During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, I was proud to work closely with the Ohio National Guard to handle emergency response. I know first-hand what the men and women in our National Guard are capable of, and I am deeply appreciative of their service.
Ohio’s veterans who have served our state and country deserve every opportunity to build on their experiences in higher education and the workforce. As Governor, I will support Ohio’s veterans by strengthening programs such as the Ohio GI Promise, the Ohio War Orphan & Severely Disabled Veterans’ Children Scholarship, and the Ohio National Guard Scholarship Program. These crucial programs connect veterans with educational opportunities and resources that help them thrive.
I am committed to building on the work of the Department of Veterans Services and County Veterans Service Offices by putting veterans’ needs first and ensuring they are met. In addition to maintaining a cabinet-level military liaison, I will establish a Veterans Liaison in each state agency to address veterans’ priority issues and connect them more efficiently to essential resources. Agencies such as the Department of Higher Education, Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities, Department of Behavioral Health, Ohio Housing Finance Agency, and Department of Education and Workforce will each have a dedicated Veterans Liaison. This point of contact for County Veterans Service Offices will help reduce wait times for requests and questions from veterans, active service members, and their families.