I am a DAV Life Member of Chapter 3, Department of Massachusetts and have been serving or advocating for Veterans and their families for over 20 years.  

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I am a proud Marine Corps veteran of the Persian Gulf War and long-time advocate for veterans.  In 2007 I was appointed as Undersecretary of Veterans' Services for The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and went on to be named Secretary in 2011.  In this position I oversaw a number of programs and initiatives for veterans and their families including:

 

• The implementation of several web-based platforms to bring efficiencies and greater access to over $70 million in financial benefits system for MA veterans and eligible dependents

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• Working with the US Department of Veterans' Affairs and contracted providers to reduce the point-in-time count of homeless veterans by 21% over the course of 12 months

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• Establishing two national peer-to-peer outreach programs for veteran suicide prevention and homeless veterans reintegration by successfully obtaining over $5 million in federal funds

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• Strengthening the Massachusetts Women’s’ Veterans Network which provides over 28,000 women veterans with information on federal, state and local benefits and advocates on behalf of women veterans in Massachusetts

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• And serving as Chairman of the Governor’s Advisory Council on Veterans Services. The Council advises the Governor and the Secretaries of Health and Human Services on issues relating to veterans of the Commonwealth.

 

As a Life member of DAV, I currently hold the position of National 3rd Jr. Vice Commander.  Previously, I served as the District 1 representative to the National Executive Committee and served for two years on the DAV Board of Directors.  I am a former member of the National Interim Legislative Committee and Advisor to the Department of MA Veterans' Advancement Center, providing long term and transitional sober-living, supportive care, affordable housing programs, as well as the affordable transitional housing program for veterans seeking higher education and attending college. 

 

In my professional career, I lead a 51 year-old not-for-profit human service agency that serves and supports persons with disabilities through, housing, employment and independent living skills.  

 

I was born and raised in Boston and presently reside on Cape Cod.  I hold a Bachelors degree in Communications from American University in Washington D.C.  Additionally, this coming spring, I will be a Masters graduate from The University of Massachusetts - Boston with a concentration in veterans' reintegration and social services.  I also recently completed Harvard Business School's Executive Education Certification Program in Non-Profit Strategic Management.

 

I have over 28 years of governmental, not-for-profit and private-sector management experience. In addition to DAV, I volunteer as a member of the Board of Advisors for the USS Constitution Museum.  

 

My wife, Karyn, and I have been married for over 27 years and have two children, Jack (23) and Kate (21), and our rescue dogs, Hurley (10) and Roo (4).