Governor Kaine Acts to Further Improve Delivery of Services to Military Veterans

RICHMOND - Governor Timothy M. Kaine today signed an Executive Order (EO 8) shifting responsibility for veterans" services from the Secretary of Administration to the Secretary of Public Safety, and pledged to work to further improve the Commonwealth"s delivery of services to its 750,000 military veterans and their families.

"Because of Virginia"s unique and leading role with our armed forces, we have a special obligation to provide the highest possible level of services to our veterans," Governor Kaine said. "I am committed to providing additional state resources for our Department of Veteran Services to improve the delivery of services to our veterans and their families as they seek the federal benefits they have earned."

In addition, Governor Kaine announced the appointment of Vincent M. Burgess as Commissioner of Veterans Services. Burgess had been serving as Acting Commissioner since October 2005, after a decade of service in the executive ranks of the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. Burgess served in the U.S. Army as a combat engineer from July 1966 to April 1969, with a tour of duty in Vietnam from July 1967 to September 1968.

The 2003 General Assembly approved legislation creating a Department of Veterans Services. The legislation has consolidated services for veterans in one agency and improved the delivery of these services, and the Commissioner has a direct reporting relationship to the Governor when needed in crafting policy for serving veterans.

"For organizational purposes, the Department of Veterans Services has been under the oversight of the Secretary of Administration. While this arrangement has served the Commonwealth and its veterans well, I believe services could be further improved by shifting DVS into the same Cabinet secretariat as the Department of Military Affairs," Governor Kaine said. "This will allow greater cooperation between the active duty military, the National Guard and Reserves, and Virginia's services for veterans and their families."

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