by: Cort Ruddy, Director Comms & Media Relations, Maxwell Dean’s Office, Syracuse University

The Program announces change in name and celebrates its growth and impact as it prepares those “Called to serve, a second time.”

Syracuse University’s D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) and the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs announced that the program formerly known as the Veterans Program for Politics and Civic Engagement (VPPCE) has been renamed the Veterans for Public Office (VPO), reflecting the program’s continued evolution and commitment to preparing veterans and their family members for public office and civic engagement.

“This isn’t just a name change, it’s a reflection of our program’s growth and impact,” said Steve Lux, director of executive education at the Maxwell School. “We’re expanding the number of ideation sections focused on the early stages of exploring political careers while strengthening our campaign planning program and support for those more seriously considering a run for office. This program helps veterans and their family members put their valuable skills and experiences to use in public service in another way.”

Originally launched in 2019, the VPO program offers a comprehensive, nonpartisan pathway for veterans and veteran-connected family members to explore and pursue public office at all levels of government. Since then, 349 participants have graduated from the ideation or campaign planning curriculum. Among those graduates, more than 40 have gone on to run for public office with more than 20 winning races and serving the public everywhere from local town council to Congress—proving that the transition from military service to public service can be both natural and impactful.

This past year alone, Chelsey Curney won election to the Jonesboro City Council in Georgia and Alicia Barnes secured a seat on the Oakland-area school board in Maine, both in November. In December, Matt Van Epps was elected to represent Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District in a special election.

“As a West Point graduate, Army special operations aviator, public servant and now a member of Congress, I’ve seen how service in uniform builds leaders who can continue serving in civic life,” said Representative Van Epps. “I’m proud to have completed Syracuse University’s Veterans Program for Politics and Civic Engagement (VPPCE) in 2019 as part of the inaugural cohort—an intensive, nonpartisan program delivered through the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families and the Maxwell School that equips veterans and military-connected leaders with practical tools for public engagement and political leadership.” Van Epps added, “I’m glad to support the program’s evolution into VPO (Veterans for Political Office) so even more veterans can step into the arena and lead.”

Phases In Detail

VPO coursework is divided into two primary phases, ideation and campaign planning, to meet participants where they are in their expanded journey in public service.

VPO’s ideation phase consists of 12 hours of online learning for those exploring whether a political career is right for them. This expanded section connects participants with Syracuse University faculty, IVMF staff, elected officials and campaign experts.

The campaign planning phase includes 10 weekly online sessions and a two-and-a-half-day hybrid immersion at Syracuse University, during which candidates work directly with political leaders and campaign strategists on essential topics including fundraising, media strategy, public communication, polling data and building campaign organizations. While most participants attend the immersion on the Syracuse University campus, some choose to participate virtually.

A third phase includes the ongoing support graduates receive with continued access to IVMF alumni services, Maxwell School networks and a private LinkedIn community, along with comprehensive campaign toolkits, as they prepare for public office.

“When veterans look at public office, they often do it with the same seriousness they bring to a job transition. They want to understand the role, the expectations, the risks and the preparation required to compete,” says U.S. Army veteran Raymond Toenneisen ’06, IVMF’s deputy executive director and Maxwell school alumni. “The IVMF is built for that kind of training environment, grounded in practical instruction and professional standards. VPO helps veterans build an executable plan and the communication and leadership skills to serve their communities effectively.”

Army veteran and VPO alumna Jenn Kaaoush, who was elected to the Superior, Colorado Town Council after responding to the Marshall Fire’s devastation, credits the program with transforming her approach.

“The program really helped me understand that campaigns are methodical,” Kaaoush said. “It taught me how to leverage people’s perceptions of veterans strategically, whereas typically veterans are pretty humble and don’t want to make a big thing about it.”

Participation expenses are covered through the generous and ongoing support of donors who believe in expanding access to this program. The initiative was launched with foundational funding from JPMorgan Chase & Co., and today it is sustained in large part through the leadership and philanthropic commitment of David Kelso ’68, alongside contributions from a growing community of supporters. Admitted candidates are only responsible for paying transportation costs to Syracuse University should they choose to participate in the optional on‑campus immersion.

“This program is focused on preparing veterans to run for office and it was well-organized, had an abundance of current or former politicians as speakers, and concluded with a draft campaign plan,” said William Epolito, retired U.S. Army colonel and fall 2025 campaign planning course participant. “While there are other courses that may prepare people for office, this is built and focused on the unique skills, knowledge and attributes of veterans.”

Applications open March 17, 2026. All veterans and military-connected family members are eligible to apply. For more information and to apply, visit the program website or email VPO@syr.edu.