Colonel Darrin Adams

Colonel Darrin Adams honorably served in and retired from active duty in the United States Army, dedicating his life to service, leadership, and advocacy on behalf of military veterans. He proudly maintains deep Kentucky roots on his mother’s side of the family and spent five tours of duty (12 years) in Kentucky when he was in the military. Throughout his service and post-military career, Colonel Adams consistently demonstrates a commitment to helping others through leadership, community involvement, and public service.

Colonel Adams was selected and inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame in 2025 by Governor Mike DeWine in recognition for his service to helping military veterans obtain employment, career development, and funding for higher education pursuits after their military careers. He served as the State of Ohio Director for the Department of Labor Veterans Employment and Training Services, where he worked with numerous non-profit agencies in securing and managing over $13 million in federal grants to aid homeless Ohio veterans in receiving housing, training, and careers after military service.

His leadership extended into numerous professional and civic roles. He completed the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program and served as an intern for the Regional Planning Commission. He also served as a leading member of the Shelby County Executive Safety Council from 2001–2003, facilitating quarterly county meetings focused on workplace safety awareness and leading forums addressing safety issues through training and educational programming.

Colonel Adams served as a leadership speaker for the Franklin University Leadership Symposium at two conventions, delivering keynote presentations on the difficulties of transitioning from military service and creating positive leadership styles. He also served as a guest speaker for the Central Ohio Transit Authority leadership program on Leadership Ethics, representing the Ross Leadership Center. Additionally, he was selected to serve as Deputy Chief of Staff for the Department of Labor, selected over a group of 50 veterans state directors for his program knowledge and senior experience. In this role, he supported field staff and veterans seeking employment following devastating hurricanes in Puerto Rico, Florida, and Texas.

Colonel Adams currently serves on the Executive Committee for the Ohio Hall of Fame Foundation. Reflecting on what the Kentucky Colonel title means to him, he shared that becoming a Kentucky Colonel “personifies our responsibility to help one another” and represents “one of the greatest joys of my life.” He was also recently inducted into the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.