New Boeing Center partnership empowers women veterans

The partnership between the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus’ Boeing Center for Veteran Transition and Military Families and Beneath the Service is transforming the lives of women veterans through the Women Veterans Leadership Program (WVLP). This collaboration, supported by Virginia Tech Continuing and Professional Education, provides women veterans with the tools and supportive community needed to continue to lead with confidence and purpose after their military transition.

Since 2020, WVLP has empowered over 400 women veteran leaders across the U.S., addressing their post military transition experience. The program focuses on redefining identity, rebuilding confidence, and fostering leadership. Its certification through Continuing and Professional Education underscores the program’s high-quality impact and highlights recipients’ professional development.

“By awarding a Virginia Tech certificate, we celebrate their commitment to growth and provide a credential that highlights their leadership journey, empowering them to make an even greater impact in their communities and professions,” said Shelly Jobst, director of Continuing and Professional Education.

Virginia Tech’s motto, Ut Prosim ("That I May Serve"), aligns with Beneath the Service’s mission to empower veterans.

“Impactful leadership goes beyond acquiring skills; it’s about understanding one’s identity, values, and purpose to lead authentically and inspire others,” said Niki Marin, founder and president of Beneath the Service. “Through our collaboration with Virginia Tech, we aim to empower women veteran leaders to create a ripple effect of service and influence in their communities and workplaces.”

The Boeing Center, located at the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus in Alexandria, Va., will host WVLP at the Northern Virginia Research Center – Arlington in 2025. This synergy enhances the program’s reach and strengthens connections within the veteran community.

“Our partnership with Beneath the Service reflects a shared commitment to serving our women veterans as they navigate their environments in their post-military lives,” said Debbie Bradbard, director of the Boeing Center. “Together, we aim to provide valuable resources and connections to help them thrive in their next chapter.”

Applications for the 2025 WVLP cohort opened this Veterans Day and will close at the end of January 2025. Graduates gain leadership skills and a supportive network that prepares them to drive change in their communities and workplaces.

Using the university's resources to serve the military and military-affiliated communities by expanding their access to STEM opportunities is crucial to the mission of the Innovation Campus, which aspires to be the most diverse graduate technology program in the nation. Boeing, a partner of Virginia Tech for 70 years, became the foundational partner of the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus in spring 2021. This investment provides resources to bolster the tech talent pipeline, drive economic growth, and provide opportunities for non-traditional students, including the military community, to succeed.