Johns Hopkins APL Wins Federal Award for Veteran Employment

The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, has received a 2026 HIRE Vets Gold Medallion Award from the U.S. Department of Labor, recognizing the Laboratory’s commitment to recruiting, employing, and retaining U.S. military veterans.

Established through the Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans (HIRE Vets) Act of 2017, the HIRE Vets Medallion Program is the only federal award recognizing exceptional achievement in veteran employment. Recipients must meet rigorous standards for hiring, retaining, and supporting veterans in the workplace.

“Veterans bring invaluable experience, leadership, and understanding of the operational challenges facing our warfighters,” said APL Director Dave Van Wie. “We are proud to have such a strong veteran presence at the Laboratory, where their expertise and experience strengthens our ability to develop high-impact solutions and capabilities. This recognition reflects APL’s continued commitment to ensuring veterans have opportunities to build meaningful careers and continue serving our nation in new ways.”

Almost 11% of APL’s staff are veterans. The Lab’s support for veterans extends from their transition out of military service through their careers at APL, starting with the APL Veterans’ Club, which provides transitioning and current veteran employees with peer mentoring, career guidance, and a community that helps them learn to apply their military experience in a civilian research and engineering environment. An authorized Department of War SkillBridge provider, APL also participates in Hiring Our Heroes fellowship programs, giving transitioning service members opportunities to gain civilian career experience.

“Veterans are an important part of the culture that makes APL such a special place to work,” said Kristine Frohman, head of APL’s Talent Services Department. “Our goal is not simply to recruit veterans but to create an environment where they can translate their skills and experiences into rewarding careers and continue to grow professionally. We’re honored to have those efforts recognized by the government.”

“As a veteran myself, I know how much it means to find a place where you can continue to make a difference after your military service ends,” said Larry Harvell, APL’s military and veteran recruiting program lead. “One of the most rewarding parts of my job is helping fellow veterans discover opportunities they may not have known existed and seeing them build fulfilling careers here. This award is meaningful recognition of that work, but what matters most is the difference we’re making for individual veterans.”

The HIRE Vets Gold Medallion Award builds on APL’s history of recognition for supporting veterans and military service members. In 2024, the Laboratory was Maryland’s largest employer to receive the Pro Patria Award, the highest recognition bestowed by state-level Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve committees.