Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and VCP CEO Bryan Meyer honored by Truman Foundation

United States Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and Veterans Community Project Chief Executive Officer Bryan Meyer were recently honored by the Truman Foundation in a celebration of the legacy of President Harry S. Truman.

Justice Jackson was honored with the 2025 Good Neighbor Award for exemplary public service while Meyer was awarded the 2025 Philip Pistilli Silver Veterans Medal for distinguished military service and innovative community work supporting Veterans.

“It is an honor to be recognized by the Truman Foundation,” said Meyer, who is a Veteran of the United States Marine Corps. “And like any worthwhile thing I have done in my life, the credit is shared with the people around me whose collective effort made it possible—whether fellow Marines or supporters of Veterans Community Project.”

Meyer learned that he would receive the award from Jerry Reece, who is a Vietnam Veteran and retired Colonel in the Marine Corps, a longtime business and community leader in Kansas City, and a past recipient of the Pistilli honor.

At an annual event that took place on the May 8 birthday of President Truman, Meyer shared the stage with Justice Jackson and joined an esteemed list of public figures who have been honored by the Truman Foundation, including former U.S. Presidents Gerald Ford and Bill Clinton, former U.S. Senator John McCain, U.S. Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II, astronaut Buzz Aldrin, journalists Walter Cronkite and Bob Woodward, and others over the past five decades.

“It is incredibly humbling,” Meyer said, continuing, “to be recognized alongside people whose visionary leadership has made such a positive impact on my community and our country.”

Meyer’s journey from combat to community leadership

After joining the U.S. Marine Corps in 2001, Meyer was stationed at Marine Corps Air Station New River in North Carolina and was assigned to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 365 as a Crew Chief on a CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter. In January 2003, the squadron deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom providing casualty evacuation and assault support for ground forces. Later in 2004, Meyer returned with his squadron to Iraq to provide assault support from Al Asad Air Base. During these deployments, he amassed over 300 combat flight hours, earning an Air Medal for meritorious achievement while participating in combat operations. He was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps in 2006 as a Corporal.

After returning home, Meyer earned a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree in public administration, as well as a juris doctor degree at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Turning his attention to building homes and lifelines for Veterans in need

On any given night in the United States, there are more than 30,000 Veterans sleeping on the city streets of the country they took the oath to serve. Data shows, in fact, that serving in the military makes a person 50% more likely than the general population to experience homelessness in their life.

In 2016, Meyer left his law career and founded Veterans Community Project with a group of fellow combat Veterans who shared a dedication to do better for Veterans—and a unique idea on how to accomplish that. They got to work building a community of 240-square-foot transitional homes with on-site case management to help Veterans get back on their feet and continue standing.

Since welcoming our first residents in 2018, this model has demonstrated a radically effective 85% success rate in transitioning Veterans from experiencing homelessness to achieving permanent housing. Under Meyer’s leadership, VCP has expanded across the country to bring access to our model to more Veterans in need. We now have locations in three additional cities and are expanding to two others. This work has gained national acclaim, including former VA Secretary Denis McDonough visiting VCP on this past Patriot Day.

Last year, VCP served 1,665 Veterans—more than ever before. In our 2024 Annual Impact Report, Meyer reflected on this work, saying, “Behind every number, there are two people: the Veteran whose life was transformed through VCP and the community member who stands with us to make that transformation possible.”