Veteran Debt Assistance named presenting partner for 2026 Army Navy Policy Conference

The 2026 Army Navy Policy Conference will return Dec. 11 to Fordham University’s Lincoln Center campus, with Veteran Debt Assistance as presenting partner. The event will bring veterans, student veterans, cadets and military families together with business and policy leaders for panels on careers, capital, technology and the transition to civilian life.

Why it matters: - The conference is designed to connect veterans and military families with the people who can help shape post-service careers, funding and leadership opportunities. - Veteran Debt Assistance is bringing free financial tools and education into a forum focused on the transition from service to civilian life. - The event comes as veterans face decisions about debt, budgeting, investing and starting businesses after leaving the military.

What happened: - The 2026 Army Navy Policy Conference announced Veteran Debt Assistance as its Presenting Partner. - The conference will be held Friday, Dec. 11, 2026, at Fordham University’s Lincoln Center campus in New York. - The program opens with remarks from Secretary Patrick J. Murphy, the 32nd Under Secretary of the U.S. Army and the first Iraq War veteran elected to Congress. - Additional speakers will be announced in the coming weeks. - Tickets are $50, with discounted pricing for students and veterans. - Registration is available on Eventbrite. - Sponsorship opportunities remain available.

The details: - The conference brings veterans, student veterans, ROTC cadets and military families together with investors, operators and public leaders. - The day is built around practical discussion on careers, business building, capital and planning for what comes next. - Veteran Debt Assistance was founded to help veterans overcome debt and regain financial independence. - The group offers free financial tools, education and resources for veterans. - As Presenting Partner, Veteran Debt Assistance will host the Risk panel, moderated by Murphy. - Angel Torres, president of VE Solutions, said the partnership puts free financial tools in front of veterans, students and families and keeps financial stability in the same conversation as careers, business and leadership. - Torres also said the Risk panel is meant to help veterans prepare for pressure on household budgets and small businesses over the next six to 12 months. - Murphy said the conference is about the next mission and helping veterans connect with people who can open the next door. - Gerry Byrne, a Fordham graduate and Marine Corps veteran of Vietnam, serves as honorary chair. - Byrne founded Veterans Week NYC and Veterans on Campus NYC. - Byrne said the conference gives student veterans and cadets a network in New York. - The program includes six panels: Finance, Entrepreneurship, Tech & Defense Tech, Media, Sports and Risk. - The Finance panel will focus on how capital moves and how veterans earn a place in that system. - The Entrepreneurship panel will feature founders who left the service and built companies. - The Tech & Defense Tech panel will examine what gets funded and what gets fielded for national security. - The Media panel will focus on who tells the military community’s story. - The Sports panel will look at identity, performance and purpose after the uniform comes off. - The Risk panel will cover the first six to 12 months after service. - Past conferences have featured Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Under Armour founder Kevin Plank, Johnson & Johnson’s Alex Gorsky and Gen. James McConville, the 40th Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army.

Between the lines: - The conference is broadening beyond a traditional veteran-networking event into a cross-sector forum on money, media, defense and identity. - Fordham’s role and Byrne’s involvement tie the event to both military service and New York City’s veteran community. - The focus on debt and risk suggests the organizers see financial stability as a central part of the post-service transition, not a side issue.

What's next: - Additional speakers will be announced in the coming weeks. - Organizers are still seeking sponsors before the Dec. 11 event. - The conference will continue its annual tradition of being held on the Friday before the Army-Navy Game. - The event will mark the fifth year of the conference under its current format and leadership.