Commissioner Interviews: Secretary of Veterans and Military Families, Anthony Woods
The Maryland Two Fifty Commission staff enjoyed meeting with Secretary Anthony Woods of the Department of Veterans and Military Families (DVMF) and a MD Two Fifty Commissioner at the Maryland Association of Counties conference, about his military service, his work in the Moore-Miller Administration and what he’s looking forward to about the semiquincentennial.
Appointed by Governor Wes Moore in January 2022 as Secretary of the recently renamed Department of Veterans and Military Families, Secretary Anthony Woods brought years of military service and public service to the administration. He shared that “Governor Moore looked for people who were passionate, talented public servants to bring deep expertise to their prospective fields.” The team’s expertise has inspired Secretary Woods everyday.
Secretary Woods spoke of his military service and how what he learned in that capacity has supported his current work as a Secretary. Much like he wasn’t able to pick the soldiers under his command while serving as a Lieutenant, he is committed to bringing out the best in all who serve on his team at DVMF.
When asked about his proudest moment during two tours of Iraq, Secretary Woods stated he was proudest that he “brought every single soldier home.”
The U.S. Army, Navy and Marine Corps will celebrate their 250th anniversary in 2025. Secretary Woods says part of his initial excitement in becoming a MD Two Fifty Commissioner was the Commission’s focus on telling holistic stories and a commitment to telling representative stories of those who have served. Specifically, he hopes that telling more diverse stories will help underrepresented individuals who served in the military take advantage of their earned benefits because they see themselves represented in stories of service in America’s military history.”
He hopes that this increased awareness and focus will not only help veterans, but also encourage younger Americans to consider military service, which he says develops leadership skills and fosters teamwork. Secretary Wood believes that the MD Two Fifty Commission will go a long way to showcase the benefits of military service and the impacts that veterans can have in their community.”