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Advisory Committee on Women Veterans

Center for Women Veterans

Advisory Committee on Women Veterans

The Advisory Committee on Women Veterans (ACWV) was established and chartered in November 1983 by Public Law 98-160.  The Advisory Committee on Women Veterans assesses the needs of women Veterans, with respect to VA programs such as compensation, rehabilitation, outreach, healthcare, etc.  The Committee reviews VA’s programs, activities, research projects and other initiatives designed to meet the needs of women Veterans; and makes recommendations to the Secretary on ways to improve, modify, and affect change in programs and services for women Veterans and follows up on all those recommendations.

Committee Schedule

VA’s Advisory Committee on Women Veterans is conducting a virtual meeting on December 3-5, 2024. The meeting sessions are open to the public. On Tuesday, December 3, the meeting will begin at 1:00 p.m. ET and end 4:00 p.m. The agenda includes updates on Veterans Health Administration (VHA) initiatives, and full committee discussion on 2018 report recommendations. On Wednesday, December 4, 2024, the meeting will begin at 1:00 p.m. ET and end 4:30 p.m. The committee will receive updates from VHA and the Veterans Benefits Administration, and will have full committee discussion on 2020 report recommendations.

On Thursday, December 5, 2024, the meeting will begin at 1:00 p.m. ET and end 4:00 p.m. The committee will receive updates from VHA, and conduct a full committee discussion on the status of 2022 report recommendations. Time will also be allotted for the public to provide comments starting at 3:30 p.m. and end no later than 4:00p.m. (EST). The comment period may end sooner, if there are no comments presented or they are exhausted before the end time. Individuals interested in providing comments during the public comment period are allowed no more than three minutes for their statements. Those who want to submit written statements for the Committee’s information should submit them to the Center for Women Veterans at 00w@va.gov.

Advisory Committee Reports and Meeting Minutes

The Advisory Committee prepares and issues various reports, summaries, and proceedings addressing issues related to Women Veterans.

Members

  • Wanda Wright, Tempe, AZ. A retired U.S. Air Force Colonel; currently serves as an advocate for women Veterans, promoting quality benefits and services to Veterans and their dependents; currently serves as Committee Chair.
  • Shannon McLaughlin, Esq., Sharon, MA. A retired Army Judge Advocate Colonel, with overseas service in Operation Enduring Freedom; currently serving full-time in the Military Division of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as its State Judge Advocate; and serves as Committee Deputy Chair.
  • Nestor Aliga, Vallejo, CA. Retired U.S. Army Colonel, a former member of VA’s Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans; currently serving as a Veterans advocate focusing on policy and programs specifically impacting women and other minority Veterans.
  • Alex Dietrich, Syracuse, New York. Retired U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander; a former F/A-18F strike fighter pilot with service in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan; currently serving as the Chief Human Resources Officer.
  • Sharon Dunbar, Manassas, VA. Retired U.S. Air Force Major General; former member of several joint services committees addressing issues impacting female military members in the Department of Defense; currently serving as a senior executive in private industry.
  • Shannon Hough, Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. A U. S. Navy Veteran; a long time Veterans advocate and former mayor, she currently serves as the President and founder of Shield of Sisters, an organization dedicated to issues impacting women Veterans who are survivors of military sexual assault (MST).
  • Yolanda Mayo, Jacksonville, North Carolina. Retired U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Major, with service in Operation Desert Shield/ Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom; a homeless Veterans advocate currently serving as the Deputy Operations Officer for Marine Corps Community Services.
  • Wistaria Joseph, Land O’ Lakes, FL. Retired U.S. Air Force Colonel with service in support of Operations Noble Eagle, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom; currently serving as an adjunct research staff member for the Institute for Defense Analyses, pursuing a doctorate degree and building an executive leadership coaching small business; serves as ACWV Benefits Subcommittee Vice Chair.
  • Rebecca Meyer-Worthen, Maryville, Tennessee. California Army National Guard Veteran with a background in family readiness support, transition, and career development; currently serving as the Comprehensive Development Classroom Special Education Teacher at Coulter Grove Intermediate School, working with students in grades 4 through 7.
  • Centra Mazyck, Columbia, SC. Retired U.S. Army Sergeant First Class; currently serves as an advocate for the needs of disabled Veterans, a motivational speaker for disabled Veteran athletes and as an ambassador for organizations such as Disabled American Veterans, Astro Access, True Car/Driven to Drive and Permobil.
  • Sandra Miller, Birdsboro, PA. A U. S. Navy Veteran, with service during the Vietnam era; currently serves as Chair of Vietnam Veterans of America’s (VVA) National Homeless Committee and has membership on several of VVA’s National committees.
  • Lachrisha Parker, Gaithersburg, MD. A retired U.S. Army Reserve Master Sergeant; currently serves as founder and chief executive officer of Parker Executive Consulting, LLC, where she provides high level executive administration to the vice president and chief of operation officer for a real estate investment banking group.
  • Wendy Rogers, Flagstaff, Arizona. A retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel; currently serves as an Arizona State Senator, where she is the vice chair of the Senate Committee on Government; chair of the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Elections; and member of the Senate Committee on Military Affairs and Border Security.
  • Kathryn Smith, Esq., Phoenix, AZ. An U.S. Air Force Academy graduate; currently serves as a member of the board of directors for Zoomies Against Sexual Assault and the Way of Life Committee, an affinity group that supports African American cadets and alumni.