Press Release

Colonel Miguel D. Howe, USA, Retired, Named the April and Jay Graham Fellow of the Military Service Initiative

Position fills the first endowed fellow position at The Bush Institute

Colonel Miguel D. Howe, USA, Retired, has been named as the inaugural April and Jay Graham Fellow of the Military Service Initiative at the George W. Bush Institute, a non-partisan policy institute that is focused on developing leaders, advancing policy, and taking action to address today’s pressing challenges. The Bush Institute is part of the George W. Bush Presidential Center, which also houses the George W. Bush Presidential Library & Museum.

As an endowed Fellow, Colonel Howe will represent the Bush Institute’s work to improve the transition of post-9/11 veterans to civilian life, and to foster veteran leadership to enhance our businesses, communities and nation. In this role, he will further amplify his advocacy for post 9-11 veterans and build awareness for the issues that affect their transitions, with a focus on employment, education, and health and wellbeing. Colonel Howe will travel around the country to speak, write, and serve as a resource for veteran-serving organizations, corporate, academic and non-profit partners, and policymakers nationwide.

“Our goal here is have a major and lasting impact,” said Ken Hersh, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the George W. Bush Presidential Center. “A strong, endowed Fellows program amplifies the voices of President and Mrs. Bush with experts in the field. Colonel Howe has been a significant contributor to the Bush Institute’s efforts to serve our Nation’s veterans. Under his leadership, the program has brought together critical partners to find new solutions that address the issues most important to veterans and their families.  We are grateful that Colonel Howe will use his expertise to continue to serve the Bush Institute and our veterans in this capacity. We are very thankful that April and Jay Graham have chosen to invest in our work by establishing the endowment for the Fellow position to support our veterans.”

Colonel Howe will hold the first endowed fellow position at the Bush Institute. That effort is part of the long term strategy to increase the Institute’s national impact in its focus areas. Colonel Howe has served as the Director of the Military Service Initiative at the Bush Institute since 2013.  With the transition to his new role, Colonel Matthew Amidon will now serve as the Director of the Military Service Initiative.  

“Since he arrived at the Bush Center in 2013, Colonel Howe has ably led the Bush Institute’s work on veteran transition and has become a leading voice on veterans’ issues,” said Bush Institute Executive Director Holly Kuzmich. “As our work here grows, it is important for us to have an even larger presence across the country. Through this fellowship, Colonel Howe will add a unique voice to that of President Bush and our outstanding team here to raise awareness and advocate for improved veteran outcomes for the millions of veterans who have served our country. With Colonel Howe in this new role, I am also grateful that Colonel Amidon will lead the work of the Military Service Initiative and our continuing efforts on veteran transition.”

Colonel Howe retired from the Army in 2013 where he served for over 24 years in a myriad of command and staff assignments, including in Iraq and Afghanistan. He deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as the commander of the Afghan National Army Special Operations Advisory Group, Camp Morehead Afghanistan. He also deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as the Chief of Staff for the NATO Training Mission in Al Rustamiyah, Iraq. A Special Forces Officer, he has commanded special operations forces from Detachment to Group level and deployed extensively throughout Latin America with the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne). Colonel Howe served as the Special Assistant to the CEO of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and commanded the U.S. Army Southern California Recruiting Battalion. He began his Army career in the 25th Infantry Division as a Rifle Platoon Leader.

Colonel Howe was selected in 2006 by President George W. Bush to serve as a White House Fellow. He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy and earned a Master of Arts in National Security Studies from Georgetown University.

Colonel Matthew Amidon, USMCR, will take on the role of Director of the Military Service Initiative at the Bush Institute after serving as Deputy Director for the past three years. In this role, Colonel Amidon will lead the day to day efforts of the Military Service Initiative and the team leading our policy and programmatic work on veteran transition.  Colonel Amidon has served in both active duty and reserve capacities since 1994. As an AV-8B Harrier pilot, he deployed in support of both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, at the operational and staff level. In his current reserve capacity he serves as the Deputy Group Commander, Marine Aircraft Group 41, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, Joint Reserve Base Forth Worth, TX.

Colonel Amidon is originally from Stowe, Vermont and is a graduate of The University of Vermont. He earned his MBA at Southern Methodist University Cox School of Business in 2009. In 2012, he attended The Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy where he earned a Master of Science. 

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About the George W. Bush Institute

Housed within the George W. Bush Presidential Center, the George W. Bush Institute is an action-oriented, nonpartisan policy organization with the mission of developing leaders, advancing policy, and taking action to solve today’s most pressing challenges. The work is achieved through three Impact Centers – Domestic Excellence, Global Leadership, and the Engagement Agenda – by which the Bush Institute engages the greater community with its important work. To learn more, please visit www.bushcenter.org.