Vet News: VA Announces New Members Of Committee on Women Veterans

WASHINGTON -- Secretary Anthony J. Principi has announced the appointment of four new members to the Advisory Committee on Women Veterans, a panel that advises him on issues and programs affecting women Veterans.

"This advisory committee contributes in a major way to the success of VA programs affecting women Veterans," Principi said. "It will help VA strengthen health care, benefits, rehabilitation, outreach, and other programs for women Veterans."

Established in 1983, the 14-member advisory committee makes recommendations for administrative and legislative changes. The committee members are appointed to three-year terms.

The new committee members are Gwen M. Diehl from Taylorville, Illinois; Cynthia J. Falzone from S. Setauket, New York; Lewis E. Schulz II, from Walnutport, Pennsylvania; and Chief Master Sgt. Luc M. Shoals from Edmond, Oklahoma.

Marsha L. Four, R.N., from Springfield, Pennsylvania, was named committee chair and Col. Michele (Mitzi) Manning, from Arlington, Virginia, will serve as vice-chair.

Second only to elderly Veterans, women Veterans are the fastest growing segment of the veteran population. There are approximately 1.4 million women Veterans. They comprise 5.5 percent of the total veteran population and 5 percent of all Veterans who use VA health care services. The VA estimates that by 2010 women Veterans will comprise 10 percent of Veterans using VA health care services.

The VA has women Veterans health coordinators at 163 hospitals to assist these Veterans on health issues, and approximately 73 women Veterans benefits coordinators to assist on benefits issues.

Members of VA Advisory Committee on Women Veterans are:

• Marsha L. Four (Chair), Springfield, Pennsylvania; an Army nurse during the Vietnam War, currently director of Homeless Veterans Services for the Philadelphia Veterans Multi-Service and Education Center;
• Michele (Mitzi) Manning (Vice-chair), Arlington, Virginia; a retired Marine Corps colonel, currently a student at Wesley Theological Seminary and chaplain of the Women Marines Association;
• Gwen M. Diehl, Taylorville, Illinois; a retired sergeant first class, staff assistant to the deputy director for operations for the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
• Cynthia J. Falzone, S. Setauket, New York; a Veterans service officer at the American Legion and state Veterans counselor of the New York State Division of Veterans Affairs.
• Bertha Cruz Hall, Fort Worth, Texas; an Hispanic veteran of the Air Force, now employed by the Texas Veterans Commission as a counselor and Veterans advocate.
• Edward E. Hartman, Washington, D.C.; a disabled Gulf War veteran; he is now the national director of Voluntary Services for the Disabled American Veterans.
• Kathy LaSauce, Alexandria, Virginia. A retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, California Woman of the Year for 1978 and one of the first 10 women trained as Air Force pilots.
• M. Joy Mann, Dover, Delaware; a major in the Air Force Reserves and commander of the 512th Mission Support Squadron.
• Lory Manning, Arlington, Virginia. A retired Navy captain, and director of the Women in the Military and Hire a Vet projects at the Women’s Research and Education Institute.
• Kathleen A. Morrissey, Toms River, New Jersey. An Army nurse in Vietnam, a colonel in the New Jersey Army National Guard and currently assistant director of New Jersey’s Veterans Health Care Services.
• Joan E. O’Connor, Boston. A retired commander in the Naval Reserve, currently the Associate General Counsel for the Massachusetts Department of Veterans’ Services.
• Sheryl Schmidt, Sacramento, California; a former Air Force staff sergeant, currently Deputy Secretary for Women Affairs with the California Department of Veterans Affairs.
• Luc M. Shoals, Edmond, Oklahoma; chief master sergeant in the Air National Guard, and former personnel superintendent for the headquarters of the Oklahoma Air National Guard and minority officer recruiter for the Air National Guard.
• Lewis E. Schulz II, Walnutport, Pennsylvania. Retired Air Force master sergeant, past president of the National Academy for Veterans Service Officers and former director of the Department of Veterans’ Services in Collier County, Florida.

SOURCE: VA press release