Suozzi, Joined By Veterans And Businesses Paticipating In Warriors To Work, Said Other Employers Can Do More For Our Veterans

MINEOLA, NY – On the celebration of the 65th Anniversary of D-Day, Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi, joined by veterans hired through the Warriors to Work program as well as participating organizations, encouraged more businesses to pledge jobs for veterans.

Warriors to Work, announced in December 2008, is a public-private partnership aimed at providing employment opportunities for our nation's veterans. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2008 the national unemployment rate for veterans who have served in the U.S. armed forces since September 2001 was 7.3%. The unemployment rate for non-veterans in 2008 was 5.6%. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are approximately 75,000 veterans living in Nassau County.

“The Warriors to Work program has placed several veterans with private employers and we thank those employers for their participation, but we need the business community to do more,” said Suozzi. “On this 65th Anniversary of D-Day as we remember those soldiers who gave their lives for our freedom we must never forget their commitment and the commitment of those heroes who return home.”

Suozzi was joined by participating businesses and three veterans who were hired through Warriors to Work: Lanier Westmoreland, Kerwin Blake, and Deborah DeCicco.

Lanier Westmoreland, from Lawrence, was hired by Clever Devices as a Jr. Project Director. Lanier Westmoreland first enlisted in the Navy in May 1984 as a sailor and rose through the ranks to be a commissioned officer as a Lieutenant, currently serving as a Special Projects Officer. He was deployed on the USS Dallas, the USS Glenard P. Lipscomb, the USS FIFE and USS Blue Ridge and during this time completed his Masters in Information Systems and Technology.

Kerwin Blake, from Elmont, was hired by North Shore Long Island Jewish Health System as a Retirement Benefits Specialist through Warriors to Work. Kerwin joined the US Navy in October 2000 and served in Afghanistan for nine months on the Gulf Coast, returning home in 2008.

Deborah DeCicco, from Oceanside, will start as a Program Manager for the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) program for the US Navy at Northrop Grumman in Bethpage on June 8. Deborah is a retired Lieutenant Colonel from the US Army Reserve and last served as Assistant Chief of Deployment Operations. She is also a veteran of the Gulf War.

Suozzi also announced the new assignment of program coordinator of Warriors to Work, J. Scott Castillo. Corporal J. Scott Castillo joined the armed forces after 9/11 and served under the US Special Operation Command as a US Army Airborne Ranger with the 1st battalion of the 75th Ranger Regiment and served tours of duty in Afghanistan in 2002 and Iraq in 2003. He also served with the Fighting 69th Infantry Regimen.

“We are all grateful to Tom Suozzi for sponsoring this program. It is a great privilege to be able to participate,” said Bill Long, CEO of Clever Devices.

“As Long Island's largest employer, the North Shore-LIJ Health System has more than 125 employees who are serving in the military, either in active duty or in the Reserves. Recognizing the financial burdens placed on our military employees and their families, the health system has already started supplementing the military pay of our veterans while they are deployed overseas. In keeping with the spirit of the 'Warriors to Work' initiative, North Shore-LIJ will also continue to work closely with County Executive Suozzi, county officials, and veterans groups to find jobs for veterans and help ease their transition back to civilian life, “ said Joseph Cabral, North Shore LIJ Senior Vice President and Chief HR officer.

“Northrop Grumman’s relationship with Nassau County and its Warriors to Work program has enabled us to recruit additional talent to our company beyond our own veterans’ recruitment program, Operation Impact (which focuses on hiring disabled veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan). We’re proud to work with County Executive Suozzi to ensure that our returning veterans have opportunities for employment. It is a real team effort,” said Pat McMahon, Vice President and Deputy, Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) Aerospace Systems Battle Management and Engagement Systems of Bethpage, NY.

“In remembrance of D-Day, Adecco Group North America is proud to honor American soldiers of the past as we work to provide new opportunities to the soldiers of today. We remain committed to the Warriors to Work program of Nassau County as we continue to facilitate a smooth transition for veterans into civilian work,” said Rachelle Chapman, Manager of Government Relations, Adecco Group North America.

Veterans can call the Nassau County Veterans Service Agency’s Warriors to Work hotline at (516) 572-8451 if they are seeking employment and are linked with a participating employer. The County will continue to conduct outreach to veterans in Nassau County including those veterans that are returning from war.

Warriors to Work is part of Opportunity Nassau, which reflects County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi’s commitment to broadening opportunities for Nassau County residents whether through the most efficient delivery of human services, creating more opportunities for housing for seniors, young people and others, or facilitating employment opportunities through programs such as Warriors to Work or the Summer Youth Employment Corps program. The future of Nassau County depends on the success of all of our residents.
Participating Unions and Businesses Currently Include:

5 June 2009

Suozzi, Joined By Veterans And Businesses Participating In Warriors To Work, Said Other Employers Can Do More For Our Veterans