Army General Martin E. Dempsey led event at USC

April 22, 2015 – Cypress, CA – On Monday, March 23rd, Army General Martin E. Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, led an event at the University of Southern California (USC), focusing on veterans' issues as they transition into civilian life. As Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dempsey is the highest-ranking officer in the United States Armed Forces and is responsible for advising the President, Secretary of Defense, and the National Security Council.

Gen. Dempsey used the event to discuss issues impacting veterans and practical tactics they can use to succeed in post-military life. One of his main points was that the military should be considering service members' departures long before they separate, as a proactive approach will better prepare men and women as they settle into their civilian lives.

Attending the event from Trident were Esmeralda Silva, Associate Vice President of Strategic Business Initiatives and Military and Veterans Relations, and Debbie Letourneau, Senior Marketing Director.

"Through the LA Veterans Collaboration we are able to bring down walls and work cohesively with one common goal – helping veterans in LA County. The Collaboration is making progress and has been successful in supporting and coordinating positive change that is impacting the lives of veterans and ensuring they have access to resources that improve their lives. General Dempsey's message was clear – we must do a better job to ensure our veterans are afforded opportunities for life after service," said Ms. Silva, who is also a member of the LA Veterans Collaboration, which is comprised of both public and private sector interest groups working together to identify and address local veterans issues.

Also speaking at the event was Eric Garcetti, Mayor of Los Angeles.

A full recap of the event can be found at Defense.gov.