Veterans Program for Politics and Civic Engagement

The Veterans Program for Politics and Civic Engagement (VPPCE) is a selective, rigorous and intense educational initiative tailored to meet the specific needs of veterans and military-connected individuals who have an interest in pursuing careers in politics.

Instructors include esteemed faculty from the Maxwell School—the nation’s #1-ranked graduate school in public affairs— veterans with first-hand experience running for office and experts in the field.

Offered with the initial support of JPMorgan Chase & Co. through a collaborative effort by Syracuse University’s D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families and the Maxwell School.

This program is a world-class, front seat, crash course for veterans interested in public engagement and public office. It was totally bipartisan and participants were engaging and supportive of each other. I would highly recommend this course to any veteran looking to become more active and engaged in policy.”

Molly Mae Potter 2020 VPPCE Participant, U.S. Air Force Veteran

Client Solutions Group, Security Governance and Oversight, Dell Technologies

What You Will Experience

Hybrid in-person and online instruction and dynamic interaction
A unique experience to strengthen your relationship with your cohort, alumni, instructors and friends of the program
An immersion training
Ongoing access to continuing learning opportunities for all VPPCE alums

The ultimate deliverable for this program is a refined campaign plan for each program participant.

Program Structure

The program offers two sections: the campaign planning section and the ideation section. Participants will be assigned to the section we believe better serves your goals and interests as stated in your application. Participants who succeed in the ideation section will be offered an opportunity to join a campaign planning section within a year or two.

The Ideation Section

The ideation section is designed for veterans and individuals with military connections who have demonstrated a strong interest in politics but are in the early stage of exploring a political career. The goal is to help participants develop a better understanding of their motivations and commitment to public office as well as what offices might interest and fit them.

The Ideation section provides 12 hours of asynchronous and synchronous instruction and interaction. The synchronous sessions will be delivered online at 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, July 15; Wednesday, July 16; and Thursday, July 17, 2025. Participants will be provided asynchronous content before July 5, 2025. Those who complete the ideation section successfully and are interested in continuing to pursue a political career might be assigned to the curriculum planning section either in the same year or the next year.

The Campaign Planning Section

The campaign planning section will mostly be delivered online. Participants are required to attend all live sessions, submit a stump speech video, and present a campaign plan. The 2025 program schedule is as follows:

Weekly Online Sessions

Ten weekly online sessions will be held from 6-8 p.m. ET from Sept. 9 to Nov. 18, except on Oct. 21, when the immersion sessions will take place. In addition, all participants must attend one public speaking workshop from 6-7:30 p.m. ET on either Wednesday, Oct. 21, or Tuesday, Oct. 27.

On-Campus Immersion Sessions

Immersion training will be held from 5 p.m. ET, Oct. 21, through 5 p.m. ET, Oct. 23. Participants are highly encouraged to attend in person. Housing and meals will be provided by the program. A virtual attendance option is available for those unable to attend on campus.

Participant Campaign Plan Presentations and Program Summary

The participant campaign plan presentations and program summary will take place online from 5 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 13, and Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026.

Please note that the program schedule is subject to change.

The instruction and assistance provided by Steve and Nick and the VPPCE instructors helped me shape my campaign message, helping me get elected to my town council. Their assistance was invaluable, and the message they helped me draft was so impactful that people came up to me and told me that helped sway their vote in my favor.”

Louis (Lou) Luba ’93 J.D./M.P.A. 2019 VPPCE Participant, U.S. Coast Guard Veteran

Senior Assistant State’s Attorney, Town of Tolland (CT) Councilmember

Eligibility

A selective, rigorous and intense educational initiative, our program represents a unique opportunity for those who have sacrificed for our freedom, or their family members, to take an important step toward continuing their commitment to public service through elected office. The program offers intensive training for veteran and military family members with career interests in politics.

All veterans and their family members are eligible to apply. Successful candidates must be able to demonstrate a strong potential for a future career in politics and are interested in running for public office or getting involved in political campaigns. 

Application

A completed application package will include the following:

Completed application form
Resume (uploaded through the online application)
Proof of military service (DD214 Member 4; or, VA statement of service showing character of service. For active duty: a statement of service or record brief)

Selection will be based on the ‘whole-person’ concept, with a particular focus on an assessment of each candidate’s potential to excel not only in the program, but also upon graduation, in their chosen area of leadership in public office. References and interviews may be requested of finalists. We strive to select a cohort for the program that reflects diverse experiences and perspectives.

There are two required uploads in the online application portal necessary for successful completion of this application. While you will be able to to save your resume and application, please make sure that you are prepared to submit all materials shortly after beginning your application. You will only have 30 days to access your in-progress application after the first time you save it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the online learning delivered through live sessions?
Yes. The ideation track is 12 hours of online learning split between on-demand learning (3 hours) and live online instruction (9 hours).

The campaign planning track is primarily live online instruction, supplemented by asynchronous content. It also includes 2.5 days of immersive training in Syracuse, N.Y.

What is the cost of the program?
Expenses related to campaign planning program participation (e.g., attendance, lodging and meals) are covered through the generous support of donors. Participants are responsible for travel costs to Syracuse, N.Y., for the 3-day immersive training.

Do I earn credit through Syracuse University and receive a certificate or diploma on completion?
There will be a certificate providing documentation of attendance and the opportunity to secure a non-credit transcript detailing the course completed by Syracuse University.

When is the application deadline?
Except for the first section of the ideation track, all applications are due May 30, 2026. The deadline for Section 1 of the ideation track is April 17, 2026.

We encourage applicants to apply early for the best chance of admission and section availability.

How many participants are expected to be admitted to the program?
Each section will have between 25-30 participants

How have the alumni benefited from the program?
Approximately 400 participants have completed the program since its inception. The vast majority of the VPO alums have been more actively engaged politically and civically; many of them have run for office, or are running and organizing campaigns at the federal, state and local levels; and more than 20 have been elected or reelected.

What happens after the program?
Program alumni receive support from IVMF alumni services, Maxwell School alumni networks and central University alumni services. All program graduates are part of a private LinkedIn group and are equipped with a campaign toolkit outlining the many important facets of getting a campaign off the ground and successfully running a campaign.