DEI Leader Lives the Value of Teamwork: Meet Terry Allbritton, Inclusive Award Winner for Government

Today we feature the final 2022 Inclusive Leader Award winner before we honor all of them tomorrow. We are proud to introduce:

Terry Allbritton, Senior Executive Service Member for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion for the Veterans Health Administration.

GlobalMindED Inclusive Leader Award winner for Government

Receiving promotion to Lieutenant Colonel

With his father and two older brothers, Easter Sunday, 1971

Congratulations Terry L. Allbritton, Senior Executive Service Member for DEI for the VHA

Inclusive Leader Award Winner for Government

Terry L. Allbritton is currently the Senior Executive Service Member of the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ODEI) for the Veterans Health Administration (VHA ), located in Washington, DC. He serves as the principal advisor to the Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Health and Under Secretary for Health and serves as a spokesperson for the organization in the area of diversity, equity and inclusion. Mr. Allbritton directs ODEI, which includes planning, evaluation, advisement, training, consultative, and reporting functions for VHA, its sub-component organizations and Veterans Affairs Medical Centers. He drives efforts to improve awareness of a variety of cultural, generational, ethnic, and other differences related to issues of employee engagement, equal opportunity, conflict resolution, and other workforce issues, and provides support to meet related workforce management challenges. Mr. Allbritton is responsible for the development, advancement, and promulgation of diversity and inclusion strategies; training, and enlightenment to drive cultural shifts in VHA’s approach; and application of diversity principles.

Before assuming the duties of Executive Director at VHA, Mr. Allbritton served as Chief Diversity Officer for the United States Military Academy at West Point, and as a Supervisory Diversity and Inclusion Program Manager for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). He was primarily responsible for the development and execution of diversity and inclusion training and programs to promote and sustain a diverse and inclusive work environment that fosters a culture that values and leverages human differences, opinions, and perspectives to empower employees to achieve their fullest potential. Additionally, he served as a facilitator/trainer for the FBI’s Senior Leadership Course.

When asking Terry L. Allbritton about his childhood and life, he reiterated the same theme - support. Terry grew up in a household that ensured he always had what he needed and that he was provided with every opportunity possible. When reflecting on his childhood, Terry recalled how his parents did not earn much. His father was an electrician by trade and his mother was a teacher for Head Start. However, both his parents always surrounded Terry with support and encouragement to dream big. Terry grew up following in the footsteps of his brothers and saw everything as an opportunity. His father always told him that, "when you start something, you finish". The motto and theme that has remained throughout Terry's life. His devotion and persistence does not just come from his parents, but can also be seen in his late Grandmother who worked as a school bus driver for 33 years.

Terry attributed his success and achievements to the support he has received throughout his life. In addition to this, he commented on the importance of being supportive and working collaboratively - two skills he practiced and learned through sports. As Terry says, "you never see a team win a championship without getting along". Of course, there will be differences, but there always remains a common goal that is leveraged to support one another and build upon each other's skills. Terry is a wonderful example of what a collaborative, supportive teammate looks like and carries this skill set in everything he does.

In a U.S. Army article, Mr. Allbritton was described as having said that “when you increase diversity but lack inclusion, that's where the problems really begin". As an avid advocate and champion for DEI measures, Mr. Allbritton understood the challenges he and his team faced. He knew that by increasing diversity there are more diverse ideas, and when people feel excluded or undermined, issues arise. One of his colleagues described Mr. Allbritton as someone who was "so focused on inclusion and attributed much of his assistance in growing diversity at West Point to his efforts on building inclusion.”

Mr. Allbritton is a combat Veteran and retired as an Army Officer in May 2010, after 25 years of service. During his military service, he served in numerous positions: Chief, Government of Relations, Congressional Legislative Affairs Officer, Chief, Equal Opportunity and Diversity Officer, Equal Opportunity Program Manager, Army Staff Officer, Force Development Officer, Force Management Officer, Senior Military Advisor to the Royal Saudi Army, Assistant Professor of Military Science, and a Commanding Officer.

Mr. Allbritton is a graduate of Howard University, the Command and General Staff College, the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute, and Georgetown University Government Affairs Institute. He received his Diversity and Inclusion certification from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management and Cornell University. Mr. Allbritton is also a certified Emotional Intelligence Coach and Trainer. He is the proud father of two sons, Ramon Terrison and Rasan Terrell.

His military and civilian awards includes; Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Champion Award, Top 100 National Diversity Officers Award, Army Meritorious Civilian Service Medal, JMD Cooperation Award, FBI Director’s Award for Outstanding Service in Diversity and Inclusion, Intelligence Community Diversity Outstanding Achievement Award, FBI Assistant Director Human Resources Award, Federal Maritime Commission Certificate and Award of Merit, Army Legion of Merit Medal, Army Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia), Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait), Army Staff Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge, and Expert Infantryman Badge.

Meet Terry at the Inclusive Award Dinner June 22nd, and at the Health Track panel Thursday morning: "What is Health Equity? Why Does It Matter?" Details below.

Germany, 1987

With classmates at Howard

Join us for 7th Annual GlobalMindED in Denver

June 22 Pre-Conferences and Inclusive Leader Award Dinner

June 23 Conference and Author Signing

June 24 Conference and Industry Marketplace Career Exploration Event

What is special about this conference?

300+ global speakers, 100+ first gen student leaders
100+ sessions with honest, authentic conversations dealing with current realities across 9 tracks
6 plenary sessions, opening receptions with live music, idea cafes every morning with live music by students
Author signing and networking reception
Strong Student Voice- Students will be participating in the majority of panels
65% of speakers and attendees are diverse, representing Native American, African/American, Hispanic, Asian-Pacific Islander, Ability Status, LBGTQIA+, Veteran and Military inclusive leaders
Sponsors dedicated to creating a capable, diverse talent pipeline