(SitNews) Palmer, Alaska - Governor Michael J. Dunleavy today welcomed US Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie to Alaska. Governor Dunleavy and Secretary Wilkie held a meeting in Palmer, discussing ways the VA can expand and improve the services they offer to veterans across Alaska, as well as how the federal and state Veterans Affairs agencies can partner together to best serve Alaska’s veterans in the nation’s largest state.

“It was great to welcome Secretary Wilkie to Alaska as he travels throughout our state to survey the services the VA offers to Alaska’s veterans,” said Governor Dunleavy.

Governor Dunleavy and US Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Wilkie Photo courtesy Office of the Governor

Dunleavy said, “Alaska is home to more veterans per capita than any other state in the country, and our veteran population is steadily growing. I am proud of the work we do with the VA and look forward to increasing access to VA services across Alaska, both urban and rural, in the coming months.”

“My appreciation to Governor Dunleavy for our discussion on how to further support our Veterans in the state of Alaska. I shared with him that Alaska is the future when it comes to the transformation of Veterans Affairs. That is why this is my second visit to Alaska during my short 11 months as Secretary,” said Veterans Affairs Secretary Wilkie.

Wilkie said, “The Veterans population is expanding and it is one of the reasons why we are testing electronic health care records as well as taking the time to listen and learn from Veterans and the state regarding how best to meet the needs of our rural veterans.”

Secretary Wilkie is currently on a multi-day trip to Alaska that includes stops in Anchorage, the Mat-Su Valley, and Fairbanks.

U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) will join U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Wilkie and Dr. Timothy Ballard, director of the Alaska Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, this Friday afternoon in Fairbanks for a town hall discussion with Alaska veterans and their family members at the Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly Chambers. The townhall is closed to press; however, the press will be able to meet with Sen. Sullivan and Sec. Wilkie immediately after the townhall for questions.

Wilkie was nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as the tenth Secretary of Veterans Affairs and was confirmed by the United States Senate on July 23, 2018, and sworn in on July 30, 2018. Sec. Wilkie previously served as the acting Secretary of VA from March 28 to May 29, 2018.

Wilkie is the son of an Army artillery commander, and spent his youth at Fort Bragg. Today, he is a colonel in the United States Air Force Reserve assigned to the Office of the Chief of Staff. Before joining the Air Force, he served in the United States Navy Reserve with the Joint Forces Intelligence Command, Naval Special Warfare Group Two, and the Office of Naval Intelligence.

Edited by Mary Kauffman, SitNews

Source of News:

Office of Gov. Mike Dunleavy
www.gov.alaska.gov

Office of U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan
www.sullivan.senate.gov

U.S. Veterans Afairs
www.va.gov

 

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