Continuing the Mission: What Being a Veteran Means to Me in the DEA

Tammy L. Van Keuren - Assistant Administrator - Human Resources Division

How has your military experience prepared you for your career at DEA?

Growing up as a proud Air Force brat, with a father who served our country for 28 years, I learned early the importance of service, sacrifice, adaptability, and commitment to something greater than yourself. Those values were further reinforced through my own service in the United States Air Force and have shaped my leadership philosophy throughout my federal career. The military taught me resilience, accountability, teamwork, and the importance of taking care of people—principles I carry with me every day as a senior leader at DEA.

What would you like other veterans to know about working at DEA?

Your service doesn’t end when you take off the uniform—it simply takes on a new mission. DEA offers veterans an opportunity to continue serving our nation alongside dedicated professionals who share a commitment to integrity, teamwork, and protecting the American people. Whether your background is in law enforcement, intelligence, technology, human resources, or another specialty, the leadership, discipline, and unique perspectives you developed in the military are invaluable. At DEA, your experience matters, your service is valued, and your commitment to our country continues to make a difference.

Robert T. Voskoyan Ed. - DEA Office of Training

How did your military experience prepare you for your career at DEA?

I served in the United States Marine Corps from 1999 to 2012, including three deployments to Iraq. During those years, I learned that leadership is not simply about giving orders. It is about taking care of your people, making sound decisions under pressure, holding yourself accountable, and accomplishing the mission.

The Marine Corps taught me the importance of discipline, adaptability, teamwork, and leading by example. More importantly, it taught me that the success of any organization depends on the people within it and how well they are prepared to perform their responsibilities.

Those lessons have carried directly into my career with DEA. As the Unit Chief of the Training Development Unit within the Office of Training, I have the opportunity to apply those same principles by helping develop the training that prepares DEA personnel to carry out their mission.

One of the greatest lessons I took from the Marine Corps is that the responsibility of a leader is not just to accomplish today's mission, but to prepare others to succeed in tomorrow's. That philosophy continues to guide how I approach leadership, training, and service at DEA.

What would you like other Veterans to know about working at DEA?

I would tell fellow Veterans that leaving the military does not mean leaving behind the sense of purpose, camaraderie, and commitment to something greater than yourself that comes with serving our country.

DEA offers an opportunity to continue serving the American people in a different capacity. Whether working in enforcement, intelligence, training, administration, or another critical support role, every position contributes to the agency's mission.

Veterans bring valuable experiences to DEA, including leadership, resilience, discipline, teamwork, and the ability to perform in challenging environments. Those qualities do not disappear when you take off the uniform. They become part of what you bring to your next organization.

For me, one of the most rewarding aspects of working at DEA is knowing that I can continue making a difference by helping prepare others to succeed. The uniform may have changed, but my commitment to service has not.

My message to other Veterans is simple: Your military service may be over, but your opportunity to serve, lead, and make a difference is far from finished.

Autumn Lombardi - Corporate Recruitment Unit

I’m currently a writer and a corporate recruiter for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). As a 12-year Air Force veteran who served both enlisted and as a commissioned officer, I know firsthand what it means to transition from military life. I also know the unique strengths, sacrifices, and deep-rooted commitment that define our community, a perspective I share with my husband, a 26-year retired Air Force veteran.

When I look at the backgrounds of our DEA employees who have served, I don't just see a list of assignments. I see a profound understanding of what it means to protect our nation. Having worn both the stripes and the bars, I know that veterans understand how to lead from the front, follow with loyalty, and build elite teams out of diverse groups.

To the veterans already within our DEA ranks: thank you for continuing to stand on the front lines. Nearly 30% of our workforce has military roots, and your presence ensures that our culture remains anchored in camaraderie, structure, and high-level purpose.

To my brothers and sisters in arms your mission doesn’t have to end when you take off the uniform.

Robert “Vinny” Lombardi - DEA Office of Training

How their military experience prepared them for their career at DEA?

After retiring at 46 following 26 years in the U.S. Air Force, I spent a year searching for my next purpose. When I joined DEA’s Office of Training in the fall of 2019, I was immediately embraced. The DEA mirrors the exact camaraderie and professionalism I relied on during my military service. Even as colleagues come and go, that welcoming culture has never wavered. Because of the people and environment here, I know the Office of Training will be my final professional home.

What would they like other Veterans to know about working at DEA?

Joining the DEA family didn't just give me a second career—it gave me a way to directly apply the skills I built in the military. Looking out for one another is a staple of this community, and we are all united behind an undeniable mission. Protecting families from the drug epidemic is as honorable a goal as any organization can have, and it is a privilege to still be serving.