1100 hrs
Colors, National Anthem, and Invocation
Montserrat Buganza (Singer of National Anthem)
Kathy Schnurr (Chaplain, JHU)
Nexus Harbor Summit Series
Veterans for the Future: Innovation in Service of the Public Good
November 11, 2025 | Veterans Day at Johns Hopkins
Veterans Day 2025 at Johns Hopkins brings together the university community and partners to honor service and spotlight innovation in the public good. At 11am, the morning Johns Hopkins Veterans Speaker Event opens with a ceremony featuring the posting of the colors, the national anthem, an invocation, and keynote remarks from General David H. Berger, 38th Commandant of the United States Marine Corps and a Johns Hopkins alumnus. This shared moment of reflection honors the service, sacrifice, and leadership of our nation's veterans.
Following the ceremony and networking lunch, the 2nd Annual Nexus Harbor Summit begins. The summit continues the day's focus on connection, recognition, and action through a series of afternoon sessions with veteran entrepreneurs, policymakers, researchers, and civic leaders.
Featured voices
Host & headliners
Schedule
Montserrat Buganza (Singer of National Anthem)
Kathy Schnurr (Chaplain, JHU)
1115 hrs
Keynote Address from the 38th Commandant of the Marine Corps
Introduced by Bob McLean (Vice President, Facilities, JHU / CAPT, CEC USN ret)
Keynote: Gen David H. Berger, USMC (ret), 38th Commandant
Raised in Woodbine, Maryland, Berger earned an advanced degree from Johns Hopkins before leading Marines in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Haiti and later spearheaded the modernization effort Force Design 2030. Distinguished for both combat leadership and institutional reform, General Berger is respected for combining clear vision with steady resolve.
Bob McLean
Gen David H. Berger
1145 hrs
Networking Lunch
Sponsored by the JHU Veterans and Hopkins Veterans & Allies Employee Resource Groups and JHU Facilities
1300 hrs
Fireside Chat: Veterans in Public Service
Moderator: Emmett Roberts, MBA (CEO, MDVCC / MAJ, U.S. Army RET)
Panelists: Sen Benjamin T. Brooks Sr. (U.S. Army Veteran), Dr Gloria Dent (Representing Delegate Mike Rogers / CSM, U.S. Army RET), Adler Archer JD (Managing Director, Nexus Harbor / USAF Veteran), Dr. Ian Campbell (IGR Strategic Advisor / Commissioner, African Affairs), Alvin Hartley (CEO, TMI & Partners / US Navy Veteran)
Emmett Roberts
Sen Benjamin T. Brooks Sr.
Dr Gloria Dent
Adler Archer
Dr. Ian Campbell
Alvin Hartley
1330 hrs
Presentation: The Next Mission: Veterans Leading America's Innovation Economy
Speaker: Ricardo Garcia (Co-Founder, VEI / U.S. Air Force Veteran)
Ricardo Garcia
1350 hrs
Panel: From Service to Systems: Local & Civic Impact
Moderator: Lilian Myers (Fractional CSO, CONVX)
Panelists: Dr Cheryl Ford (Board of Directors, MDVCC / CAPT, U.S.P.H.S RET), KeSean Johnson (Communication Consultant / SSG, U.S. Army RET), Dr Rainya Miller (Board of Directors, MDVCC / U.S. Navy Veteran), Rob Wierzbicki (Veterans Health Advocate / USAF Veteran)
Lilian Myers
Dr Cheryl Ford
KeSean Johnson
Dr Rainya Miller
Rob Wierzbicki
1430 hrs
Panel: Healthtech Bunker: Veterans Driving Health Innovation
Moderator: Jeanne Zucker (Enterprise Advisor, Alto Pharmacy)
Panelists: Dr. Timothy Coffin (CEO, Conquiro / USAF Veteran), Dr. Jayfus Doswell (President/CEO, Juxtopia LLC), David S. Franklin (Founder and CEO, Naviday Health / USN Veteran), Sean Freitag MBA (CEO, Signum Technologies / USN Veteran), Dr Diandra Poe (Board of Directors, MDVCC / U.S. Army Veteran)
Jeanne Zucker
Dr. Timothy Coffin
Dr. Jayfus Doswell
David S. Franklin
Sean Freitag
Dr Diandra Poe
1510 hrs
Networking Break (10 minutes)
1520 hrs
Panel: Funding the Future: Financing Dual-Use and Digital Health Innovation
Host: Nick Domnisch (CEO, EE Solutions)
Panelists: Adler Archer JD, Dr. Jayfus Doswell, Adam Brochetti MBA (Co-Founder, Be In Health AI / USMC Veteran), Ricardo Garcia
Nick Domnisch
Adler Archer
Dr. Jayfus Doswell
Adam Brochetti
Ricardo Garcia
1550 hrs
Panel: Project MERIT
Moderator: Matthew Kilbrane MBA (Board of Directors, MDVCC / U.S. Army Veteran)
Panelists: David Nyarko (D.Eng candidate / Morgan State University), Kelechi Nwachukwu MS (Senior Software Development Engineer / Morgan State University)
Matthew Kilbrane
David Nyarko
Kelechi Nwachukwu
1615 hrs
Closing Remarks
Speaker: Sen Benjamin T. Brooks, Sr. (Maryland Senate's Veterans Caucus Chair / U.S. Army Veteran)
Sen Benjamin T. Brooks, Sr.
Sponsors & Partners
