A Message from NACVSO President - December 2025

Greetings, NACVSO Members and Strategic Partners

As we close out the year, it’s worth taking a moment to reflect on how far our profession has come—and where we’re headed next. For decades, our name, the National Association of County Veteran Service Officers, has reflected the roots of our membership: county-based advocates who serve as the front line of veterans services across the country. But over time, the fabric of our association has evolved. Today, NACVSO includes not only county Veteran Service Officers, but also tribal representatives, state-level advocates, and other governmental personnel who stand shoulder to shoulder in service to veterans and their families. Our community is broader, more diverse, and more collaborative than ever before.

While our name will remain the same, the time has come to adopt language that reflects an expanded reality. After thoughtful discussion, we will begin using the term Governmental Veteran Service Officer (GVSO) as a unifying, profession-wide acronym. GVSO speaks to the shared core of our work: public servants, operating at every level of government, helping veterans and their families access the benefits they have earned. It is a recognition that our impact extends far beyond county lines—and that our collective identity has matured into something larger.

I encourage all members to begin weaving “GVSO” into your vocabulary when you are referring to the broader role of governmental advocates, NACVSO membership, or the profession at large. At the same time, you should continue using the title appropriate to your position—County VSO, Tribal VSO, State VSO, or another designation—when describing your specific role or jurisdiction. This approach honors both clarity and unity: it preserves the importance of local title distinctions while strengthening our collective presence as a national profession.

Of course, any shift in terminology presents challenges. Change takes repetition, patience, and a shared commitment. But this transition must begin with us. If we speak about ourselves in ways that reflect the full breadth of who we are, our partners, our counties, our states, and—most importantly—our veterans will begin to understand and adopt that language as well. By embracing GVSO, we are taking another step toward elevating our profession into the broader public consciousness and ensuring our work is recognized for its essential role in government operations.

Thank you for everything you do. Let’s enter the new year united, clear in purpose, and ready to lead the way in defining the standard of excellence for GVSOs nationwide.

Very Respectfully,

Andrew Tangen

President, NACVSO