Serving Those Who Served: 2026 Veterans Conference

A New Approach, Strong Results

More than 450 people – including state and federal staff, employers, exhibitors, presenters, and Veteran advocates from 47 states and the District of Columbia – recently gathered in Washington, DC for NASWA’s 13th Annual Veterans’ Conference.

This year's Veterans Conference embraced a refreshed approach centered on workforce development with a Veterans focus. Instead of investing in high-profile keynote speakers, the conference highlighted the outstanding work being done by states across the country. The result was a record number of workshop proposals, strong attendance, and positive early feedback, demonstrating that attendees value practical, peer-driven learning they can apply in their own programs.

This year's event also emphasized collaboration and engagement. In addition to two full USDOL VETS listening sessions, attendees participated in new 10-minute "Table Talks" following each plenary session and panel discussion. These facilitated conversations gave participants time to reflect on what they had learned and exchange ideas with colleagues from across the nation. Early survey results indicate the Table Talks were a popular addition and are expected to return in 2027.

Planning the conference continues to be both exciting and challenging, particularly with more than 110 workshop proposals competing for just 30 available session slots. Organizers will continue exploring ways to provide even greater access to the wealth of knowledge shared by our partners. Special thanks to the states that presented Promising Practices this year—Arizona, Washington, Colorado, the Texas Workforce Commission, the Texas Veterans Commission, New Hampshire, Ohio, Iowa, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Tennessee. These sessions remain a conference favorite, showcasing innovative, proven approaches that benefit Veterans and the workforce system nationwide.

Receiving the 2026 Mark Sanders Award for Exceptional Veterans Service was Florida’s CareerSource Palm Beach County.

Thank you to all the presenters, sponsors and attendees for participating in this year’s conference. Check out the photo gallery here. Slide decks are available for registered attendees to view here. (You must log in with the email address you registered with and your confirmation number.)

The 14th Annual NASWA Veterans Conference will be August 11-13, 2027.