Dear Friends of the MDVA - 

By way of introduction, I’m Anthony Woods, and I proudly joined the Moore-Miller Administration as Secretary of Veterans Affairs on January 18, 2023. It’s my privilege to lead the Department whose mission is to assist veterans, active duty service members, and their families and dependents in securing benefits earned through military service. 

I’ve spent my initial five weeks on the job listening and learning about the Department’s mission and visiting some of our many cemeteries, memorials, and service centers across the state.

I’ve learned that almost nothing we do could happen without our fantastic partners in the legislature, at mission-aligned veterans service organizations (VSOs) and nonprofits, commission members, and our Federal partners at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.  

In the weeks and months ahead, I’d love to hear from you on how we can meet our mission and go further by:

1. Elevating veterans as business and civic leaders here in Maryland. That includes identifying ways to support the thousands of veteran owned small businesses that exist in the state, making it easier for them to enter into contracts with the state, building pathways for veterans into roles in both Maryland state government and the private sector.
2. Better addressing challenges for Military families - in particular spouses who play a vital role in supporting service members and veterans. From chronic unemployment and under employment, to license portability, and easing the process of integrating into Maryland communities and schools. 
3. And finally, building bonds between Maryland veterans who served in World War II, the Korean and Vietnam wars and those who served in more recent conflicts and unite the diverse landscape of VSOs that have had the backs of our veterans for generations.

I look forward to partnering with you to deliver for our 360,000 veterans and their families and welcome your ideas and feedback. 

Thank you,

Anthony Woods