J. ELDON YATES

Chairman and Founder

Founded the Vietnam Veterans Institute in 1981 for the specific purpose of filling a legislative void to promote job and small business opportunities for Vietnam Veterans, to reaffirm the integrity of military service, to eradicate the negative media image of Vietnam Veterans and to assure an accurate historical record of the war and those who served.  

He developed the Institute into a national affiliate network and solicited celebrities such as Bob Hope and Adrian Cronauer to serve on the Board of Trustees.  Dignitaries who also serve on the Board of Trustees include General William C. Westmoreland, the Honorable Henry Kissinger, Senator Robert Dole, and the late Admiral E.R. Zumwalt, Jr.

Under his direction, the Institute has grown into a recognized and respected think-tank, addressing military, veterans, and domestic issues.

 Accomplishments on behalf of the Institute include: 

1.   Developed the initiative to extend and expand the Veterans Readjustment Act for federal government appointments, which provided Vietnam Veterans who are college graduates the opportunity for direct appointments that were heretofore denied. 

2.   Developmental work on the Veterans Business Loan Act, part of Public Law 9772. 

3.   Drafted a resolution calling for the Veterans Preference Act in the District of Columbia, which resulted in the Veterans Appointment Extension Act of 1981. 

4.   Developed the legislation and concept for a Congressional Medal that was struck and provided to the next of kin of the 2,500 Americans listed as Missing-in-Action in Southeast Asia as a result of the Vietnam War. 

5.   Worked in support of Senator Strom Thurmond's legislation to create the judicial review system which resulted in the Veterans Court of Appeals. 

6.   Established a college seminar series that addresses the history of the Vietnam War from the perspective of those who served. 

7.   Developed a Congressional Life Service Award which each year is awarded to a member of Congress for his/her life achievement service to American Veterans. 

8.   Developed the Vietnam Veterans Institute Symposiums.

9.   Provided testimony in support of the National Vietnam Memorial before several arts and planning commissions.

10.  Was a contributing writer to the National Press Club's newspaper, "The Record." (1981)

11.  Mobilized national grassroots support for Congressman Bob Smith's POW/MIA Bill (HR 3603).

12.  Editor of the Journal of the Vietnam Veterans Institute.

13.  Developed the Annual Patriots' Ball:  "A Celebration of Service to Country." 

14.  Coordinated the testimony of VVI Officers (and testified) before the President's Commission on the Assignment of Women in the Military.

Mr Yates also served as the Vice Chairman of Governor Schaefer’s (MD) Executive  Advisory Council.  In that capacity, he was responsible for developing law enforcement policy and developed and coordinated a committee  structure of federal, state, and local law enforcement organizations. 

He holds a Masters Degree, has taught at the university level, and is listed in “Who’s Who in America,” and “Who’s Who in the World.”