The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) was named a finalist Oct. 30, for the 9th Annual U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Hiring Our Heroes awards and is a contender for the Military Spouse Employment and Mentoring Award.

The Hiring Our Heroes initiative launched in March 2011 is a nationwide effort to connect Veterans, transitioning service members and military spouses with meaningful employment opportunities. In July, the Board and Hiring Our Heroes partnered to promote best practices for the hiring and retaining of military spouses throughout the federal government.

“Military spouse employment in the federal government is important not just because of the unique qualities military spouses possess,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. “It supports the whole health of the military family.”

The Board joined the Department of Defense’s Military Spouse Employment Partnership in October 2018 and plans to identify additional best practices for hiring military spouses through a Board military spouse working group.

The award winners will be announced Nov. 13.