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Veterans Services, Board of

Veterans and Defense Affairs

Purpose

The Board of Veteran Services shall advise and make recommendations to the Commissioner of Veterans Services upon such matters as may arise in the performance of his duties; investigate issues related to the provision of care and services to veterans, upon request of the Commissioner of Veterans Services or the Governor; study all matters affecting the welfare of Virginia citizens who are veterans or dependents or survivors of such veterans, and make recommendations to the Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Services; develop recommendations for policies and procedures related to the efficient and effective delivery of the services provided by the Department of Veterans Services; establish policies related to the coordinated delivery of veterans services, in consultation with those agencies, entities, and organizations, including counties, cities, towns or other political subdivisions of the Commonwealth capable of providing such services; monitor the administration of all laws concerning veterans and their dependents; review and advise the Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Services on the Department's strategic plan; based on rigorous cost-benefit-value analysis, provide recommendations to the Department of Veterans Services regarding future projects and the acquisition of facilities that may benefit the State's veterans, including but not limited to veterans cemeteries and veterans care centers; and provide recommendations to the Department of Veterans Services and the Veterans Services Foundation created in §2.2-2715 regarding gifts, grants, and other resources from public and private entities and organizations to support veterans services.

Term

Legislative members and the Commissioner shall serve terms coincident with their terms of office. Citizen members shall be appointed for a term of four years. However, no House member shall serve more than four consecutive two-year terms, no Senate member shall serve more than two consecutive four-year terms, and no nonlegislative citizen member shall serve more than two consecutive four-year terms.

Composition

The Board shall have a total membership of 26 members, including seven legislative members, 15 nonlegislative citizen members, and four ex officio members. Members shall be appointed as follows: four members of the House of Delegates to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates in accordance with the principles of proportional representation contained in the Rules of the House of Delegates; three members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules; and 15 nonlegislative citizen members to be appointed by the Governor. The Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Services, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Veterans Services Foundation, the Chairman of the Joint Leadership Council of Veterans Service Organizations, and the Chairman of the Virginia War Memorial Foundation, or their designees, shall serve ex officio with full voting privileges. Nonlegislative citizen members of the Board shall be citizens of the Commonwealth.

In making appointments, the Governor shall endeavor to ensure a balanced geographical representation on the Board, while at the same time selecting appointees of such qualifications and experience as will allow them to develop reasonable and effective policy recommendations related to (i) the services provided to veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States and their eligible spouses, orphans, and dependents by the Department of Veterans Services and (ii) the mission of the Virginia War Memorial.

Legislative members and the Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Services shall serve terms coincident with their terms of office. Nonlegislative citizen members shall be appointed for a term of four years. Appointments to fill vacancies, other than by expiration of a term, shall be for the unexpired terms. All members may be reappointed. However, no House member shall serve more than six consecutive two-year terms, and no Senate member shall serve more than three consecutive four-year terms. No nonlegislative citizen member shall serve more than two consecutive four-year terms; however, a nonlegislative citizen member appointed to serve an unexpired term is eligible to serve two consecutive four-year terms immediately succeeding such unexpired term.

The remainder of any term to which a member is appointed to fill a vacancy shall not constitute a term in determining the member's eligibility for reappointment. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments.

Vacant Seats

No seats are available at this time. If you are interested in joining this board in the future, please submit an application here.

Current Board Members

Vonzell Andre Mattocks

Member of the General Public Membership expires on 6/30/2026

Vonzell Mattocks, MBA, M.Ed.
Mr. Vonzell Mattocks serves as the Director of Community and Military Partnerships for the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC), where he leads regional collaboration across Fairfax, Prince William, Loudoun, and Arlington Counties. In this role, he strengthens strategic partnerships between local governments, federal agencies, and major military installations, including Joint Base Myer–Henderson Hall, Fort Belvoir, and Marine Corps Base Quantico.
A retired United States Marine, Mr. Mattocks brings extensive experience in military service, workforce development, and veteran advocacy. He is a former veteran small business owner and has held Executive Director roles with Northern Virginia Community College, the Northern Virginia Technology Council, and Warriors Ethos, a nonprofit organization supporting service members, veterans, and their families. Mr. Mattocks is deeply committed to community service and continues to volunteer in initiatives that advance the well being, readiness, and successful transition of veterans throughout the Commonwealth.

Sonja Lemott

Member of the General Public Membership expires on 6/30/2026

RDML Terence E. Mcknight

Member of the General Public Membership expires on 6/30/2026

Jordan Stewart

Member of the General Public Membership expires on 6/30/2026

RADM Vincent L. Griffith

Member of the General Public Membership expires on 6/30/2027

Robert E. Eisiminger

Member of the General Public Membership expires on 6/30/2027

Mr. Kevin Hoffman

Member of the General Public Membership expires on 6/30/2028

Brandy Michele Disbennett-Albrecht

Member of the General Public Membership expires on 6/30/2028

Major General (Retired), US Army Malcolm Frost

Member of the General Public Membership expires on 6/30/2028