A Conversation with American Veterans Vote CEO LTG Bob Wood, USA (Ret)

With this conversation, we are joined by Lieutenant General Bob Wood, USA (Ret), Chief Executive Officer for American Veterans Vote, a Veteran based advocacy group focused on encouraging Veterans to understand and use their collective political voice. LTG Wood retired in 2009 with 36 years of service in the United States Army, commanding at all levels in the Army through Division. He served in senior operations and strategy staff positions at the Army, Joint, and Coalition levels, also as a White House fellow during the Reagan Administration.  The American Veterans Vote mission is, “To promote the political voice of Veterans and mission partners in support of Veterans and their families, the defense of the Constitution and a strong national security.”  Bob Wood expands on the mission of American Veterans Vote, to include spotlight on the bottom up versus top down approach philosophy behind America Veterans Vote.  On the front page of the American Veterans Vote Homepage, it is stated, “Our nation struggles to keep our constitutional republic intact, to heal and unite communities, and restore love and respect for our great nation and people.” Bob Wood spotlights how American Veterans Vote is working to address this statement.  He discusses how American Veterans Vote seeks to understand and engage with the otherwise sizable population of Veterans in both Virginia and around America, who feel left behind by the American Voting system, with national, states and local elections. How can one both join and volunteer for American Veterans Vote? What are some of the events and activities of American Veterans Vote? Bob Wood also speaks to the greatest challenges in the founding of American Veterans Vote. In closing, Bob Wood provides his overarching thoughts regarding increasing the the political voice of both our Nations Veterans and their families.