Eric Thomas, Founder and Director of the CJ3 Foundation and Chief of the Liaison Program Office for the Office of Intelligence and Analysis at DHS, was honored on stage with the prestigious U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) 2024 Secretary’s Volunteer Service Award. This award recognizes DHS employees who have made significant contributions through volunteer work with nonprofit or community service organizations. Thomas was recognized for his direct and sustained efforts through the CJ3 Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides crucial services and support to wounded U.S. military service members, veterans, law enforcement, and first responders.
The Secretary’s Volunteer Service Award highlights individuals whose volunteer efforts have delivered meaningful, lasting results for individuals or larger communities. Eric Thomas’s work through the CJ3 Foundation embodies this mission, offering advocacy, mental health support, service dog assistance, and other essential services to some of the nation’s most heroic individuals.
The CJ3 Foundation, which operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, focuses on four core initiatives: CJ3 Advocacy, CJ3 Mental Health & Wellness, CJ3 Service Dogs, and CJ3 Field Ops. These programs are designed to meet the unique needs of wounded veterans, law enforcement, and first responders, connecting them with specialized resources and programs tailored to their challenges. Through the foundation, Thomas has demonstrated a sustained commitment to helping wounded heroes navigate physical, emotional, and mental recovery.
Thomas shared his gratitude for the recognition and reflected on the CJ3 Foundation’s mission over on LinkedIn with the following words. “It was an honor to receive the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary’s Volunteer Service Award today for my role as the Founder and Director of the CJ3 Foundation nonprofit organization and the work we’ve done fulfilling our mission,” said Thomas.