COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — An Ohio Army National Guard veteran and dedicated advocate for higher education has been named the 2026 Ohio Veteran of the Year by Military Friendly, advancing him into a national competition.
Bryan Bills, a 12-year military veteran who served two deployments to Afghanistan and two stateside missions in support of COVID-19 relief, received the state honor for his extensive work assisting military-affiliated students.
According to Military Friendly, Bills has driven veteran success across Ohio through dedicated peer advising, tutoring, mentoring, and campus programming.
Military Friendly, a division of veteran-owned marketing firm Viqtory, evaluates and rates colleges, universities, and corporate employers nationwide to identify organizations that provide the best recruitment, retention, and career opportunities for veterans and service members.
Following his state-level recognition, Bills is now representing Ohio on the national stage, competing in the Higher Education category.
- Public voting for the national Military Friendly Veteran of the Year competition opened June 6 and will run through July 4.
- Ohioans and supporters can view nominee profiles and cast their votes online through the portal hosted by Viqtory.
A two-time graduate of Bowling Green State University, where he earned an MBA, Bills is currently pursuing a doctoral degree while continuing his efforts to help fellow veterans transition from service to campus and corporate life.
