Pvt Charles J Shutt Detachment VAVS

Veterans of the 1990-91 Gulf War will gain
additional access to the leadership of the Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) when the department's Advisory Committee on Gulf War
Veterans holds its first meeting today. The 14-member, independent
panel will advise the Secretary and the department on the full range of
health care and benefits needs of those who served in the conflict.

"I will ask them to take a 'fresh-eyes' approach in developing their
recommendations and work expeditiously to produce a final report within
18-months," said Secretary Peake.

Serving on the committee are Gulf War and other veterans, veterans
service organizations' representatives, medical experts, and the
surviving spouse of a Gulf War veteran. Members were selected to
provide a variety of perspectives, experiences, and expertise. Open to
the public, the meeting is scheduled for June 17 - 19, 2008 at the
Hamilton Crowne Plaza, 14th & K Streets, NW, Washington.

Secretary of Veteran Affairs Dr. James B. Peake will welcome the members
and thank them for their service both on the committee and in their
lives as citizens, veterans or veteran advocates. He will discuss the
importance the department places on the unique issues and challenges
faced by Gulf War veterans.

The first meeting is designed to give committee members an overview of
VA as well as the benefits and services provided to Gulf War veterans.
Members will receive briefings on education, home loan guaranty,
disability compensation and other benefits. Additional briefings will
include health care and veterans' legal and appeal rights. They will
hear public comments June 18 at 2:15 p.m. and June 19 at 3:30 p.m.

Membership
VA Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans

* * Charles Cragin, (Chair) of Raymond, Maine. Currently serves a
senior counselor for Maine Street Solutions, LLC.

* * Martha Douthit of Ashburn, Va. Surviving spouse of Gulf War
Army veteran, member of the Gold Star Wives of America, currently an
international trade analyst with the U.S. Department of Commerce.

* * Dr. Henry Falk of Atlanta. Retired rear admiral and former
Assistant U.S. Surgeon General. Currently director for the Coordinating
Center for Environmental Health and Injury Prevention with the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention.

* * Mark Garner of Lorton, Va. A retired Marine Corps chief
warrant officer-three and Gulf War veteran who served as a Nuclear,
Biological, and Chemical Defense Officer.

* * Dr. Lynn Goldman of Chevy Chase, Md. Vice chair of the
Institute of Medicine Gulf War and Health Study; currently professor of
environmental health sciences at Johns Hopkins University.

* * Dr. John Hart of Plano, Texas. Past president of the Society
for Behavioral and Cognitive Neurology, currently professor of neurology
and psychiatry at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

* * William (Rusty) Jones of South Riding, Va. Retired Marine
Corps colonel, and veteran of Gulf War and Vietnam War.

* * Kirt Love of Crawford, Texas. An Army veteran of the Gulf
War, currently serving as director of the Desert Storm Battle Registry.

* * Daniel Ortiz of Whittier, Calif. An Army veteran of the Gulf
War, currently serving as department service director with the Veterans
of Foreign Wars.

* * Daniel Pinedo of Oceanside, Calif. Marine Corps colonel
currently serving as the comptroller for First Marine Expeditionary
Force at Camp Pendleton, Calif.

* * Thomas Plewes of Annandale, Va. A retired Army lieutenant
general and former chief of the Army Reserve. Currently a senior program
officer with National Academy of Sciences.

* Valerie Randall of Savage, Md. A retired Army sergeant first
class; currently with the Department of Homeland Security.

* * Edward (Randy) Reese of Washington, D.C. An Army veteran of
the Gulf War; currently national service director for the Disabled
American Veterans.

* * Steve Robertson of Fredericksburg, Va. A Gulf War veteran who
served both in the Air Force and Army National Guard. Currently director
of the national legislative commission for The American Legion.