Duckworth appointed Director of DVA
11/30/06
Building on his commitment to recognize the efforts of Illinois veterans and provide them with the services and benefits they have bravely earned, Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today appointed decorated Iraqi war veteran and experienced health advocate Tammy Duckworth as the new Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs (IDVA). Duckworth’s appointment is effective December 15, and requires State Senate confirmation. The Governor also thanked outgoing IDVA Director Roy L. Dolgos for his hard work serving the state’s veterans. Dolgos will remain in the Blagojevich Administration, as Deputy Director of Administration with the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Division of Highways. “Tammy Duckworth embodies the new generation of American veterans. She has been an inspiration to people all over the country, showing extraordinary personal strength and speaking out on behalf of soldiers who are coming home from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. I know that as the Director of Veterans’ Affairs, she will inspire her Department to do everything they can to make sure every veteran is getting the assistance and services they’ve earned. No veteran should ever fall through the cracks,” said Gov. Blagojevich. “I would also like to thank Roy Dolgos for his hard work at the helm of IDVA during our first term, and for continuing to serve the people of Illinois through his new position at IDOT.” Duckworth’s first priority will be to step up IDVA’s efforts to reach out to veterans who lack health coverage and make them aware of the Governor’s Veterans Care health program. Jointly created by Gov. Blagojevich and Lt. Governor Pat Quinn, and launched in September, Veterans Care is designed to provide affordable, comprehensive health care to thousands of Illinois veterans who do not qualify for coverage through the federal Veterans Administration. The new IDVA Director will also focus on streamlining and modernizing the tracking and delivery of services the Department provides to nearly one million Illinois veterans. “I admire Governor Blagojevich’s unbending commitment to giving every person in Illinois access to health care. I look forward to helping to fulfill his goal by making sure our state’s veterans know about landmark programs like Veterans Care, and helping to streamline operations at IDVA so even more resources are going into direct service rather than bureaucracy. As a soldier I fought for my country, and now I thank
Governor Blagojevich for giving me the opportunity to fight for my
fellow Illinois veterans,” Duckworth said.
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