The Department of Veterans Affairs has announced the appointment of six new members to the Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans on Jan. 31.
The committee advises the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on the needs of minority veterans with respect to compensation, health care, rehabilitation, outreach, and other benefits and programs administered by the VA.
“Our Veterans are reflective of the society in which we live, and we draw strength from their diversity,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “VA relies on this committee to provide sound counsel on issues that impact the minority Veteran population, and we welcome the newest members.”
The committee members are appointed to one, two, or three-year terms.
The new committee members include Tommy L. Daniels, Brig. Gen., retired Air Force, of Fort Worth, Texas; Raymond Jardine, Col., retired Army, of Honolulu, Hawaii; Thanh Dinh, Air Force Veteran of Burke, Va.; Harold Hunt, Army Veteran of Pembroke, N.C.; Shelia Mitchell, Air Force Veteran of Manassas, Va.; and Elisandro T. Diaz, Navy Veteran of Santa Ana, Calif.
They join current committee members Clara L. Adams-Ender, Brig. Gen., retired Army; Committee Chair Oscar B. Hilman, Brig. Gen., retired Army; Benjamin C. Palacios, Command Sgt. Maj., retired Army; Celia Renteria Szelwach, Army Veteran; and Marvin Trujillo, Jr., Marine Corps Veteran.
There are approximately 4.7 million minority veterans in the United States and its territories, thus comprising nearly 21 percent of the total Veteran population. (end)
