FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 6, 2017, 5:00 p.m. CDT
Contact Jason Hogue, Peru State College Marketing and Communications, 402-872-2429
Washington, D.C. – President Donald Trump has announced his intent to nominate Peru State alum Randy
Reeves to be Under Secretary of Veteran Affairs for Memorial Affairs. Reeves is one
of 42 nominations the president announced during the congressional recess.
The WhiteHouse.gov press release says, “Mr. Reeves currently serves as Executive Director
of the Mississippi Veterans Affairs Board and serves as President of the National
Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs.”
“A native of rural Mississippi, Mr. Reeves served in the United States Air Force from
1980 to 1988 as an enlisted airman before being commissioned as an officer in the
United States Navy where he served from 1988 to 2008," according to the National Association
of State Directors of Veterans Affairs (NASDVA).
“Commander (Retired), Reeves is a Gulf War Veteran with service during Operation Desert
Storm, Iraqi Freedom, and Enduring Freedom. He retired in 2008 with 27 years of service.”
Randy Reeves. Photo courtesy of the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs.
Governor Phil Bryant of Mississippi wrote on Facebook, “Randy has done an outstanding
job advocating for our state’s war fighters, and I am proud to have Randy serving
in this important position for veterans in Mississippi and around the U.S.”
Reeves received Mississippi’s 2013 Excellence in State Government Award. Governor
Phil Bryant presented the award for Reeve’s work as Executive Director of the Mississippi
State Directors of Veterans Affairs.
“Reeves was recognized for stabilizing agency funding by creating methods to provide
consistent funding streams and improving efficiencies; increasing partnerships with
state and national agencies, including working with the Department of Employment Security
on a veterans job program and with the Military Department on legislative issues;
increasing the educational institutions approved for veterans benefits from 84 to
91; and implementing a recognition program and increasing training options for agency
employees in order to improve delivery of services to veterans,” according to the
Mississippi Business Journal.
“He also worked to provide a burial option for veterans and spouses by opening the
first State Veterans Cemetery and was instrumental in the implementation of the “Vet”
designation for veterans on drivers licenses.”
His work with the NASDVA was recognized by a concurrent resolution adopted by the
Mississippi State House and Senate. The resolution recognizes his ongoing work with
veterans in Mississippi, but highlights key accomplishments of his tenure with NASDVA.
For example, the concurrent resolution reads that Reeves, “served as point person
for work on Public Law 112-154.”
“He personally worked with congressional members and staff to amend original legislative
language to allow veterans homes to use provider agreements. Many state veterans
homes would have otherwise been unable to operate.”
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