DOE recommits $8 million to Fermilab workforce development program for US veterans
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DOE’s Office of High Energy Physics has recommitted and significantly increased its investment in Fermilab’s VALOR program. The military veterans’ job program was awarded $8 million over the next five years, demonstrating DOE and Fermilab’s commitment to workforce development for U.S. veterans. Media contact Tracy Marc, Fermilabmedia@fnal.gov, 224-290-7803 The Department of Energy’s Office of High Energy Physics recommitted $8 million to fund Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory’s job retention program that provides opportunities for U.S. military veterans. The recommitted funding over five years (fiscal years 2026-2030) is a substantial increase from the $2.35 million the office awarded for FY 2022-2025.
The Veteran Applied Laboratory Occupational Retraining program provides training and career opportunities to military veterans at the start of their civilian careers. This includes valuable hands-on training experiences and full-time technical career placement and security at Fermilab. Anthony Ramirez, a mechanical technician at Fermilab, credited the VALOR program for playing a key role in preparing him for his full-time position in the Accelerator Target Systems Division. Credit: Noah Curfman and Kevin Piwowarczyk, Fermilab “The Department of Energy continues to support our nation’s veterans by recommitting to the VALOR program. The cutting-edge training and education veterans receive during their service, along with their commitment to teamwork, is a great transition to technical positions at the national labs,” said Gina Rameika, Associate Director of Science for High Energy Physics at the Department of Energy. The program expands opportunities for military veterans by providing multiple entry points for STEM-based technical learning and training that lead to consideration for full-time employment. Military veterans are offered 10-week paid internships and 6-month paid apprenticeships in a broad range of laboratory specializations that include, but are not limited to, fabricating, assembling, calibrating, operating, testing, repairing or modifying electronic or mechanical equipment, systems, devices and databases. Opportunities also exist to work in information technology, procurement, and in environmental, safety and health. “The VALOR program was an incredible opportunity that helped me grow both professionally and personally,” said Anthony Ramirez. “Coming from an NJROTC background at East Aurora High School, I value structure, discipline, and teamwork. These qualities aligned well with Fermilab’s collaborative environment. I gained hands-on technical experience, mentorship and a clear direction for my future in STEM.” Ramirez now works as a mechanical technician in the Accelerator Target Systems Division and is attending Waubonsee Community College with aspirations of becoming a mechanical engineer. As an expanded way of reaching cadets and veterans early in their careers, Fermilab began reaching out to local high school ROTC cadets in 2022 to promote and amplify learning and career opportunities through multi-year summer internship experiences at the lab. Fermilab’s VALOR program provides training and career opportunities to military veterans. Credit: Noah Curfman & Kevin Piwowarczyk, Fermilab “Fermilab has a successful record of providing opportunities for military veterans and cadets and retaining them as full-time employees,” said Sandra Charles, Director of Workforce Pathways and Partnerships. “From 2022 to 2025, we hired 22 participants of the VALOR program. We are grateful to DOE for their continued support of this important program and look forward to expanding the success of VALOR in the coming years.” For more information on VALOR, visit internships.fnal.gov/valor/ Interested parties are encouraged to apply at Fermilab jobs. Launched in 2022, VALOR expanded Fermilab’s established VetTech internship program (initiated in 2016), deepening its commitment to U.S. military veterans. VALOR has since distinguished itself as a leader in workforce development, earning the HIRE Vets Gold Medallion Award from the U.S. Department of Labor in both 2019 (as VetTech) and 2024. This consistent recognition underscores VALOR’s effectiveness as a model for recruiting, training, hiring, and retaining military veterans and transitioning service members entering the civilian workforce. By leveraging veterans’ advanced technical skills and leadership experience, the program significantly contributes to Fermilab’s ability to address critical workforce challenges, including attrition, succession planning and the need for emerging technical talent. The high conversion rate of VALOR participants into long-term, high-impact roles within the laboratory amplifies the program’s strategic value, demonstrating the efficacy of veteran-centered pathways in meeting workforce and innovation goals.
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