Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins and the newly appointed Veterans Service Agency Director Josh Gaccione have announced the establishment of the Westchester County Veterans Advisory Council. This newly formed council aims to enhance support for veterans and their families by fostering open communication and providing valuable insights to guide county policies and programs.
While the County is seeking members, Jenkins and Gaccione have also appointed the Council’s first appointees. The initial appointees are:
- David Zapsky,founder of the Bedford Veterans Advisory Committee and co-founder of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Veterans Resource Network;
- John Lemke, US Army veteran and chair of the Lewisboro Veterans Advisory Committee;
- Marcus Knight, multiple service veteran and New York State Chaplain; and
- Brendan Malloy, US Air Force veteran and an IT and cybersecurity specialist.
The Council will work with Gaccione to amplify and extend the agency’s outreach to local veterans and service members, and ensure that Westchester’s veterans have a direct line of communication to the highest levels of County government.
Jenkins said: “Making sure we serve those who have served us is a top priority for this administration, because what we do for our veterans, and for their families, is a measure of who we are. Westchester has many brilliant, dedicated and creative people among our veterans, like our appointees, I know that the council we are assembling will be a tremendous asset to Veterans Service Agency Director Josh Gaccione in making sure our veterans and their families get the services and support they deserve.”
Gaccione said: “As the old Marine Corps slogan goes, we’re looking for a few good – people — to make sure our Agency is doing everything necessary to provide for veterans in Westchester. Active input from and engagement with our veterans is key to us doing our jobs better. Our first appointees are people with tremendous records of service and outstanding achievement and expertise. I invite anyone with an interest in serving to reach out. Even if you just want to share your ideas, or find out how the Westchester Veterans Service Agency can help you, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We are here for you.”
Anyone interested in participating in the Veterans Advisory Council can contact the Veterans Service Agency by email at veteran@WestchesterCountyNY.gov.
