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Honoring those who have made meaningful contributions to help Veterans succeed. 

The 2023 Distinguished Service Awards Event were held on September 12th at the Army Navy Country Club. Congratulations to all of this year's Winners & Finalists!
Submit Your Application By July 7th Here
Register for the Event Now

Our annual awards celebrate

Veterans In Business

2023 Award Winners & Finalists
2023 Keynote Speaker
Award FAQs

2020 Sponsors

Interested in sponsorship opportunities? Contact John Woodstock, Director, Member Engagement at jwoodstock@novachamber.org



ManTech
Cox
Unique within our business community, military veterans have innovated and created more enduring, impactful businesses than any other industry in America. In recognition of their sacrifices and ongoing contributions critical to our community's strength and stability, the Chamber hosts the Distinguished Service Awards, the Greater Washington Region's preeminent event honoring the leadership and contributions to veteran success demonstrated by veteran-owned businesses within the Greater Washington business community. Along with an elite keynote speaker, DSA winners are showcased at a powerful morning ceremony that draws a who's who of military and veteran business leaders.


TIME: November 9th, 8-9:30 AM

LOCATION: Army Navy Country Club, 1700 Army Navy Drive Arlington, VA 22202

REGISTER: Register here.

2023 DSA Honorees

2023 Keynote Speaker

Dr. Linda Singh, Major General (Retired), Founder & CEO, Kaleidoscope Affect, LLC.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Women's Armed Services Integration Act of 1948 and we can’t think of a better choice to deliver this year’s keynote address. Dr. Singh dedicated 38 years of service to the Maryland National Guard and retired as a Major General. After holding several senior executive-level positions in our region, Dr. Singh founded and is the CEO of Kaleidoscope Affect where she provides leadership and management consulting as well as strategic advisory services for a variety of public and private sector clients. Dr. Singh personally mentors, coaches, and speaks on leadership, diversity, adversity, career transition, and issues that plague women and veterans in the workplace.

2023 Lifetime Service Award Honoree

Each year, the Chamber honors a Veteran with the Lifetime Achievement Award who, through action and influence, has continued to serve others resulting in an extraordinarily positive impact on the Veteran Business Community in the National Capital Region. We are proud to announce the 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award goes to Glenn Yarborough, President and Chief Executive Officer of WGY & Associates, LLC!

Glenn Yarborough is a distinguished U.S. Army veteran having served in Armor and Cavalry units for 27 years. His last assignment in uniform was Military Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Research, Development and Acquisition. Glenn retired as a Colonel, commenced his next career as a defense industry executive and has a history of selfless service as a decorated veteran with a Silver Star, Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

All who know Glenn know that he has unbounded energy and spends almost every waking moment thinking about what can be done for the betterment of our soldiers and families. Glenn’s achievements and contributions are too many to list but here is a just a sampling of his work within the region: served on the Board of Directors of Carleton Technologies, Airbus Defense and Space, Hinz Consulting, and Ricardo Defense, and currently serves on the Board of Easter Seals, So Others Might Eat (SOME), Friends of the McLean Community Center, McLean Chamber of Commerce, National Armor and Cavalry Heritage Foundation (Vice Chair), The United States Cavalry Association (Chairman) and the Board of Advisors of the Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina.

James Schenck, President & CEO, PenFed Credit Union

Each year, the Chamber honors a veteran with the Lifetime Distinguished Service Award who, through action and influence, has continued to serve others resulting in an extraordinarily positive impact on our Greater Washington veteran business community. This year, the Distinguished Service Awards Committee has selected James Schenck for his exemplary military service and Regional leadership as President and Chief Executive Officer of PedFed Credit Union and PenFed Foundation CEO.

James is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy West Point and Harvard Business School. He flew Black Hawk helicopters during his 13 years of service in the U.S. Army, trained other Army aviators, and taught Economics & Finance at West Point. During his assignment to the Pentagon, James received the Legion of Merit for his contribution to the Army.

Always moving forward, James is constantly motivated to hire, inspire, and retain the best and brightest professionals to take perfect care of PenFed members and the Foundation’s veteran community.

2023 Veteran Advocate of the Year Award

Karen R. Lowe, Corporate Director, Army Customer Relations, Northrop Grumman

The Chamber and Distinguished Service Awards Committee are proud to announce our first Veteran Advocate of the Year Award honoree. This award honors someone who is known for helping veterans and their families yet are not a veteran him or herself. We are excited to honor Karen Lowe who has had an extraordinarily positive impact on the veteran community within the Greater Washington Region.

