Daniel Acosta, a veteran service officer for the Veterans Assistance Commission of Will County (VACWC), started working for the agency after being severely wounded in combat during a 2005 deployment in Baghdad, Iraq.
“Throughout my recovery, I was greeted with so much love from the military medicine community, family and friends, our local community, and veterans of all eras,” Acosta told Will County Gazette. “Because of that experience, I realized my mission of serving my county was not over. I needed to pay it forward and empower our veterans.”
Acosta became a veteran service officer in June 2018.
Veteran service officer Daniel Acosta
“It has been a wonderful experience working for the Veterans Assistance Commission,” he said. “Each veteran has a very unique and personal experience from the military. I truly enjoy listening and learning of their military experience. It motivates me to work harder for them.”
Acosta’s goals working for VACWC include integrating with the local community and creating an inclusive community for veterans; educating and guiding veterans to live a meaningful life and be productive members of society; and helping veterans understand how they can continue to serve their community.
“I want to raise veteran awareness and showcase the amazing core values our veterans have to offer to our community,” Acosta said. “I would like to empower our veterans to accept leadership roles in our community.”
Acosta, a Joliet resident, studied at St. Philips College and University of Texas at San Antonio. He served in the United States Air Force as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technician from 2002 to 2009.
Acosta has been an advocate for several non-profit veteran organizations over the past 10 years.
“I began working with Disabled Sports USA as an ambassador to their Warfighter Sports Program, where I mentored and rehabilitated newly injured service members through the power of sports,” Acosta said. “I remain heavily involved in the veteran nonprofit community by working with local and regional governments, corporations and nonprofit organizations to advocate for increased funding, community integration and employment opportunities for veterans and their spouses. In addition, I serve as a board member to several veteran nonprofit organizations and have conducted several community initiatives in support of recruiting and retaining veterans in the job marketplace.”
Acosta is a board member for Adaptive Adventures, and advisory board member for both Tee It Up for the Troops and Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes.
When he’s not helping veterans or the community, Acosta loves spending time with his children, golfing, scuba diving, cycling, snowboarding, fishing and enjoying the outdoors.
Alerts Sign-up