Gov.-elect Dan Malloy announced Monday that he would be reappointing Linda Spoonster Schwartz to continue serving as his commissioner of the Department of Veteran Affairs.
A retired Air Force veteran, Schwartz was first appointed by former Gov. John G. Rowland in 2003 and has been the head of the VA for the past seven years.
In a prepared statement, Malloy cited Schwartz’s admirable dedication to improving the lives of veterans in Connecticut as the reason he was leaving her in her post.
“With her experience as a veteran and a nurse, Commissioner Schwartz brings first-hand knowledge to the job that few others have,” he said.
Schwartz said taking care of the state’s vets is an issue that transcends politics and administrations.
“Many Connecticut men and women have chosen to serve our nation in Iraq and Afghanistan, and we need to ensure that they return to a state ready to help them transition into civilian life,” she said. “I’m looking forward to working with Governor-Elect Malloy and his Administration as we ensure that our state’s veterans, regardless of when or where they served, receive the programs and services they need and deserve.”
Schwartz served in the Air Force from 1967 to 1986, when she was injured in an aircraft accident while acting as a flight nurse, according to her bio. She received a masters degree in nursing and a doctorate in public health from the Yale School of Medicine.
