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Commissioner Bio
Yesenia Mata is a U.S. Army captain, public servant, and nationally recognized immigrant rights leader whose life and career are rooted in service—to both country and community. She brings that same commitment to her role as commissioner of the New York City Department of Veterans’ Services (DVS), where she is focused on advancing support for veterans, service members, and military families across the five boroughs.
She currently serves as a civil affairs officer in the United States Army Reserve. Yesenia began her military career in the enlisted ranks as a military police specialist, rising to the rank of sergeant before earning her commission as an officer. Her journey from enlisted service to Army captain reflects a deep commitment to leadership, discipline, and service above self. As both a service member and the spouse of an active-duty Army officer, she understands firsthand the sacrifices military families make and the enduring impact of service beyond the uniform.
That lived understanding of military life is matched by years of public leadership and advocacy. Alongside her military service, Yesenia served as executive director of La Colmena, a Staten Island–based immigrant worker center and workforce development organization serving more than 10,000 immigrant New Yorkers. Under her leadership, La Colmena expanded access to job training, legal services, entrepreneurship programs, and social services for immigrant and working-class families. Her work consistently centered those navigating complex systems—including immigrant service members, veterans, and families facing deportation cases.
The daughter of formerly undocumented Mexican immigrants, Yesenia’s advocacy is deeply personal. Earlier in her career, she worked directly with deported veterans and non-citizen service members, helping families navigate pathways to citizenship—including supporting her own husband during his journey from green-card soldier to U.S. Army officer. That experience continues to shape her commitment to ensuring that those who serve the nation are never left behind because of immigration status, bureaucracy, or barriers to access.
Yesenia has also played important roles in policy and civic leadership. She served as a commissioner on the NYC Commission on Racial Equity and the NYC Racial Justice Commission and contributed to New York City’s Immigration Transition Team. Nationally, she served as the National Latino Outreach Strategist for Bernie Sanders. She also holds a master’s degree in business administration with a concentration in human resources.
As commissioner of DVS, Yesenia Mata brings together military service, executive leadership, policy experience, and a deeply personal understanding of what it means to advocate for people too often overlooked. Her life’s work reflects a powerful truth: service does not belong to one uniform, one identity, or one community. It belongs to all those who answer the call to support others, and she is committed to ensuring that New York City’s veterans and military families are seen, supported, and empowered.