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GOVERNOR ELIOT SPITZER HONORS VETERANS AND ANNOUNCES THE DIVISION OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS APPOINTMENT

Governor Eliot Spitzer today met with Veterans at the New York Campus of the Veterans Affairs New York Harbor Health Care System. The Governor utilized his Veterans Day visit to announce the appointment of Colonel (Retired) James D. McDonough, Jr. to serve as Director of the State Division of Veterans' Affairs (DVA).

Colonel (Ret.) McDonough will work to increase awareness of state benefits for Veterans. In partnership with the New York State Department of Civil Service, Colonel (Ret.) McDonough will promote the use of the Governor's Program to Hire Veterans with Disabilities as a tool to assist veterans in securing employment. This program permits the State Civil Service Commission to convert up to 300 entry-level positions filled through open-competitive civil service examination to non-competitive positions open to certain disabled Veterans who served in time of war. Since September 11th, 2001, New York has deployed over 5,400 soldiers to the missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Colonel (Ret.) McDonough and the DVA will make supporting this new generation of Veterans a top priority.

"Today as we honor our nation's heroes, New York's Veterans get a new advocate in Albany," said Governor Spitzer. "Colonel (Ret.) McDonough has tirelessly served his country, both at home and abroad. New York's 1.25 million veterans, approximately 40,000 residents who currently serve in the Armed Forces, and their families will benefit from his proven leadership ability, years of experience and passion for serving those who have served our country."

Colonel (Ret.) McDonough currently works for the United States Department of Labor, as the Director of Veterans Employment and Training Service for New York. He is an Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran and his final Army assignment was as Inspector General for New York State, where he also chaired the Northeast Region on behalf of The Inspector General of the United States Army Colonel (Ret.) McDonough previously served as a Professor of Outreach at the Simon Center for the Professional Military Ethic at the United States Military Academy. From 1999 to 2001, he served as a Battalion Commander and Chief Executive Officer of the 3rd Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment in Fort Bliss, Texas. Prior to that, Colonel (Ret.) McDonough was a Joint Operations Officer on the Joint Staff at the Pentagon coordinating operations for all aspects of Air and Missile Defense. From 1995 to 1996, Colonel (Ret.) McDonough was stationed oversees, where he served as Operations and Executive Officer of the 1st Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment in Suwon, Korea. Colonel (Ret.) McDonough received a Bachelors Degree from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh, a Master's of Arts in Communications from Indiana State University and a Master's Degree in Strategic Studies from the United State Army War College.

As Director of the Division of Veterans' Affairs, Colonel (Retired) McDonough's annual salary will be $101,600.