Preparing Veterans and Military Families for the Next Call to Serve.
Veterans for Public Office
Veterans for Public Office (formerly the Veterans Program for Politics and Civic Engagement) is a nonpartisan civic leadership program for veterans and military spouses interested in public service, politics or campaign leadership at the local, state or national level.
The program combines academic insight with practical guidance to support participants at different stages of readiness through two connected tracks: Ideation and Campaign Planning.
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.
Launched with foundational funding from JPMorgan Chase & Co., and sustained today in large part through the leadership and philanthropic commitment of David Kelso ’68, alongside contributions from a growing community of supporters.
This program has had a profound impact on my life and perspective of continuing to serve. The professors collectively created a safe environment to share different views and to explore the concept of continuing to serve our nation as veterans. I will forever be grateful for this opportunity.”
Sa’eed Mustafa 2025 VPO Participant, Retired U.S. Army Command Sergeant Major
Council Member, Highlands, New York
Program Structure
The program offers two tracks: the ideation track and the campaign planning track. Participants in the ideation track will engage with Syracuse University faculty, IVMF staff, politicians and campaign experts via online learning and web conferencing platforms. Participants in the campaign planning track will engage with leaders in the U.S. political system, University faculty and campaign experts at Syracuse University to gain the knowledge, tools and confidence needed to successfully run a campaign for public office.
Together, these tracks provide a flexible pathway from exploration to action, connecting participants to a national community of veteran and military-affiliated civic leaders.
The Ideation Track
The ideation track is designed for individuals exploring a potential path in politics or civic leadership. Participants gain a foundational understanding of the political landscape while examining their motivations, values and opportunities for impact—without committing to a campaign.
The ideation track provides 12 hours of online learning, on-demand course work (3 hours) and live online learning (9 hours). Each ideation section consists of three consecutive evenings, held from 4-7 p.m. ET.
Section 1: May 12-14, 2026
Section 2: July 7-9, 2026
Section 3: Dec. 8-10, 2026
The Campaign Planning Track
The campaign planning track supports participants who are actively preparing to run for office or lead a civic initiative. This track focuses on the practical elements of campaign development, including strategy, messaging, fundraising, compliance and team building, culminating in a clear campaign or civic action plan.
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.
Please note that the program schedule is subject to change.
The program was a great opportunity for me to learn more about what the process of running a campaign looks like and understanding the goals you want to have.”
Jenn Kaaoush 2025 VPO Participant, U.S. Army
Superior, Colorado Town Council, former U.S. Diplomat
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.
The application opens March 17, 2026.
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, New York.
What is the cost of the program?
The initiative was launched with foundational funding from JPMorgan Chase & Co., and today it is sustained in large part through the leadership and philanthropic commitment of David Kelso ’68, alongside contributions from a growing community of supporters. Through this collective generosity, programming for both the ideation and campaign planning tracks is offered at no cost to participants.
For those in the campaign planning track who travel to Syracuse for the immersive training, the program covers attendance, lodging and meals. Participants are responsible only for their travel to and from Syracuse, New York.
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 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.