Kathy Gallowitz, a retired Air Force public affairs officer and nurse, was elected by peer commissioners as the 2022-2023 Chair of the Arizona Veterans’ Service Advisory Commission.

The commission provides policy advice on priority Veteran issues to the governor and the director of the Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services.

“What an exciting time to serve Arizona Veterans. The state’s robust post-pandemic economy, Veteran-friendly legislature and the opportunity to work with a new governor coupled with widespread support from civilian Veteran Champions, employers’ understanding the business case for and active engagement in Veteran-hiring makes Arizona a priority place for Veterans to work and live after military service,” she says. ”My priorities are workforce, collaboration and ensuring our policy advice aligns with post-pandemic realities.”

Gallowitz served 29 years in the U.S. Air Force as a public affairs officer or nurse. In response to 9/11, she designed and led a never-been-done-before statewide outreach program in Ohio to educate and engage civilians in support of troops and their families.

Arizona’s advanced Veteran-friendly ecosystem drew Gallowitz and her husband Ed, U.S. Army retired with four combat tours, to Arizona almost three years ago.

Gallowitz serves on the Southwest Veteran Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and is the Veteran-hiring Advisor for the Arizona Society of Human Resource Management. Through her business, Vanguard Veteran, Gallowitz equips civilians to become Veteran Champions as the “Veteran-Hiring Concierge,” “Military Ministry Builder,” and “Fallen Comrades Ceremony Producer.”

Learn more about the commission here https://dvs.az.gov/about/advisory-commission. To share Veteran community concerns, contact Kathy at 270-945-7286 or Kathy@VanguardVeteran.com.