Speakers

Mr. Thomas Ruck currently serves as a Senior Engagement Manager for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Blue Campaign in Washington, D.C. He leads engagement with the private sector (industry) to raise awareness of human trafficking and emphasize each industry’s unique position to recognize and report potential cases across the country.

Mr. Ruck began his federal career at the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) where he served as the Director of Fayetteville National Cemetery before being appointed to Director of the Los Angeles National Cemetery where he served for six years. Mr. Ruck was honored to bring to fruition the first National Cemetery Administration’s Urban Initiative Columbarium Project at the Los Angeles National Cemetery in 2019. During his tenure at the Los Angeles National Cemetery, Mr. Ruck created and jointly produced, with ABC-7 in Los Angeles, two Memorial Day television programs honoring the veterans of Southern California.

Mr. Ruck is the author of Sacred Ground; A Tribute to America’s Veterans, which reached number five on Amazon’s best sellers list and garnered five nationwide book awards. Royalties from book sales are donated directly to the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund for children of veterans.

Prior to joining the VA, Mr. Ruck spent over 20 years in national accounts sales, marketing, and national account management within the clinical laboratory field. In these roles, he created and provided solutions to meet the needs of his clients while cultivating strategic partnerships.

Mr. Ruck holds a Bachelor degree from the University of Missouri in Columbia. He serves as a Visiting Fellow to the Freedom Alliance Foundation, is a member of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses, and is a member of the Springfield American Legion, Post 283, Sons of the American Legion. In his free time, Mr. Ruck travels around the nation to advocate for veterans’ causes on television and radio programs.