Welcome to the Office of the Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs
Your Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs
The Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs supports the Commonwealth by overseeing services and initiatives that strengthen Virginia’s Veteran, military, and defense communities. This includes leading the Virginia Department of Veterans Services to ensure Veterans and their families receive earned benefits, health care, education, and employment support; serving as the Commonwealth’s primary liaison to the U.S. Department of Defense; overseeing the Department of Military Affairs and the Virginia National Guard to protect citizens during emergencies; and managing the Veteran Service Foundation to provide supplemental support for Veteran programs. Together, these efforts reflect Virginia’s commitment to being the most Veteran- and military-friendly state in the nation.
Virginia is First for Veterans
- On November 11, 2015, Virginia became the first state to functionally end veteran homelessness.
- Virginia is the first state to convene a summit, inspired by the Governor's A Healthy Virginia plan, with key Veterans Administration (VA), state, and private health provider leaders to accelerate access to health care for veterans.
- Virginia is the first state to develop provider agreements between Federally-Qualified Health Centers and the VA (partnerships at 22 sites throughout the state).
- Virginia was the first state to file VA Benefits electronically.
- Virginia was the first state to create a unique program to employ former military medics and corpsmen in Virginia’s health systems.
At a Glance: Virginia Veterans Statistics
VIRGINIA HAS:
The second largest active duty population (Approx 130,000 active duty personnel).
The greatest number of veterans in the workforce per capita.
The second largest percentage of women veterans.
The largest percentage of veterans under the age of 39.
1 in 12 Virginians is a veteran (approx. 714,000).
Added more Veterans to its workforce than all other states put together.
The 8th most diverse Veteran population among the 50 states
*Virginia one of only six states named by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as a statewide Military Spouse Economic Empowerment Zones (MSEEZ).
Learn more about MSEEZ
* Six Virginia College and Universities Ranked in the Top-Ten Most Military Friendly in the Nation [Source]
