November 30, 2025
Honoring Arizona’s 2025 Veterans Hall of Fame Class
Celebrating Service, Leadership, and Lifelong Commitment
Every year, Arizona recognizes a select group of veterans whose service to our nation did not end when their military careers concluded. These mentors, advocates, and community builders continue to strengthen our state through their leadership, volunteerism, and meaningful community work. Their contributions ripple outward, improving the quality of life for their fellow veterans, their neighbors, and the communities across the state.
The Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame represents the highest honor the State of Arizona can bestow on a veteran for both military service and sustained community impact. Inductees are chosen for the difference they make long after they take off the uniform, through public service, nonprofit leadership, mentorship, philanthropy, and steadfast commitment to the well-being of others.
The Class of 2025 includes community leaders who are now continuing their legacy of service. These veterans serve in animal shelters, mental health roles, mentor young people, support families in crisis, and help build stronger communities. We extend our warmest congratulations to each of this year’s inductees.
The Legacy of the 2025 Inductees
The collective impact of this year’s inductees is both wide and deep. Their work touches multiple areas of civic life and service:
Strengthening Communities
Many inductees serve in mentorship roles, support animal shelters, help their local schools, or volunteer in nonprofits that address hunger, homelessness, and community safety.
Supporting Veteran Wellness
Several honorees dedicate their time to mental health support, crisis counseling, addiction recovery, peer mentorship, or reintegration services. This work directly improves the lives of veterans and their families.
Inspiring the Next Generation
This year’s inductees include individuals who teach young people to fly planes, mentor ROTC students, support youth leadership programs, and inspire future generations to lead with integrity.
Providing Compassionate Care
From volunteering in VA retirement homes to working in crisis centers and care facilities, many inductees play a hands-on role in providing comfort, support, and dignity to those who need it most.
Leading by Example
Above all, these veterans lead through action. They do not serve for recognition. They serve because service is who they are.
ACMF Director Recognized
Among the 2025 inductees is Thomas Richard Winkel, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and the Director of the Arizona Coalition for Military Families (ACMF). As our Director, Thomas’s work has shaped Arizona’s statewide support system for service members, veterans, and their families for more than two decades.
Although Thomas is quick to redirect praise toward the partners, colleagues, and teams with whom he works, his efforts have helped Arizona establish a nationally recognized model for coordinated care that now supports more than 500,000 service members, veterans, and family members statewide.
Under Thomas’s leadership, Arizona has benefited from:
- The founding of the Be Connected program, which achieved zero suicides in the Arizona National Guard for more than three consecutive years.
- Strong partnerships built across the Governor’s Office, Arizona National Guard, VA, SAMHSA, local governments, universities, nonprofit organizations, tribal nations, and community agencies.
- Advances in early intervention, upstream prevention, and trauma-informed support for Arizona’s service members, veterans, and their families.
- Expanded support for families throughout all stages of military service, transition, and veteran life.
A National Voice for Prevention and Veteran Well-Being
Thomas has represented Arizona on national stages, contributing expertise to:
- The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
- The White House
- National Guard leadership across multiple states
- Federal committees focused on suicide prevention and trauma care
Yet, despite this national reach, Thomas’s focus has always remained where it started: improving lives here in Arizona. As a licensed mental health therapist, he dedicated his civilian career to preventing suicide, improving trauma care, strengthening families, and building systems that support those who serve our country. He has worked with individuals in crisis, led statewide prevention strategies, and guided organizational partners in adopting practices that save lives.
Thomas’ unwavering and caring support of service members, veterans, and their families draws on his own military service. Thomas served in Japan, the Philippines, Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, and later in the Oregon and Arizona Army National Guard. That breadth of experience gave him firsthand insight into the complex challenges faced by service members and their families, from deployments to reintegration to the long-term effects of trauma.
Our Gratitude
We congratulate all 15 members of the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Class of 2025. Thank you for your continued service to our state and our nation. Your work makes a lasting impact, and Arizona is better because of you. Your efforts build on the legacy of past inductees and strengthen the foundation for those who will follow. Arizona is well served by your leadership, your commitment, and the example you continue to set.
