dennis mayDennis O. May is the director, Veteran Employment Services Office (VESO), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. He guides the VESO staff in expanding and enhancing recruitment efforts to increase the percentage of Veterans in the VA’s workforce, reduce voluntary turnover by providing career development support and to support our military service members by enhancing deployment life-cycle support.

Prior to assuming his current position, May served as VESO deputy director, and before that as director of the veterans employment coordination service in the VA’s Office of Human Resources Management.

May came to the VA after a successful Air Force career, where he retired at the rank of colonel in 2007. He was commissioned in 1981 as a graduate of the Air Force ROTC program at the University of Arkansas, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in public administration. He later earned a Master of Science degree in public administration from Central Michigan University.

While on active duty, May held a variety of key assignments in administration, manpower and personnel career fields. He served on the Air Staff, at joint commands and at major command levels. He also commanded the 17th Mission Support Squadron at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, which was twice named best mission support squadron in Air Education and Training Command. He served in the Pentagon as director of the Headquarters Air Force Executive Secretariat, as well as Chief of Personnel Issues for the Secretary of the Air Force’s Executive Issues Team.

May earned many awards and decorations to include: the Legion of Merit; the Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Meritorious Service Medal; Air Force Commendation Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. He also earned “Best in the Air Force” recognition as Air Force Senior Personnel Manager of the year for 2000. He later served as Chief of the Assignment Programs and Procedures Division, Headquarters, Air Force Personnel Center, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas where he led a team of military and civilian professionals in the successful creation and execution of the Air Force’s $1.3 billion relocation budget.

He was the University of Arkansas’ Veteran’s Day keynote speaker for “RazorVets: Celebrating Veterans.” He has provided numerous volunteer hours to the Arkansas Alumni Association, Black Alumni Society, Veterans Resource & Information Center and the Career Development Center. He also was initiated in the Kappa Kappa Chapter, Alpha Phi Alpha, Fraternity, Inc.