Gov. Schwarzenegger Announces Appointments

[boardman]

Gov. Schwarzenegger Announces Appointments

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the following appointments:

“We are extremely pleased with the appointments made by the Governor, they bring a wealth of knowledge and experiences to this department that will help us move our operations ahead to better serve the veterans of California in meaningful and exceptional ways, ” said Roger Brautigan, Secretary of the California Department of Veterans Affairs.

Daniel Nelan of Folsom, has been appointed executive director of Operation Welcome Home for the California Department of Veterans Affairs. He served the National Guard Bureau as brigadier general and special assistant to the director for the Army National Guard Bureau in Washington, D.C. from 2009 to 2010 and the Department of Homeland Security/FEMA/National Exercise Division as deputy director from 2009 to 2010. Nelan served the California National Guard as colonel and chief of the joint staff from 2005 to 2009, colonel and deputy chief of staff of operations from 2003 to 2005, colonel and director of army aviation and safety from 2001 to 2003 and colonel and aircraft pilot supervisor from 1999 to 2001. He attended the U. S. Army War College as a lieutenant colonel and student from 1998 to 1999 and was a lieutenant colonel and aircraft pilot supervisor for the California National Guard from 1991 to 1998. Nelan is a member of the National Guard Association of the U. S. and National Guard Association of California.

Jeffrey Aronson of San Jose, has been appointed skilled nursing facility administrator for the Veterans Home of Barstow. He has been president of His Way Health Services since 2008 and assistant administrator for Winchester Convalescent Hospital from 2000 to 2008. Aronson was vice president of operations for Mark, Cottle, Lef, Scott in 1999 and owned and was president of Jeff and LaDoona Aronson, Incorporated from 1994 to 1999.

Donna Dacier of Riverside, has been appointed to the California Veterans Board. She has served as senior partner for IZ Technologies since 2009. Previously, Dacier was chief operating officer for Mission 1st Group from 2008 to 2009 and an officer in the U. S. Army from 1974 to 2008. She is a member of the Senior Army Reserves Commanders Association, Association of the U. S. Army, Reserve Officers Association and Armed Forces Communications Electronics Association.

Derek McGinnis of Waterford, has been appointed to the California Veterans Board. He has worked as a readjustment counselor at the Modesto Vet Center since 2009 and a military and veterans advocate, amputee program manager for the American Pain Foundation since 2008. Previously, McGinnis was a program support assistant for the California Department of Veterans Affairs from 2007 to 2008 and hospital corpsman second class from the U. S. Navy from 1996 to 2007. He is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Team Semper Fi and Military Order of the Purple Heart.

Glenn Yokum of Barstow, has been appointed to the California Veterans Board. He served as a welding instructor for the Riverside County Superintendent of Schools from 1981 to 1987. Yokum was superintendent at Iron Horse Welding from 1985 to 1986, welding instructor for the California Youth Authority from 1984 to 1985 and welder maintenance for Kaiser Steel from 1965 to 1983. He served in the U. S. Air Force from 1950 to 1952, was a corporal in the active U. S. Army Reserves from 1949 to 1950 and an infantry soldier in the U. S. Army from 1948 to 1949.