Veterans in distribution 

November 11, 2022 – As we pause to commemorate Veterans Day, HIDA wanted to spotlight the role of military veterans in the medical supply chain, both the efforts of individual veterans in the industry, and the efforts of our member companies to create opportunities for veterans. 

At HIDA’s Streamlining Healthcare Expo and Business Exchange, attendees heard from retired General Gus Perna, a four-star general with 38 years of service in the U.S. Army. General Perna had led Operation Warp Speed under both President Trump and Biden. The $26 billion program delivered vaccines to 300 million Americans. Perna shared his experience during an hour-long conversation with HIDA CEO Matt Rowan. General Perna recognized the military veterans at the conference and thanked them for their service. 

Throughout the healthcare distribution industry, military veterans are hard at work getting critical healthcare products to the patients and providers that need them. Whether large or small, all businesses in the medical supply chain benefit from the unique skillset and mindset of America’s veterans.  

  • Black Box Safety was founded five years ago by U.S. Marine Corps veteran Jackson Dalton, in a one-bedroom apartment with business school lessons he found on YouTube. Today, it has grown to a storefront and warehouse with 6 full-time employees. In 2021, Dalton was honored with the 2021 Above and Beyond Award for Veteran Business of the Year by the by the Veterans in Business Network. 
  • Another medical distributor, Henry Schein, recently launched a Veterans Engagement Team (VET) to represent veterans, service members, and their families. Its inaugural program – “From Boots to Suits” – featured a panel discussion on the transition from service to civilian life. VET hopes to bring awareness to employees to recruit more servicemembers to join Henry Schein and to further advocate for those who are already employed with the company. 
  • At Owens & Minor, veterans fill critical leadership roles throughout the organization at every level. Retired United States Army Lt. Gen. Gwendolyn M. Bingham was appointed to the company’s board of directors in March 2020 following a distinguished and historic 38-year career in the military. In addition to serving on the board of Owens & Minor, Lt. Gen. Bingham is chair of the Governance and Nominating committee and a member of the committee for Our People & Culture. 

There are many ways to honor veterans – by hiring veterans for positions in healthcare distribution, working with veteran-owned businesses to meet the supplier diversity needs of providers, or serving providers that care for veterans. As we thank our military veterans for their service, let us be mindful of ways to draw upon their strengths and skills in civilian life. 

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