Publication
Veterans & Military Families
Veteran Transition
The Bush Institute focuses on three main pillars relating to veteran and military family transition: health and well-being, education, and employment.
“We recognize that in helping our veterans, we can unleash the potential of a generation of resourceful, determined, and experienced leaders.”
— President George W. Bush
Roughly 200,000 servicemembers transition to civilian life each year. While many post-9/11 veterans successfully move seamlessly into their next chapters, others face a range of issues from choosing the best education and career path to experiencing challenges with their physical, mental, and brain health.
Connect to Care
Veterans, service members, families, caregivers, and survivors experiencing difficulties in daily life or in distress can reach out to Check-In and trust that an advocate will find a licensed mental and brain health professional who can help.
David J. Kramer
Executive Director, George W. Bush Institute and Vice President
Megan Bunce
Director, Veterans and Military Families
Blayne Smith
Interim Director, Health and Well-Being, Veterans and Military Families
D’Juan Wilcher, Lieutenant Commander, USNR
Deputy Director, Veterans and Military Families
Featured
Publication
Serving out of uniform
Podcast
Blayne Smith — Perseverance, Endurance, and the Special Forces
Publication
Increasing Access to High-Quality Mental Health Care in the 21st Century
<p>The George W. Bush Institute’s Military Service Initiative convened the Stand-To Health and Well-Being Task Force to recommend ways to apply innovative technology solutions to expand and improve mental health care delivery</p>
Publication
Helping Veterans Achieve Their Potential With Higher Education Resources
In Veteran Transition
The latest
Q & A · Jul 1, 2026
Meet the Veteran Wellness Alliance: D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families
The George W. Bush Institute’s Veteran Wellness Alliance is a coalition of veteran peer-to-peer networks and best-in-class mental and brain health care providers who connect veterans, service members, their families, caretakers, and survivors to high-quality care for their invisible wounds. <br> <br> Q&A with Stacy Hawkins, managing director for Research and Evaluation at the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF)
May 28, 2026
Meet the Veteran Wellness Alliance: Avalon Action Alliance
The George W. Bush Institute’s Veteran Wellness Alliance is a coalition of veteran peer-to-peer networks and best-in-class mental and brain health care providers who connect veterans, service members, their families, caretakers, and survivors to high-quality care for their invisible wounds. <br> <br> Q&A with Greg Frey, vice president of strategic engagement and partnerships at Avalon Action Alliance
Nov 7, 2025
An open letter to new veterans
Nov 5, 2025
Statement for the Record by the Bush Institute’s Jason Galui on Maximizing Veterans' Success After Service
Oct 10, 2025
Two-Minute Take: Veterans' benefits during the government shutdown
Oct 1, 2025
Maj. Gen. Jeannie Leavitt teaches that there is opportunity in being told ‘no’