veteran-owned businesses in the National Capital Region that have demonstrated strong business performance. Awards are given for:

Emerging Business (<5 years in business)


Maturing Business (5-10 years in business)


Established Business (10+ years in business)

Veteran Service Organization of the Year

Honoring a non-profit organization that has had an exemplary impact in service to Veterans, their families, and/or Veteran-Owned businesses in the National Capital Region.

Organization of the Year (<$1 million annual budget)


Organization of the Year (>$1 million annual budget)

Lifetime Distinguished Service Award

This award honors a veteran who, through action and influence, has continued to serve others resulting in an extraordinarily positive impact on the veteran business community in the Greater Washington region.

Pinakin Patel
Chief Executive Officer
Kentro

Veteran Advocate of the Year

This award honors someone known for helping veterans and/or veteran families (and is not a veteran), resulting in an extraordinarily positive impact on the veteran community in the Greater Washington region.

Fletcher Gill
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Luke's Wings

Veteran Employee of the Year

Honoring a Veteran employee (not an equity holder) who has made a meaningful impact to their company and/or the community in support and service of Veterans and/or Veteran families in the National Capital Region.

Larry Johnson
Intelligence Production Manager
Riverside Research

2021 VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS OF THE YEAR, FINALISTS

Maturing:

  • Aptive Resources - Winner
  • Building Momentum
  • David T Scott & Associates, LLC (DTS)
  • GCubed Enterprises, Inc.
  • Government Tactical Solutions

Established:

  • Intelligent Waves LLC - Winner
  • IT Veterans, LLC
  • ManTech International
  • Precise Systems, Inc.
  • Wendroff & Associates, CPA

Thank you to our 2026 Sponsors!


Keynote Sponsor

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield

Centerpiece Sponsor

CALIBRE logo NEW

Award Sponsors

Alpha Omega Logo 1 PNG
Noblis logo

Challenge Coin Sponsor


Patriot Sponsor

Old Dominion National Bank

Registration Sponsors



Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) logo

2026 Guestlist

Alpha Omega

Arlington Chamber of Commerce

Atlantic Union Bank

BDO USA

CALIBRE

CareFirst

CGI Federal

Dev Technology Group

EagleBank

EveryMind

Fairfax County Economic Development Authority

George Mason University

GRF CPAs and Advisors

Hope For The Warriors

Huntington Bank

Hypori

IronArch Technology

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Kentro

Luke's Wings

Noblis

OceanFirst Bank

Old Dominion National Bank

Pillsbury

Pinnacle Financial Partners

rand* construction corporation

Resolve Solutions

Riverside Research

TD Bank

The Honorable Senator Barbara Favola

ThinkTek

Transparent Hands Foundation

Truist

USI Insurance Services LLC

Virginia University of Integrative Medicine

Warriors Ethos, Inc.




Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When/where will the awards be presented?
A: The Distinguished Service Awards will be presented on Thursday, May 14, 2026 from 8:30 - 10:30 am at the Army Navy Country Club.
 

Q: Are there free/discounted tickets to attend the event?
A: Members of NVC (and their employees) may register at the member rate.

Past Honorees

2025 Keynote Speaker: Jared Shepard, CEO, Hypori

Jared Shepard
As CEO of Hypori, founder and Chairman of Intelligent Waves, and the founder and Chairman of Warriors Ethos, Jared Shepard is focused on serving defense and enterprise organizations and bettering the nation through innovative solutions and philanthropic efforts. With more than two decades of information technology, federal services, and sales experience, Shepard is at the forefront of protecting the privacy and security of organizations’ most sensitive information at the edge.

2024 Keynote Speaker: The Honorable James D. Rodriguez

The Honorable James D. Rodriguez is the U.S. Department of Labor’s Assistant Secretary for Veterans’ Employment and Training Service. He is an executive leader and proud veteran with over 30 years of experience in the U.S. government, corporate sector, and the United States Marine Corps, where he served for 21 years on active duty.  

His recent executive experience includes leadership roles at Deloitte and BAE Systems. He also previously served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Office of Warrior Care Policy, Office of the Secretary of Defense from 2014 through 2017. 

2024 Lifetime Service Award Honoree: Thomas J. Donohue

Thomas J. Donohue served as president and chief executive officer of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce from 1997 to 2019, where he reinvigorated the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, which houses Hiring Our Heroes, a program that identifies job opportunities for returning veterans and military spouses.

Under Donohue’s leadership, HOH partnered with Capital One to launch the Hiring 500,000 Heroes campaign. Through this initiative, more than 2,000 businesses of all sizes and industries hired more than 500,000 veterans and military spouses. 


Veteran Employee Resource Group

Honoring a Veteran Employee Resource Group that has made a meaningful impact on their company and/or the community in support and service of Veterans.


2024 Veteran Advocate of the Year Award: Andrea Inserra

Andrea Inserra, Executive Vice President, is a market leader for Booz Allen Hamilton’s aerospace business, serving clients in the U.S. Air Force, Space Force, and NASA. Andrea chaired the firm’s Military and Veterans Business Resource Group, which serves veterans and military families by providing best-in-class benefits, partnering with nonprofits, and volunteering in the community. She transformed the firm’s approach to supporting veterans and military spouses, coordinating external and internal support for veteran employees and key military nonprofits, presiding over the creation of the nation’s first Military Spouse Business Resource Group, and sponsoring the creation of a new Military and Veterans Affairs function at the firm, which led to the formal integration of the firm’s philanthropic, employee engagement and recruiting initiatives for the military community. Andrea currently serves on the board of directors for the Armed Services YMCA, a nonprofit that supports enlisted military members and their families. Previously, Andrea served on the boards of the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States and the Board of Advisors, Elizabeth Dole Foundation for Military Families and Caregivers.


Veteran Employee of the Year

Veteran Service Organization of the Year > Under $1 Million Annual Budget

Veteran Service Organization of the Year > Over $1 million Annual Budget:

Veteran-Owned Business of the Year > Emerging Business (Less than 5 Years in Business)

Veteran-Owned Business of the Year > Maturing (5-10 Years in Business)

Veteran-Owned Business of the Year > Established (More than 10 Years in Business)