CAS3
02-02-04, 10:56 AM
New Members Appointed to Committee on Women Veterans
WASHINGTON (Jan. 26, 2004) - Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J.
Principi today announced the appointment of two new members to the Advisory
Committee on Women Veterans, an expert panel that advises him on issues and
programs affecting women veterans.
"This advisory committee contributes in a major way to the success of VA
programs affecting women veterans," Principi said. "It helps VA strengthen
health care, benefits, rehabilitation, outreach and other programs for women
veterans."
Established in 1983, the 14-member advisory committee makes recommendations
for administrative and legislative changes. The committee members are
appointed to two-year terms.
The new committee members include Commander Donna L. Hoffmeier, from
Bethesda, Md., and Delegate Winsome Earle Sears, from Norfolk, Va.
Second only to elderly veterans, women veterans are the fastest growing
segment of the veteran population. There are approximately 1.7 million
women veterans. They comprise 6.5 percent of the total veteran population
and 6 percent of all veterans who use VA health care services. VA estimates
that by 2010 women veterans will comprise 10 percent of veterans using VA
health care services.
VA has women veterans program managers at 162 hospitals to assist these
veterans on health issues and approximately 73 women veterans benefits
coordinators to assist on benefits issues.
Membership
VA Advisory Committee on Women Veterans
* Marsha Tansey Four (Chair), Springfield, Pa. An Army nurse during
the Vietnam War, currently director of Homeless Veterans Services for the
Philadelphia Veterans Multi-Service and Education Center, Inc.
* Gwen M. Diehl, Taylorville, Ill. A retired sergeant first class,
staff assistant to the Deputy Director for Operations for the Illinois
Department of Veterans' Affairs.
* Cynthia J. Falzone, S. Setauket, N.Y. A veteran of the Army, an
accredited veterans service officer for the American Legion and Vietnam
Veterans of America, and state veterans counselor of the New York State
Division of Veterans Affairs.
* Bertha Cruz Hall, Fort Worth, Texas. A veteran of the Air Force,
retired counselor and veterans advocate for the Texas Veterans Commission.
* Donna L. Hoffmeier, Bethesda, Md. A retired commander in the Naval
Reserve and former professional staff member for the House Committee on
National Security.
* Edward E. Hartman, Bowie, Md. A disabled Gulf War veteran, now the
national director of Voluntary Services for the Disabled American Veterans
(DAV).
* Kathy LaSauce, Alexandria, Va. A retired Air Force lieutenant
colonel, California Woman of the Year for 1978 and one of the first 10 women
trained as Air Force pilots.
* Lory Manning, Arlington, Va. A retired Navy captain and director of
the Women in the Military and Hire a Vet projects at the Women's Research
and Education Institute.
* Kathleen A. Morrissey, Toms River, N.J. An Army nurse in Vietnam,
retired colonel in the New Jersey Army National Guard and director of New
Jersey's Veterans Health Care Services.
* Joan E. O'Connor, Boston. A retired commander in the Naval Reserve,
currently the General Counsel for the Massachusetts Department of Veterans'
Services.
* Sheryl Schmidt, Sacramento, Calif. A former Air Force staff
sergeant, currently Deputy Secretary for Women Affairs with the California
Department of Veterans Affairs.
* Lewis E. Schulz II, Walnutport, Pa. A retired Air Force master
sergeant, past president of the National Academy for Veterans Service
Officers and former director of the Department of Veterans' Services in
Collier County, Fla.
* Winsome Earle Sears, Norfolk, Va. A former corporal of the Marine
Corps, currently a delegate in the Virginia House of Delegates.
* Luc M. Shoals, Edmond, Okla. A retired chief master sergeant in the
Air National Guard, and former personnel superintendent for the headquarters
of the Oklahoma Air National Guard and minority officer recruiter for the
Air National Guard.
WASHINGTON (Jan. 26, 2004) - Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J.
Principi today announced the appointment of two new members to the Advisory
Committee on Women Veterans, an expert panel that advises him on issues and
programs affecting women veterans.
"This advisory committee contributes in a major way to the success of VA
programs affecting women veterans," Principi said. "It helps VA strengthen
health care, benefits, rehabilitation, outreach and other programs for women
veterans."
Established in 1983, the 14-member advisory committee makes recommendations
for administrative and legislative changes. The committee members are
appointed to two-year terms.
The new committee members include Commander Donna L. Hoffmeier, from
Bethesda, Md., and Delegate Winsome Earle Sears, from Norfolk, Va.
Second only to elderly veterans, women veterans are the fastest growing
segment of the veteran population. There are approximately 1.7 million
women veterans. They comprise 6.5 percent of the total veteran population
and 6 percent of all veterans who use VA health care services. VA estimates
that by 2010 women veterans will comprise 10 percent of veterans using VA
health care services.
VA has women veterans program managers at 162 hospitals to assist these
veterans on health issues and approximately 73 women veterans benefits
coordinators to assist on benefits issues.
Membership
VA Advisory Committee on Women Veterans
* Marsha Tansey Four (Chair), Springfield, Pa. An Army nurse during
the Vietnam War, currently director of Homeless Veterans Services for the
Philadelphia Veterans Multi-Service and Education Center, Inc.
* Gwen M. Diehl, Taylorville, Ill. A retired sergeant first class,
staff assistant to the Deputy Director for Operations for the Illinois
Department of Veterans' Affairs.
* Cynthia J. Falzone, S. Setauket, N.Y. A veteran of the Army, an
accredited veterans service officer for the American Legion and Vietnam
Veterans of America, and state veterans counselor of the New York State
Division of Veterans Affairs.
* Bertha Cruz Hall, Fort Worth, Texas. A veteran of the Air Force,
retired counselor and veterans advocate for the Texas Veterans Commission.
* Donna L. Hoffmeier, Bethesda, Md. A retired commander in the Naval
Reserve and former professional staff member for the House Committee on
National Security.
* Edward E. Hartman, Bowie, Md. A disabled Gulf War veteran, now the
national director of Voluntary Services for the Disabled American Veterans
(DAV).
* Kathy LaSauce, Alexandria, Va. A retired Air Force lieutenant
colonel, California Woman of the Year for 1978 and one of the first 10 women
trained as Air Force pilots.
* Lory Manning, Arlington, Va. A retired Navy captain and director of
the Women in the Military and Hire a Vet projects at the Women's Research
and Education Institute.
* Kathleen A. Morrissey, Toms River, N.J. An Army nurse in Vietnam,
retired colonel in the New Jersey Army National Guard and director of New
Jersey's Veterans Health Care Services.
* Joan E. O'Connor, Boston. A retired commander in the Naval Reserve,
currently the General Counsel for the Massachusetts Department of Veterans'
Services.
* Sheryl Schmidt, Sacramento, Calif. A former Air Force staff
sergeant, currently Deputy Secretary for Women Affairs with the California
Department of Veterans Affairs.
* Lewis E. Schulz II, Walnutport, Pa. A retired Air Force master
sergeant, past president of the National Academy for Veterans Service
Officers and former director of the Department of Veterans' Services in
Collier County, Fla.
* Winsome Earle Sears, Norfolk, Va. A former corporal of the Marine
Corps, currently a delegate in the Virginia House of Delegates.
* Luc M. Shoals, Edmond, Okla. A retired chief master sergeant in the
Air National Guard, and former personnel superintendent for the headquarters
of the Oklahoma Air National Guard and minority officer recruiter for the
Air National Guard.