Karen currently serves as the Executive Vice President of the George Washington Chapter AUSA and has supported almost every fundraiser, soldier program and National initiative possible during her time with AUSA. For more than 29 years, few people have displayed a greater dedication to the goals of the Association of the United States Army than Karen Lowe. Perhaps the most impressive part of her service is that she has approached it with a focus on the success of the George Washington Chapter and AUSA National serving on the Awards and Bylaws Committee. Responsible for quarterly George Washington Chapter AUSA Professional Development Forum luncheons for over fifteen years.  Each event hosted 125 to 250 attendees including 40-60 military, civilian, Army, and international attendees. She has spent countless hours of her time managing the myriad of details needed to help make the luncheons and professional forums a resounding success. Her success is certainly quantifiable; it can be measured in the tens of thousands of dollars raised each year with a bottom-line success of more than $500,000 raised for this important scholarship fundraiser. Karen serves as a champion of soldiers and families - tirelessly, devotedly and with all her heart.

Each year, the Chamber honors a Veteran with the Lifetime Achievement Award who, through action and influence, has continued to serve others resulting in an extraordinarily positive impact on the Veteran Business Community in the National Capital Region. We are proud to announce the 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award goes to Glenn Yarborough, President and Chief Executive Officer of WGY & Associates, LLC!

Glenn Yarborough is a distinguished U.S. Army veteran having served in Armor and Cavalry units for 27 years. His last assignment in uniform was Military Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Research, Development and Acquisition. Glenn retired as a Colonel, commenced his next career as a defense industry executive and has a history of selfless service as a decorated veteran with a Silver Star, Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

All who know Glenn know that he has unbounded energy and spends almost every waking moment thinking about what can be done for the betterment of our soldiers and families. Glenn’s achievements and contributions are too many to list but here is a just a sampling of his work within the region: served on the Board of Directors of Carleton Technologies, Airbus Defense and Space, Hinz Consulting, and Ricardo Defense, and currently serves on the Board of Easter Seals, So Others Might Eat (SOME), Friends of the McLean Community Center, McLean Chamber of Commerce, National Armor and Cavalry Heritage Foundation (Vice Chair), The United States Cavalry Association (Chairman) and the Board of Advisors of the Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina.

2023 Distinguished Service Award Winners & Finalists

Veteran Employee of the Year

  • Danielle Applegate, Director of Service Delivery (VA), IT Concepts - WINNER
  • Scott DeWitt | Executive Director of Security Cooperation | Forge Group
  • Tom Downs, Principal, Diversity and Military Talent Acquisition, Booz Allen Hamilton - WINNER

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

  • George Washington Chapter AUSA
  • Navy Safe Harbor Foundation
  • NVSBC Education Foundation (NVSBC-EF) - WINNER
  • Resolve Solutions Incorporated
  • Riverside Research

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

  • Children of Fallen Patriots
  • Easterseals DC MD VA
  • HOPE for the Warriors - WINNER
  • Volunteers of America

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

  • OneZero Solutions, LLC
  • Phalanx - WINNER
  • ZeroMils

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

  • Forge Group LLC - WINNER
  • IronArch Technology
  • Sanford Federal, Inc.

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

  • D&G Support Services LLC
  • Government Tactical Solutions
  • HigherEchelon, Inc.
  • Intelligent Waves
  • KIHOMAC
  • MicroHealth, LLC
  • Obsidian Solutions Group
  • ThunderCat Technology - WINNER
Thank You To Our Annual Partners

Premier Partners

Elite Partners

Business Partners

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 (between 5 & 10 years in business)
Established Business (>10 years in business)

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

Veteran Employee of the Year

Honoring a Veteran employee (not an equity holder in the business) 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.

2021 VETERAN EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR:

  • Charles Miles, PenFed Credit Union - Winner
  • Tim Bayliss, Government Tactical Solutions - Winner

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.

2021 VETERAN SERVICE ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR: Our Military Kids - Winner

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When/where will the awards be presented?
A: The Distinguished Service Awards will be presented on at the Army Navy Country Club, September 12th, from 8-10:30AM
 
Q: Can I get a free / discounted ticket to attend the event?
A: Members of the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce (and their employees) may register at the member rate.
 
Q. Can we nominate our own company/organization?
A: Absolutely! Use this link to submit your application by June 23rd.

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