Mike Tilden speaking at the IBEW Local 1245 Veterans Gala at the Rowland Freedom Center in Vacaville, Calif. on November 7, 2025.
IBEW Local 1245 Veterans Committee Chair and Business Representative, Mike Tilden has been selected as one of just five veterans nationwide to serve as a fellow with the Chamberlain Network, a highly competitive honor that recognizes veterans committed to continuing their service through civic and community leadership.
“It’s a huge honor to be selected,” Tilden said. “I see this as a great opportunity to continue the outreach and education that the 1245 Veterans Committee is here to provide.”
Chosen from applicants across the country, Tilden’s selection brings new resources, training opportunities, and partnerships that will directly benefit IBEW 1245 members and the union’s growing Veterans Committee.
“The Veterans Committee has become an important resource for our members, and Mike has done a tremendous job building it,” said IBEW 1245 Business Manager Bob Dean. “We’re proud to see him recognized on a national level. This fellowship will strengthen the important work our Veterans Committee is already doing on behalf of our members.”
The fellowship supports veteran-led projects designed to strengthen communities and expand civic engagement. For Tilden, that means developing new programs within IBEW 1245 that help veterans navigate benefits, connect with one another, and become leaders both inside their union and in their local communities.
Tilden said the fellowship will help him build on the work already underway through IBEW 1245’s Veterans Committee, including developing a veteran steward program modeled after the union’s successful Organizing Steward Program. The goal is to create a statewide network of veteran members who can serve as resources for fellow veterans while encouraging greater community involvement and leadership.
“Veterans know what it means to serve something bigger than themselves,” Tilden said. “We’ve seen what can happen when democracy is taken for granted, and I think that perspective can help strengthen civic engagement and encourage others to get involved.”