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BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Tracy Dufault, senior vice president of Merchandising Operations at Walmart U.S., has been named one of the 57 Scholars who will make up the 10th annual class of the Presidential Leadership Scholars (PLS). For the past decade, PLS has brought together more than 500 diverse, established leaders to collaborate and make a difference in the world as they learn about leadership through the lens of the presidential experiences of George W. Bush, William J. Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson.
This year's class was selected through a rigorous review process. Scholars were chosen for their leadership potential and the strength of their projects addressing a community or organizational need.
Dufault’s project aims to help veterans successfully transition into the civilian workforce. This will be achieved by enhancing hiring practices, onboarding, and cultural integration through the combination of two Walmart initiatives: skill-based hiring and a veteran transition course. Developed in collaboration with an Arkansas-based company specializing in veteran transitions, this course is intended to assist veterans in navigating the nuances of adapting to the Walmart culture. Additionally, it offers managers guidance on how to support their veterans effectively throughout this transition. Tracy's overarching goal is to enable veterans to find purpose in their civilian lives while significantly lowering the veteran suicide rate.
This project holds personal significance for her; she dedicated a commendable decade to serving as an Army Aviator. She is a proud graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, where she earned a degree in mechanical engineering. Additionally, she possesses an M.B.A. from the prestigious Harvard Business School.
“It’s an honor to have been selected to participate in an esteemed program where I’ll be able to learn and develop leadership principles from our nation’s former leaders that will enable me to help our nation’s veterans thrive,” said Dufault. “Having served in the Army for over a decade, I know firsthand the difficulties veterans face as they re-integrate themselves into civilian life. One such difficulty that I intend to help solve is enabling veterans to find a career that best understands and utilizes their skill set while promoting a sense of purpose and belonging.”
“Our goal is to support veterans and military spouses during their service and beyond. We’re proud of associates like Tracy joining in this goal, changing the world and showing support for veterans in our nation. As our founder and WWII veteran, Sam Walton, said, ‘Our people make the difference,’” said Dan Bartlett, Executive Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Walmart. “Tracy is a prime example of answering the call to serve her community.”
Tracy launched her retail career as a store director at HEB Grocery. She then spent six years in product management and grocery procurement, working as a business development manager in San Antonio, TX. Before joining Walmart in 2017, Tracy served as a Senior Director at Daymon Worldwide in San Antonio, managing the HEB account across grocery, meat & seafood, service deli, and general merchandise. Her impressive career also features various sales and marketing roles at General Mills in Minneapolis, MN.
As the Senior Vice President of Merchandising Operations for Walmart U.S., Tracy leads a team committed to supporting Walmart’s merchandising organization through business analysis, forecasting, replenishment, pricing, inventory management, space and modular development, and execution. Since joining Walmart, Tracy has also served as the Vice President of Merchandising Operations for Packaged Goods and the Senior Vice President of Merchandising Operations for Food.
Beyond her professional commitments, Tracy is deeply involved in her community. She has served as the President of the NWA Youth Hockey Association and is currently the vice president of the Board for Sheep Dog Impact Assistance (sheepdogia.org), a national non-profit dedicated to the overall well-being of our nation’s Veterans and First Responders. Tracy currently resides in Little Flock, AR, with her two children and two dogs.
During the program, Scholars will visit each participating presidential center to engage with former presidents, key officials from prior administrations, business and civic leaders, and distinguished academics. They will explore different leadership approaches and share ideas to enhance their impact.
Scholars have consistently reported remarkable growth in skills, responsibilities, and opportunities for impact since the program began in 2015. For example, 96% of Scholars said their confidence in how they lead social change has improved due to PLS, and 97% of Scholars reported they are inspired to accomplish more since beginning the program.
The 2025 program began on Jan. 29.
