Veterans

The Department of Commerce's Veteran Employment Office envisions a Department where the skills, leadership, and experience of all veterans are fully utilized. We are committed to significantly increasing the employment, retention, and career advancement of non-disabled and service-disabled veterans across every operating bureau. 

To achieve this, the Department actively forges and sustains powerful partnerships with other Federal agencies, leading Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs), colleges, universities, and institutions that serve veterans as members, students, or affiliates, ensuring a robust pipeline of highly qualified veteran talent.

Vision

We are committed to attracting and hiring veterans who have honorably served and sacrificed for our country. We recognize the invaluable leadership, discipline, and technical skills veterans possess, which are perfectly aligned to fill Commerce’s critical roles across our mission-critical and mission-support occupations.

Mission

Our mission is to attract and recruit veterans and their families, ensuring they have access to meaningful employment opportunities across the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) nationwide. We achieve this by fostering their long-term success through effective training, career development, and clear promotional pathways that fully integrate their skills into the Commerce workforce.

About Us

The Department of Commerce's dedication to veteran employment is directly rooted in the establishment of the Veterans Employment Initiative. This initiative was formally created on November 9, 2009, by Executive Order 13518, Employment of Veterans in the Federal Government. The formation of the Department of Commerce's Veteran Employment Program Office and the development of this dedicated webpage are actions mandated by this executive order. 

DOC Veteran and Military Resources

• Department of Commerce Veterans and Disability Coordinators
• DOC FY 2025 Veterans Employment Operation Plan
• Military Buy Back
• Disabled Veteran Leave

Military Spouses

The Department of Commerce (DOC) is deeply committed to supporting the dedicated families who stand alongside our service members. We recognize the profound skills, resilience, and unique global experience that Military Spouses bring to the civilian workforce. Their employment and career stability are a priority for the DOC as we strive to attract, recruit, and retain this exceptional talent pool nationwide.

• Military One Source
• Information for the Noncompetitive Appointment of Military Spouses

Veterans Hiring Resources

• Federal Employment Overview (OPM.Gov)
• Employment of Veterans in the Federal Government - Executive Order #13518
• Special Hiring Authorities for Veterans
• U.S. Department of Commerce Employment Opportunities (USAJobs)
• Veterans Employment Information - Feds Hire Vets
• VetGuide
• Merit Hiring Plan
• DOD SkillBridge Program
• Operation Warfighter Program
• VA Non-Paid Work Experience Program
• Veterans Hiring Frequently Asked Questions

 General Information

• National Resource Directory
• Government-Wide Veterans Data 

U.S. Department of Commerce 2023 Veterans Day Program