Operation Stand Down CEO to keynote 2025 Veteran Reconnect Conference
Conference set for May 13–14 will mark a decade of advancing veteran student success in Tennessee
Kim Chaudoin |
Lieutenant General Jason T. Evans, U.S. Army (Ret.), a nationally respected leader in military operations, veteran advocacy and human capital strategy, will serve as the keynote speaker for the 2025 Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) Veteran Reconnect Conference, hosted at Lipscomb University on May 13–14.
Evans, who was appointed CEO of Operation Stand Down Tennessee in March, brings nearly four decades of military leadership to the conference stage. His career spans a range of global and domestic assignments, including deployments and leadership roles in Italy, Somalia, Kosovo, Germany, and Iraq, as well as extensive stateside leadership in human resources, installations management, and soldier welfare. He most recently served as the U.S. Army’s first Deputy Chief of Staff, G-9, where he oversaw a portfolio of 141 Army installations worldwide and led the Army’s Quality of Life Task Force, impacting more than 1.1 million soldiers and their families.
“Lieutenant General Evans has dedicated his life to serving our nation and improving the systems that support military members and their families,” said Sam Lynn, director of Veteran Services and associate dean of student life at Lipscomb. “His insights into talent management, military transition, and veteran support are unparalleled, and we are honored to welcome him to Lipscomb for this important gathering.”
Themed “A Decade of Growth,” the 2025 Veteran Reconnect Conference celebrates 10 years since the passage of Tennessee’s Veterans Education Transition Support (VETS) Act. This milestone event will bring together educators, administrators, policy leaders, and student veterans to examine the changing needs of military-connected students and explore innovative strategies for veteran student success. The two-day event made possible by a $100,000 grant from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC).
Another major highlight of the conference will be a panel discussion featuring:
- Dr. Candice McQueen, president, Lipscomb University
- Major General Tommy H. Baker (Ret.), commissioner, Tennessee Department of Veteran Services
- Brigadier General (Ret.) Scott E. Brower, director, Bass Military Scholars Program, Vanderbilt University
- Mike Krause, managing director, John M. Belk Endowment; former Executive Director, THEC
Other conference highlights include:
- At Ease Training: Learn how to better understand the challenges of student veterans and how to support their unique needs.
- Veteran Education Policy Updates: Stay up-to-date on veterans' education policies and explore financial aid challenges and solutions.
- Roundtable Discussions & Keynotes: Engage with experts and peers in discussions on how to improve and expand support for military-connected students.
- Another special highlight of the conference is the Operation Song Workshop, a unique program that empowers veterans, active-duty military members, and their families to tell their stories through the creative process of songwriting. Eight military-connected students from across Tennessee will be selected to participate, creating an emotional and artistic experience that will run concurrently with other conference sessions. The closing session on Day 1 of the conference is a performance of the songs developed during the Operation Song Workshop. This will be a time of reflection as each songwriter performs the song that was written during the day.
Conference registration is free for faculty, staff and students from Tennessee higher education institutions. Out-of-state attendees may register for $175.