Vincent “Vin” Perrone joined the U.S. Air Force because, from a very early age, he had the desire to fly jets and a passion to serve his country. He attended Norwich University, the oldest private military college in the nation and the birthplace of ROTC, where he earned his commission. His flying career was cut short due to a medical injury, but he loved the Air Force so much that he remained on active duty and devoted himself to the acquisition management business.
The most difficult part of transitioning to civilian life was adjusting to a lax culture. He was used to very strong bonds, camaraderie, loyalty, esprit de corps, and mission focus. He noticed that, to most people, it was just a job and not a vocation.
His military career taught him integrity, service before self, and excellence in all endeavors. He learned to develop strategic initiatives, work with defense contractors, and manage business contracts. He earned level III certification in program management and acquisition logistics and ran multibillion-dollar programs for the U.S. Department of Defense.
Over 30 years ago, Perrone became involved in a grassroots effort to care for homeless veterans. He became president and CEO of Veterans Inc., a charitable organization that has helped more than 100,000 veteransand their families in need. Under his leadership, Veterans Inc. has grown to become the largest supportive services agency for veterans and their families, offering programs in eight states including all six New England states, Montana, and North Dakota. In 1994, Veterans Inc. became the first shelter in the country to provide help to homeless female veterans.
