Peake to Hear Their Concerns, Issues
WASHINGTON -- Veterans who served in the Southwest Asia theater of
operations during 1990–1991 will have their own special advocates before
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake, thanks to a new
advisory committee Peake established to respond to issues unique to
them.
The 14-member, independent panel will advise the Secretary and the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on the full range of health care and
benefits needs of those who served in the conflict.
“Gulf War veterans made an invaluable contribution to national security
and peace in a volatile region,” Peake said. “This new panel will ensure
that VA benefits and programs adapt to the needs of these veterans, just
as our services have adapted for veterans of other conflicts.”
Serving on the committee are Gulf War and other veterans, veterans
service organizations’ representatives, medical experts, and the
survivors of Gulf War veterans. Members were selected to provide a
variety of perspectives, experiences and expertise.
The committee will be chaired by Charles Cragin, a retired Navy captain,
who has had several senior level positions within the federal
government, including Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel
and Readiness and Chairman of VA’s Board of Veterans’ Appeals.
In January 2002, the Department created an advisory committee to assist
VA’s secretary on research into the medical problems of Gulf War
veterans. That older committee will retain responsibility for research
involving veterans of the 1990-1991 conflict in the Middle East.
This committee’s first meeting will be held in mid-June in Washington,
D.C. It is expected to complete its work within 18 months. Committee
meetings will be open to the public.
A list of the members of VA’s Gulf War Advisory Committee is attached.
Membership
VA Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans
Charles Cragin, (Chair) of Raymond, Maine. Currently serves a senior
counselor for Maine Street Solutions, LLC.
Martha Douthit of Ashburn, Va. Surviving spouse of Gulf War Army
veteran, member of the Gold Star Wives of America, currently an
international trade analyst with the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Dr. Henry Falk of Atlanta. Retired rear admiral and former Assistant
U.S. Surgeon General. Currently director for the Coordinating Center for
Environmental Health and Injury Prevention with the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.
Mark Garner of Lorton, Va. A retired Marine Corps chief warrant
officer-three and Gulf War veteran who served as a Nuclear, Biological,
and Chemical Defense Officer.
Dr. Lynn Goldman of Chevy Chase, Md. Vice chair of the Institute of
Medicine Gulf War and Health Study; currently professor of environmental
health sciences at Johns Hopkins University.
Dr. John Hart of Plano, Texas. Past president of the Society for
Behavioral and Cognitive Neurology, currently professor of neurology and
psychiatry at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
William (Rusty) Jones of South Riding, Va. Retired Marine Corps colonel,
and veteran of Gulf War and Vietnam War.
Kirt Love of Crawford, Texas. An Army veteran of the Gulf War, currently
serving as director of the Desert Storm Battle Registry.
Daniel Ortiz of Whittier, Calif. An Army veteran of the Gulf War,
currently serving as department service director with the Veterans of
Foreign Wars.
Daniel Pinedo of Oceanside, Calif. Marine Corps colonel currently
serving as the comptroller for First Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp
Pendleton, Calif.
Thomas Plewes of Annandale, Va. A retired Army lieutenant general and
former chief of the Army Reserve. Currently a senior program officer
with National Academy of Sciences.
Valerie Randall of Savage, Md. A retired Army sergeant first class;
currently with the Department of Homeland Security.
Edward (Randy) Reese of Washington, D.C. An Army veteran of the Gulf
War; currently national service director for the Disabled American
Veterans.
Steve Robertson of Fredericksburg, Va. A Gulf War veteran who served
both in the Air Force and Army National Guard. Currently director of the
national legislative commission for The American Legion.
# # #
In April 2008, the Secretary of U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs
established the Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans. The purpose of
the Advisory Committee is to provide advice to the Secretary on the full
spectrum of health care and benefits issues that confront veterans who
served in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the 1990-1991
period of the Gulf War. To carry out these duties, the Committee is
expected to assess both the effectiveness of existing benefits and
services and to determine the need for new initiatives and/or policies
that relate exclusively to this population of veterans.
Our Charter
http://www1.va.gov/gulfwaradvisorycommittee/