Montgomery, AL – Governor Kay Ivey announced the newly restructured Alabama State Board of Veterans Affairs (SBVA), a move aimed at enhancing the state’s ability to serve its veteran population. The restructuring follows the passage of Senate Bill 67 during the 2025 Regular Legislative Session, which was sponsored by Senator Andrew Jones and Representative Ed Oliver.
The updated SBVA includes a diverse slate of members from various veterans service organizations across the state. Several of the appointees are new to the board, as indicated by an asterisk.
The newly appointed and returning members include:
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Colonel (Ret.) Larry Vannoy, American Legion*
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Colonel (Ret.) Walter Kozak, American Legion*
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John Keen, Jr., American Legion*
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Jeffrey Fisher, American Veterans*
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Sergeant Brandi Whitman, Disabled American Veterans*
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Deborah Walker, Disabled American Veterans
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Charles Waugh, Disabled American Veterans
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John Burks, Marine Corps League*
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Michael Urquhart, Military Officers Association of America*
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Lorenzo Nathan, Military Order of the Purple Heart*
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Colonel (Ret.) Anne Toms, Military Officers Association of America
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Colonel (Ret.) Scott Gedling, The Veterans of Foreign Wars
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Robert Schmidbauer, The Veterans of Foreign Wars*
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Michael Davis, Vietnam Veterans of America*
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Colonel (Ret.) Lori Rasmussen, At Large, U.S. Air Force*
Governor Ivey also holds a position on the board by virtue of her office.
“In Alabama, we proudly support the men and women who wore the uniform to fight for our freedoms. We continue to prioritize veteran needs in our state and want to ensure we have every available resource for these men and women who served our country,” said Governor Ivey in a statement. “I am proud to assemble a strong and wide-ranging Board of veterans to serve all of their fellow veterans. I look forward to continue working with this group to make Alabama the number one state for veterans.”
The restructuring of the SBVA and the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs under SB 67 is intended to improve organizational efficiency, strengthen advocacy, and ensure Alabama veterans receive the services and representation they deserve.
All appointments are effective immediately.
