Governor Pat Quinn Names New Agency Chief

CHICAGO - February 8, 2009. Governor Pat Quinn announced the appointment of Iraq War veteran Dan Grant as Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs. Grant had been senior policy adviser for military and veterans affairs in the Office of the Lt. Governor.

 

"Dan Grant has the leadership ability and experience to head this important department," said Governor Quinn. "He will work tirelessly to support the brave men and women who have served our country."

 

Grant, a West Point graduate in 2002, joined the Lt. Governor's staff in November 2008. An organizer and advocate, he was instrumental in developing and supporting legislation to benefit the Illinois military and veteran communities. Grant spoke at countless military and veterans events across Illinois, including public service forums, community meetings and intergovernmental panels. He currently lives in Chicago with his wife, Stacey, and daughter, Adelyn. (See attached document for additional biographical information (PDF 24KB) .)

 

"I am honored and humbled that Governor Quinn has nominated me to lead the Department of Veterans' Affairs," said Grant. "I am excited by the opportunity to help an even greater number of our service members and continue to serve our veterans and their families."

 

Grant worked with members of the Illinois legislature and testified at hearings to help secure passage of a bill that ensured interest payments were made on delayed Line-of-Duty Benefit payments to bereaved military families (SB 2489.) He also spearheaded legislation to establish the Task Force on Service Member and Veterans Education and the Military Family Interstate Compact Implementation Statute Drafting Advisory Committee (HB 5368.)

 

Rising from platoon leader to captain, Grant led 28 men in a combat arms platoon during a year-long deployment in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He served throughout the Sunni Triangle in Bayji, Samarra, Balad, and Tikrit in a wide range of roles, including leading a 120 person team of soldiers, local Iraqi's, U.S. contractors, and coalition allies in the excavation, collection, and destruction of 3 million pounds of enemy ammunition during a 120 day mission.

 

The Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs is dedicated and committed to serving our veterans and their families. Its mission is to assist veterans and their dependents and survivors in obtaining the benefits they are entitled to through forty-three Veterans' Services Offices located statewide; to evaluate and approve veterans' education and training programs; to provide skilled nursing and domiciliary care for eligible veterans; and to administer State grants and benefits to eligible Illinois veterans. For more information go to veterans.illinois.gov.