The Labor Department recognized MOAA on Nov. 10 as part of a program honoring businesses and organizations for their efforts to create jobs, hire veterans, and maintain veteran workforces.

MOAA received a HIRE Vets Platinum Medallion during a virtual ceremony. The program, established in 2017 legislation, honored 675 companies and organizations this year with either Gold or Platinum recognition. More than 30% of MOAA’s staff is made up of veterans or military spouses. 

“MOAA is honored to be recognized for our commitment to employ veterans,” said Lt. Gen. Dana Atkins, USAF (Ret), president and CEO of MOAA.

“The American workforce is stronger because of the discipline and leadership veterans bring to their jobs, and we’re grateful the U.S. Department of Labor recognizes companies who prioritize hiring veterans,” Atkins said. “Military members add exceptional value to MOAA’s mission because they understand veterans’ unique experiences, challenges, and needs.”

Organizations that applied for consideration had to meet various criteria, including offering leadership programs and tuition assistance to their veteran employees. They were categorized by size and received either Gold or Platinum honors.

MOAA was in the medium employer category and honored with a Platinum award for demonstrating a workforce made up of at least 10% veterans, coupled with its efforts to retain at least 85% of those veterans over the past year. It’s MOAA’s first time receiving the award.

[RELATED: MOAA Employee Receives ESGR Patriot Award]

But MOAA doesn’t just stop with veterans. MOAA has an expanded emphasis on taking care of military families by also hiring military spouses.

Veterans and spouses of all armed services have worked at MOAA, integrated across its departments. Notably, the organization includes several spouses of active duty officers and a pilot for the Maryland National Guard.

“We value the military and veteran community,” said Lt. Col. Ginni Guiton, USA (Ret), MOAA’s senior director of human resources. “We realize these are people who have served, and spouses who have that agility to work hard and bring value to their job. They learn quickly and integrate readily because that’s what they’ve been doing every time they change duty stations.”

Other platinum award winners included Booz Allen Hamilton, DuPont, General Dynamics, Raytheon, and USAA. A full list of winners, searchable by size and location, is available here.