Deloitte has received the Gold Award—the highest tier—in Tennessee’s Veteran Ready Business Recognition Program. This statewide initiative recognizes employers who demonstrate sustained, measurable support for service members, veterans and their families. The program was launched under Gov. Bill Lee to encourage Recruiting, Hiring and Retaining efforts across the state’s private and public sectors.
The award was presented at the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville, where Jonathan Alford, a former U.S. Army staff sergeant and Green Beret, accepted the recognition on Deloitte’s behalf. Alford now serves as a Government and Public Services manager at Deloitte Consulting LLC, leading data architecture and AI projects throughout Tennessee.
“Veterans strengthen Tennessee’s economy, businesses and communities every day,” shared Maj. Gen. Tommy H. Baker (Ret.), Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Veteran Services. “Through this program, we recognize employers like Deloitte who invest in veterans’ growth, support their families and foster workplace cultures that truly value their contributions.”
Program Overview
The Veteran Ready Business Recognition Program evaluates employers across three tiers—bronze, silver and gold—based on recruiting, hiring and retention practices focused on military-connected talent. Gold-level recipients are expected to demonstrate deeper engagement, including structured career-development pathways and sustained community involvement.
State officials said Deloitte met and exceeded those criteria. The firm actively recruits veterans, accepts military service in place of specific civilian credentials and employs more than 3,000 individuals with military backgrounds nationwide. Deloitte also maintains a veteran retention initiative centered on mentorship, targeted skills training and a dedicated employee resource group that supports veterans and their families. Flexible career pathways for military spouses are another component of the firm’s approach.
Application Process
Alford said Deloitte’s participation in the program began in summer 2025, when the firm partnered with the Tennessee Department of Veteran Services as the recognition initiative was being developed.
“Understanding Deloitte’s commitment to veterans and their deep belief and respect for the veteran community, we knew that we would want the gold-level recognition,” Alford said during a recent interview. He added that Deloitte spent several months documenting its policies and submitting materials for evaluation.
For Alford, the award reflects more than procedural alignment. He described it as confirmation of a workplace culture he has experienced firsthand.
Veteran Perspective
A Tennessee native and University of Tennessee graduate, Alford enlisted in the Army after working at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He served roughly six years in Special Forces and was injured in Afghanistan in 2014. After leaving the military, he held leadership roles in higher education technology before joining Deloitte in Nashville.
“As a lifelong Tennessean who spent quite a bit of time away from home, I was certainly eager to return,” Alford said. “I was lucky to find my home at Deloitte.”
He said the firm’s values closely mirror those emphasized during military service and that veterans are consistently reminded that their experience matters. “Deloitte leverages the strengths that are acquired through service and oftentimes helps veterans recognize them for the first time,” he said.
Leadership Transfer
Veterans bring practical leadership skills to client-facing teams, Alford noted, including the ability to perform under pressure and build cohesion in unfamiliar environments.
“You’re repeatedly given impossible tasks, condensed timelines and you’re working with people you’ve never met,” he said. “That builds leaders.”
He also highlighted Deloitte’s focus on long-term professional growth, pointing to mentorship programs, specialized training tracks and employee resource groups that extend well beyond the hiring stage.
Statewide Impact
In accepting the award, Alford said Deloitte was honored to be recognized by Tennessee officials. “As America marks the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, Navy and Marine Corps, we take pride in creating opportunities for veterans and their families right here in Tennessee,” he said in a statement.
Deloitte joins 11 other organizations currently holding Gold status under the program. State leaders have emphasized the broader economic importance of such initiatives, noting that veterans contribute an estimated $33 billion annually to Tennessee’s economy. The recognition program, officials say, is designed to encourage employers statewide to strengthen military hiring pipelines while supporting long-term career growth for veterans and their families.
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