On Friday, Governor Kay Ivey revealed the newly appointed members of the Alabama Veterans Committee (SBVA).
“In Alabama, we take pride in supporting our servicemen and women fighting for freedom. Our goal is to keep addressing the needs of our veterans and ensure that they have access to all the resources they deserve,” Governor Ivey stated.
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“I’m excited to assemble a robust committee dedicated to serving all veterans, and I’m eager to collaborate with this team to make Alabama the top state for veterans,” she added.
The SBVA members include:
- Colonel (ret.) Larry Vannoy, American Legion*
- Colonel (ret.) Walter Kozak, American Legion*
- John Keene Jr., American Legion*
- Jeffrey Fisher, American Veteran*
- Sergeant Brandy Whitman, American Veteran with Disabilities*
- Deborah Walker, American Veteran with Disabilities
- Charles War, American Veteran with Disabilities
- John Burks, Marine Corps League*
- Michael Urquhart, American Military Officers Association*
- Lorenzo Nathan, Purple Heart’s Military Order*
- Colonel (ret.) Anne Toms, American Military Officers Association
- Colonel (ret.) Scott Gedling, veteran of the foreign wars
- Robert Schmidbauer, veteran of foreign wars*
- Michael Davis, Vietnam Veteran of America*
- Colonel (ret.) Lori Rasmussen, large, US Air Force*
*Indicates a new appointment
Governor Ivey will also serve on the board, due to her position.
During the regular 2025 session of the Alabama Legislature, she defended Senate Bill 67, introduced by Senators Andrew Jones and Ed Oliver, aimed at restructuring both the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs and the SBVA to better address the needs of Alabama veterans.
Governor Ivey expressed her gratitude to the board members for their service to the nation and to Alabama’s veterans. The appointments will take effect immediately.
