D'Juan Wilcher

D'Juan Wilcher is a leader in workforce development, public policy, and veteran advocacy, serving as deputy director of the Veteran and Military Family Program at the George W. Bush Institute. With experience across the military, nonprofit, and corporate sectors, Wilcher has led initiatives to expand higher education access, economic mobility, and health outcomes for veterans, shaping cross-sector solutions to strengthen national resilience. His background includes 14 years of service as a surface warfare officer in the U.S. Navy, with multiple deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and leadership roles in both active duty and reserve capacities.

Wilcher has also held the position of senior vice president and director of diversity, equity and inclusion at Associated Bank, where he developed and implemented policies to foster inclusion and equal opportunity. As regional director for the Travis Manion Foundation, he built development pipelines and recruited veterans as mentors. His board service includes Veterans for All Voters, where he advances civic engagement and electoral reform. Wilcher is a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a member of the Truman National Security Project.

Wilcher is a public speaker who has moderated conversations with senior military leaders and public figures, engaging diverse audiences on complex issues. His academic credentials include an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley, and recognition as a George W. Bush Presidential Scholar and Indiana University Outstanding Young Alumni nominee. Wilcher's career demonstrates a commitment to service, innovation, and the empowerment of veterans and underrepresented communities, contributing to national conversations on leadership and inclusion.