Presented in partnership with the Johns Hopkins Veterans Employee Resource Groups, Hopkins Veterans and Allies ERG, the Baltimore City Veterans Commission, the Maryland Veterans Chamber of Commerce, and the Veterans Entrepreneurship Initiative
Veterans Day 2025 at Johns Hopkins brings together the university community and partners to honor service and spotlight innovation in the public good. At 11am, the morning Johns Hopkins Veterans Speaker Event opens with a ceremony featuring the posting of the colors, the national anthem, an invocation, and keynote remarks from General David H. Berger, 38th Commandant of the United States Marine Corps and a Johns Hopkins alumnus. This shared moment of reflection honors the service, sacrifice, and leadership of our nation’s veterans.
Following the ceremony and networking lunch, the 2nd Annual Nexus Harbor Summit begins. The summit continues the day’s focus on connection, recognition, and action through a series of afternoon sessions with veteran entrepreneurs, policymakers, researchers, and civic leaders. Topics include health innovation, civic infrastructure, digital equity, and pathways that connect military experience to long-term public service and community impact.
At 11:00 a.m., the university will gather in the Glass Pavilion for the Annual Veterans Day Celebration. Keynote remarks by General David H. Berger (United States Marine Corp., Ret.), the 38th Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps. Raised in Woodbine, Maryland, Berger earned an advanced degree from Johns Hopkins before leading Marines in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Haiti andlater spearheaded the modernization effort Force Design 2030. Distinguished for both combat leadership and institutional reform, General Berger is respected for combining clear vision with steady resolve.
Senator Benjamin T. Brooks, Sr. represents Maryland’s 10th District in the State Senate, where he serves on the Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee and chairs the Joint Electric Universal Service Program Workgroup. A U.S. Army veteran and former Delegate, he has led efforts on public utilities, energy access, and community development. He was the first African American Commissioner on the Baltimore County Liquor Board and has decades of experience in both public service and private enterprise. Senator Brooks lives in Woodstock, Maryland, and is a proud husband, father, and grandfather.
1100 hrs
Colors, National Anthem, and Invocation.
1115 hrs
Invocation and Introduction of General Berger and Keynote Address from the 38th commandant of the Marine Corps
1145hrs
Networking Lunch sponsored by the JHU Veterans and Hopkins Veterans & Allies Employee Resource Groups and JHU Facilities.
1300 hrs | Fireside Chat: Veterans in Public Service
Join moderator Emmett Roberts for a fireside chat on the continued service of veterans in government, policy, and community leadership. The conversation will explore how lived experience shapes public systems and how institutions can better support the transition from military service to public impact.
1330 hrs
Presentation
The Next Mission: Veterans Leading America’s Innovation Economy
1350 hrs | Panel: From Service to Systems: Local & Civic Impact
Join moderator Lilian Meyers for a panel discussion on how veterans continue to serve. The session highlights how military experience translates into systems thinking, local leadership, and sustainable public impact.
1430 hrs | Panel: Healthtech Bunker: Veterans Driving Health Innovation
Join moderator Jeanne Zucker for a panel discussion on veteran-led approaches to digital health, behavioral care, and dual-use innovation. The session highlights how military experience contributes to the development of technology solutions in the public sector.
1510 hrs | 10 minute Networking Break
1520 hrs | Panel: Funding the Future: Financing Dual-Use and Digital Health Innovation
Hosted by Nick Domnisch, this discussion brings together investors, founders, and public leaders to explore funding models that connect health, defense, and civic technology. Panelists share strategies for blending government, philanthropic, and private capital to scale mission-driven innovation.
1550 hrs | Panel: Project MERIT
Join moderator Mathew Kilbane for a panel on Project MERIT’s model linking universities, business chambers, and veteran networks to advance entrepreneurship, workforce development, and community resilience.
1615 hrs | Closing Remarks
Closing Remarks from the Maryland Senate's Veterans Caucas Chair
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