Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Mark A. Milley recognized Elizabeth Dole, the founder and chair of the board of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation; Meghan Ogilvie, CEO of Dog Tag Inc.; and John Chambers, the executive chairman of Cisco Systems, during a "...
From left, John Chambers, the executive chairman of the board of Cisco Systems Inc.; Meghan Ogilvie, the CEO of Dog Tag Inc.; and Elizabeth Dole, the founder and chair of the board of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, prepare to lay a wreath at the Tomb...
WASHINGTON (Army News Service) -- Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Mark A. Milley recognized three civilians for their unwavering commitment to serving the men and women of the armed forces, both past and present, during the "Salute from the Chief" ceremony held in conjunction with a twilight tattoo at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Tuesday.
The chief recognized Elizabeth Dole, the founder and chair of the board of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation and a former senator from North Carolina; John Chambers, the executive chairman and former CEO of Cisco Systems; and Meghan Ogilvie, CEO of Dog Tag Inc., as "three incredible people who exemplify ... selfless service."
Milley said it's not just Soldiers who serve the United States, but also civilians, who serve through their support to the mission and personnel of the Army.
"There are many ways to serve, and you don't have to be in a uniform," Milley said. "Our very existence is all about the American people and protecting them. And without the American people, there would be no Army. The U.S. Army is in fact the American people's Army."
ELIZABETH DOLE: FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN OF THE ELIZABETH DOLE FOUNDATION
"Elizabeth Dole has been involved in serving our nation through service and government," Milley said.
Dole served as Deputy to the Special Assistant for Consumer Affairs during the Nixon administration, launching a dedicated career to public safety.
As a result of her efforts in that role, "she was credited with the historic trifecta of regulation which led to [the implementation of] safety belt use in 49 states, airbags in cars, and a national drinking age that has saved the lives of half a million people to date," Milley said.
Dole received the Humanitarian Award from the National Commission Against Drunk Driving and the Lifetime Achievement Award from Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety for her work.
Dole continued her public service as the the second woman to serve as president of the American Red Cross, and, in 2002, became the first woman elected to represent North Carolina in the United States Senate.
In 2012, she founded Caring for Military Families: The Elizabeth Dole Foundation.
Dole's foundation raises awareness and support for the 5.5 million young spouses, mothers, fathers and other loved ones caring for America's wounded warriors at home.
The foundation assists other organizations and agencies that serve the caregivers responsible for an injured military member, including spouses and parents. The goals of the foundation are to align lifeline services for wounded warriors, promote synergy between the public, private, nonprofit, labor and faith communities, and raise awareness about the critical needs facing caregivers today.
Caregivers are heroes, and Elizabeth Dole understands this, Milley said. "On behalf of the U.S. Army, thank you so much for all that you have done. We salute you."
JOHN CHAMBERS: CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF CISCO SYSTEMS
"[John Chambers] is focused on empowering veterans who are adjusting to life after military service," Milley said. "He volunteers his time and understands the value of veterans to our civilian workforce. He is the leading advocate for the skill, experience, and qualifications that our Soldiers bring to any organization. He has put his incredible talent and intellect into advocacy, and put it into action."
At Cisco Systems, John Chambers leads the board of directors and provides advice and counsel to the CEO and Cisco leadership on the company's strategy, digital transformation, and strategic partnerships. In June 2011, Cisco started a corporate veterans program that established career training resources with a focus on helping veterans find jobs.
Under Chambers' leadership, Cisco launched an information technology training and certification program in 2013, which fast-tracked transitioning military personnel through IT training and certifications from Cisco and other companies.
He was instrumental in the development of the North Carolina for Military Employment program, which brings together key stakeholders in the military employment process to connect military talent to open jobs, education and training opportunities in the state.
Under his direction, Cisco also became a founding member of the Veteran Jobs Mission, a coalition of 11 companies throughout the U.S. that are committed to hiring a million veterans by 2020, Milley said. As of Dec. 31, 2016, Veterans Jobs Mission corporate partners have hired approximately 400,000 veterans.
Chambers' role was pivotal in the reduction of veteran unemployment by three percent nationwide, Milley noted. "His desire to support our military veterans is incredible. Thank you for continuing your service to our veterans. We salute you."
MEGHAN OGILVIE: CEO OF DOG TAG INC.
"It is important to raise awareness for those that care for our warriors and help them transition from this uniform to ... our civilian communities," Milley said. "Dog Tag Inc. takes on that challenge every day."
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