“While the ethanol industry’s unusual penchant for hiring veterans might come as a surprise to many, it doesn’t surprise me at all. I completely understand why so many former servicemen and women are drawn to employment in the biofuels industry. It’s a natural fit for us. ... Together with the American oil and gas industry, we have made great strides in reducing petroleum imports and boosting domestic energy supplies."
- Army veteran and RFA Board Member Tony Leiding
Veterans for Renewable Fuels is a special project of the Renewable Fuels Association to recognize the tremendous contribution of military veterans in the U.S. ethanol industry and provide these American heroes opportunities to come together and support each other in their careers and personal lives.
“When women and men in uniform leave the military and start searching for jobs, they want more than a paycheck," said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper, an Army veteran. "They’re looking for rewarding work and they want to join a tight-knit team that is focused on a common mission. They want their work to have meaning, and they want to continue using the leadership skills they were taught in the military. Thousands of veterans have found exactly what they’re looking for in the ethanol industry, and we are truly honored to have them in our midst.”
Podcast Spotlight
Geoff Cooper was featured in a February 2024 episode of the Veteran on the Move podcast, which works to empower veterans and their families through entrepreneurship by connecting them to the people, programs, and resources that will facilitate their successful transition into entrepreneurship. He talked about the important role vets play in the ethanol industry and why it is a good fit for them.
A November 2023 RFA Ethanol Report podcast includes interviews with many of the vets involved in the program—board members Jeff Oestmann and Tony Leiding, and RFA’s three veteran staff members, Cooper, Robert White, and Justin Schultz.
- Fueling Freedom Luncheon at FEW | Tuesday, June 2 @ 12:00pm
We closed out the 2026 National Ethanol Conference in Orlando with the Veterans for Renewable Fuels “Red, White & Waterfront” event at The Boathouse in Disney Springs. It was a great afternoon on the water with good conversation, time to connect, and a few Amphicar rides mixed in. Special thanks to KAAPA Ethanol for sponsoring the event and supporting VRF. Click to view photos from the day.
We had a small but mighty gathering of Veterans for Renewable Fuels at The Fat Putter following the 2025 Fuel Ethanol Workshop in Omaha. It was a great afternoon of camaraderie, conversation, and connection. Special thanks to Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy for sponsoring this event and supporting our mission to elevate veteran voices in the ethanol industry. Click here to see photos from the event.
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Join the Effort
The VRF is a special project of the Renewable Fuels Association. We welcome active military members, veterans, and their immediate family members. Click here to sign up! and follow us on LinkedIn.
RFA’s occasional series looks at military vets in the ethanol industry. The U.S. ethanol industry continues to stand out for its employment of military veterans, with veterans making up 16 percent of the ethanol industry workforce—three times the national private sector workforce average.
Veterans in Ethanol News
2024 News Release: Veterans for Renewable Fuels Holiday Fuel Discount in Olathe, Kansas
2024 News Release: Veterans to Vance: Renewable Fuels Key to Energy Security
2024 News Release: RFA Provides Free E85 in San Diego for Military Community
2023 News Release: DOE: Ethanol Industry Leads the Charge in Hiring Military Veterans
2022 Interview: Veterans Find Home in Ethanol Industry
2022 News Release: DOE Report: Ethanol Industry Leads Energy Sector in Employing Veterans
2020 News Release: New Report Shows Ethanol Industry Fueled by Veterans
2017 Guest Column in Morning Consult: American-Made Ethanol Should be Part of Trump’s Energy Policy
2017 Guest Column in The Hill: Make America Stronger and More Independent, Support the Renewable Fuel Standard
2017 News Release: Veterans Encourage President to Include Ethanol, RFS in Energy Plan
Ethanol and Energy Security
The Arab Oil Embargo and Ethanol: 50 Years Later, October 2023
OPEC+ Production Cut Expected to Drive Up Gasoline Prices, but Higher Ethanol Blends Can Help, April 2023
New University Study: Ethanol Cuts Gas Prices by 77 Cents per Gallon, February 2023
Biofuel & Ag Leaders Call on White House to Provide Relief at the Pump Through Higher Blends of Ethanol, March 2022
Anniversary Report Details Success of the Renewable Fuel Standard, August 2022
As Iran Crisis Drives Oil Prices Higher, Ethanol Delivers Relief at the Pump, January 2020
In Wake of Saudi Attacks, Ethanol Can Help Provide Real Energy Security, September 2019
“The accessibility of renewable fuels limits the bargaining power of the largest oil producers and brings about a higher degree of fuel security to the U.S. We estimate that blending roughly 330 million barrels of ethanol into U.S. gasoline lowers global crude oil prices as well as retail gasoline prices. The main conclusion is that the RFS program has lowered the prices of gasoline at the pump at a statistically significant level.”
- From the February 2023 report, Impact of ethanol on gasoline prices in the U.S.: New evidence
