Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | May 13, 1981 |
| Preceding agency |
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| Headquarters | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
| Employees | 1,926 classified 26 unclassified |
| Annual budget | $48 million |
| Ministers responsible |
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| Agency executives |
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| Parent agency | Oklahoma Veterans Commission |
| Website | okvets.ok.gov |
The Oklahoma Department of Veteran Affairs (ODVA) is a department of the state of Oklahoma under the supervision of the Oklahoma Secretary of Veterans Affairs charged with providing medical and rehabilitative services for veterans and their families.
The Department is governed by a nine-member Oklahoma Veterans Commission, who members are appointed by the Governor, with the approval the Oklahoma Senate for three-year terms. The Governor appoints members from names submitted by the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Military Order of the Purple Heart, National Guard Association, Paralyzed Veterans of America, as well as three at-large appointees. The Commission in turn appoints the Executive Director of the Department, who serve at the pleasure of the Commission and is responsible for administration of the Department.
The Department was created in 1981 during the term of Governor George Nigh as a successor to the Soldiers Relief Commission.
The Veterans Affairs Department is charged with ensuring all Oklahoma veterans and their families receive all possible benefits and provide health services and long-term skilled care in a residential environment to all qualified veterans residing in the state. These services includes nursing and domiciliary care, financial assistance in emergencies, and field service counseling in the filing of claims for United States Department of Veterans Affairs and state benefits.
The Oklahoma Legislature created the Soldiers Relief Commission in 1947. It was later replaced by the Department in 1981.
The Department is administered by MG (ret.) Myles Deering, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Department's Executive Director. Oversight for the Department is provided by the nine member Oklahoma Veterans Commission.
The Department of Veterans Affairs is administered under such rules, regulations and policies as may be prescribed by the nine-member Oklahoma Veterans Commission. The members of the Commission are appointed by the Governor of Oklahoma, with the approval of the Oklahoma Senate, from a list of names submitted by the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Military Order of the Purple Heart, National Guard Association, Paralyzed Veterans of America, as well as three at-large appointees. Three members of the Commission must be Vietnam War veterans. All members serve three-year terms.
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