Josh Newman is founder and Executive Director of ArmedForce2Workforce, a California 501(c)3 non-profit corporation founded in 2012 to assist young veterans the Orange County/Greater Los Angeles area in the pursuit of rewarding, career-oriented employment upon completion of their military service and return or relocation to Southern California.  At the core of Af2wf’s approach is the fundamental belief that no single group has as much to offer to employers as young veterans, and that the effective delivery of early post-transition career counseling and support will yield substantial dividends for not only veterans themselves, but also the communities to which they are returning. 

Josh is a veteran himself, having served as an officer in the United States Army following graduation from Yale University and commissioning through the US Army Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia.  His active duty assignments included service in South Korea with a nuclear weapons detachment and conventional artillery units in the 25^th Infantry Division.  His own post-service experience includes work in local government, marketing and public relations, film and video production and mobile and Internet media technology. 

Josh is a current member of the Steering Committee for the Orange County Veterans & Military Families Collaborative (OCVMFC), for which he also serves as Chair of its Employment Working Group.  Josh also currently serves as the 1st Vice Chair of the California Democratic Party Veterans Caucus, as well as the Chair of its Legislative Committee, and as Vice President of the Democrats of North Orange County (DNOC). 

He is also active in his community, as a member of the Executive Board of Neighbors United for Fullerton (NUFF); through service as a Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), providing mentorship and advocacy for an at-risk youth in the Orange County foster care system; as co-founder and board member for the Veteran Business Network of Greater Los Angeles; as a member of the local chapters of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW); and as a regular volunteer for the Special Olympics and Habitat for Humanity, as well as a host of other local community efforts.

His wife, Darcy Lewis, is a native of Orange County and works as a senior financial analyst at a locally based Fortune 500 insurance company.  They currently live in Fullerton with their three weird but likeable rescue Chihuahuas.

I’m proud to have served my country as an officer in the United States Army following graduation from Yale University. My post-service experience includes work in local government, public relations, the entertainment industry, Internet and mobile technology, and success as a small business owner and entrepreneur, while always giving back to my community.  For the past four years, I’ve focused my efforts on assisting young veterans in their pursuit of career-oriented civilian employment after returning to Southern California following completion of their service.

In contrast to other complex issues facing the brave young men and women who have served us so nobly in a time of war, veteran unemployment should be a solvable problem. The gap, however, between all the fancy rhetoric and actual, meaningful action is striking, and my work as a mentor and advocate for veterans has convinced me that the single limiting factor on progress in California-- not just for our veterans but on so many of the other complex issues we face as a state-- is the quality and commitment of our current crop of elected officials.

It’s high time to take a stand against the big money, special interests, party bosses, and political careerists who have come to dominate California state government on both sides of the aisle.  You and your family deserve real leadership and principled advocacy from those you hire to represent you in Sacramento.  As your state senator, that’s exactly what I pledge to deliver.  It’s your California. Let’s take it back.    

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