National Gala
Presented by USAA
May 17, 2025
7:00 pm -12:00 am ET
Hilton Arlington National Landing
2399 Richmond Highway
Arlington, VA 22202
Cocktail or Military Equivalent Attire
7-8 PM
VIP Reception
8-9:30 PM
Dinner & Awards Ceremony
9:30-12:00 AM
After-Party
National Gala Keynote Speaker
Secretary Tony Woods,
Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families
Secretary Tony Woods was appointed by Governor Wes Moore to lead the Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families. The department’s mission is to serve Maryland’s veterans, service members, their families, and dependents in securing benefits earned through uniformed service.
Tony is an Army veteran with two deployments to Iraq where he earned a Bronze Star for his service. He was discharged from the U.S. Army in 2008 under the military’s “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy, which barred members of the LGBTQ community from serving openly in the military. Tony worked with advocates to repeal the law and has resumed his service in the U.S. Army Reserve. He currently holds the rank of Major and is assigned to the Joint Staff at the Pentagon.
Prior to his appointment, Secretary Woods worked in the private sector at Cisco Systems, The Boston Consulting Group, and Capital One. He was a White House Fellow under President Barack Obama and has served as a leader and board member in the public sector. Tony’s roles include membership on former Secretary of Veterans Affairs Bob McDonald’s advisory committee on minority veterans and Blue Star Families’ race, equity, and inclusion advisory board.
Tony holds degrees from West Point, Harvard, and the University of Maryland and resides in Prince George’s County with his husband Zach.
