Terron Sims, II Joins Merit as Executive Director of Military & Veterans Affairs

The military affairs and business strategist joins the leading verified identity platform to build tangible solutions for issues affecting military families today.

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Merit International, Inc., the leading digital verified identity company, announced today that Terron Sims, II has joined the organization to lead initiatives relating to veterans and military families. Sims will serve as the newly appointed Executive Director of Military & Veterans Affairs.

From enabling the spouses of military service members to secure work following a relocation, to solving logistical challenges during a live emergency, Merit’s verified identity technology is a versatile and powerful tool being adopted by all levels of government across the country.

Sims brings decades of expertise to the role. A fourth-generation veteran, he graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, before serving five years in the US Army. Sims brings with him three decades of national-level military and government policy-writing experience to Merit, as the company expands the scope of its work advocating for military families.

In October of 2022, Merit announced the formation of the Alliance for States Providing Interoperable REciprocity (ASPIRE). The coalition seeks to accelerate the adoption of technology and practices to enable interstate occupational license reciprocity for military families. Sims was on hand for the launch, and will continue to lead strategic efforts to bring states into the alliance.

Sims will also help spearhead the newly-formed Military Affairs Advisory Group within Merit, which seeks to connect the company’s significant number of veterans among its workforce, and develop future military-adjacent initiatives based on shared experiences. Approximately 10% of the company’s historical workforce has honorably served in the US Armed Forces.

Merit’s verified identity platform brings visibility, liquidity, and trust to people-data, giving organizations the clarity to make better-informed decisions, engage with individuals effectively, and pursue their mission efficiently. Merit works with trusted private, state, and municipal organizations to solve critical real-world problems in sectors such as workforce development, emergency services, licensing, education, and defense readiness. By connecting organizations and individuals through applications, Merit’s technology supports a robust verified identity network that serves as a source of truth and trust for entire ecosystems.

“Working with Merit means having the opportunity to create tangible solutions to some of the key policy issues for which my colleagues and I have written and advocated over the years,” said Terron Sims. “This role at Merit is a continuation of my dedication to serving my country, and doing the most impactful work possible. I’m excited to be here.”

With the hiring of Sims and the formation of the Military Affairs Advisory Group, Merit continues its commitment to improving the lives of America’s veterans and military families. In 2020 the company launched a Career Skills Program for Veterans (CSP) to help former service members connect with job opportunities that are commensurate with their expertise and skills. The program was designed to support organizations such as Soldier For Life — Transition Assistance Program (TAP) and the U.S. Department of Defense SkillBridge program.

“Terron is an incredible asset to our growing company,” shared Jacob Orrin, COO and Co-Founder of Merit. “His contributions to our country over his exceptional career are impressive and humbling. Terron’s work with us to date on the development of the ASPIRE program has been instrumental, allowing both Merit and individual states to further support our active military families. We are honored to welcome him into the fold in this new capacity.”

Merit and Terron look forward to continuing the important work of developing technological solutions within government and military organizations.

To learn more about Merit, please visit Merits.com.

About Merit

Merit is the interoperable ecosystem for all digital credentials issued by trusted organizations. The platform allows everyone to access, track, and organize their licenses and credentials in real-time. Merit works with more than 1,000 organizations for professional licensing, occupational regulation, workforce development, emergency services, and other digital credentialing needs.

About Terron Sims, II

Terron Sims, II is a combat veteran, businessman, political leader, West Point graduate, and champion for military affairs. Mr. Sims is the CEO of Doug Pollard, LLC, where he advises companies and nonprofits on business development and strategy. He also has over three decades of experience with the Department of Defense (DoD), dealing with everything from civil military operations to installation management.