U.S. Vice President, Marine Combat Correspondent Inducted into DINFOS Hall of Fame
- Clinton Firstbrook
- 5 hours ago
- 3 min read
FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. -- The Defense Information School (DINFOS) inducted its 2026 Hall of Fame class on Aug. 13, 2026, honoring four alumni whose careers reflect sustained excellence, leadership, and a lifelong commitment to strengthening the profession of military communication.
Each year, the DINFOS Hall of Fame recognizes graduates who have distinguished themselves across military service, public affairs, industry, and government. The 2026 class represents a legacy of storytelling, service, and dedication to the profession. These four individuals include:
- Vice President JD Vance, U.S. Marine Corps Combat Correspondent
- Col. Jeremy Martin, U.S. Army retired
- Col. Rivers Johnson, U.S. Army retired
- Chief Photographer’s Mate Donald “Chip” Maury, U.S. Navy retired
To read a transcript of Vice President JD Vance’s entire acceptance message, please see below. Visitors can also watch the DINFOS Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony livestream on the War Media Activity's Digital Visual Information Distribution System (DVIDS) page.
TRANSCRIPT:
U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Courtney Avon, 2026 DINFOS Hall of Fame Master of Ceremonies:
"Our first honoree is Vice President JD Vance, U.S. Marine Corps veteran."
"Vice President Vance was born and raised in Middleton, Ohio. After graduating from Middleton High School in 2003, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He trained as a Combat Correspondent and graduated from the Basic Public Affairs Specialist Writer course at DINFOS in June 2004. He served 4 years on active duty with 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, including a 2005 deployment to Iraq. As a Marine Public Affairs Specialist, he wrote about Marines, documented missions, and worked with civilian media to tell the story of the Corps."
"Following military service, he attended Ohio State University and then earned his law degree from Yale Law School. He worked as a corporate lawyer and a venture capitalist, gained national attention as author of the best-selling memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, and was elected to the United States Senate in 2022. In 2024, President Donald Trump elected him as his running mate. Vice President Vance was sworn in on Jan. 20, 2025, as the 50th Vice President of the United States, and the first Marine Corps veteran to hold the office."
"Vice President Vance is unable to attend today's ceremony in person due to scheduling constraints. We are grateful that he has provided a video acceptance remarks, which will now be played."
Vice President JD Vance:
"Good morning everyone. I'm very sorry I can't be there in person, but I wanted to offer a note of gratitude to the good men and women of DINFOS for the honor of being inducted into your alumni hall of fame."
"As with millions of other Americans, joining the Marines gave me a sense of discipline, of duty, and of purpose. Attending DINFOS was a huge part of that, it taught me so many of the skills that I've used throughout my life and certainly as Vice President of the United States. Lessons, that left a lasting impact on me personally and helped shape my career in the years that followed. Moreover, my work as a Public Affairs Marine offered me perspective, giving me the opportunity to report from the ground in Iraq."
"I walked away from that experience with an incredible appreciation for our country, and most of all, for the people who serve our country. And a profound reminder of what it is to be born an American, what a great blessing it is to be a United States citizen. It's a privilege to be counted among the generations of communicators who have come through DINFOS, the DINFOS Trained Killers as we called ourselves, and I assume you guys still do. Our national security depends on such men and women, on our ability to communicate the resolve of our nation, to actually tell the American people what's going on overseas and at home with credibility and conviction."
"So thank you again for this incredible honor. Thank you for everything you do in service to our country."
"Semper Fidelis, and God bless everybody. Thank you."
U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Courtney Avon, 2026 DINFOS Hall of Fame Master of Ceremonies:
"Ladies and Gentlemen, please join me in congratulating DINFOS 2026 Hall of Fame inductee, Vice President JD Vance."
"The Defense Information School looks forward to welcoming Vice President Vance to the school in the future to present his award in person."
