View the Veterans Advisory Board By-Laws

Mayor's Appointments

• Todd Haskins: Todd Haskins represents Manhattan on the Veterans Advisory Board. He served for six years in the United States Marine Corps, attaining the rank of Captain. He has worked at Goldman Sachs since 2004, where he currently serves as Managing Director in the Financial Sponsors Group. Haskins is the co-chair of the Goldman Sachs Veterans Network and captain of the Goldman Sachs IBD Veteran Recruiting Team. He is also a member of the NYC Rice University Centennial Campaign Committee. Haskins holds an M.B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Rice University.


• Peter Kauffmann: Peter is the founder and principal of Bluejacket Strategies, a public affairs firm based in New York City. He is Vice-Chair of VoteVets, a progressive advocacy organization representing more than 600,000 veterans. Prior to starting Bluejacket, Peter was Communications Director for the Governor of New York, Press Secretary for Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Deputy Press Secretary at the Democratic National Committee. During his military service, Peter spent five years on active duty as a Naval Intelligence Officer and was part of the 2005 tsunami relief operations in the Pacific Rim. Peter earned his B.A. in Government at Franklin & Marshall College, is a member of the Board of Advisors for the VetVoice Foundation, and is a Truman National Security Project Fellow.


• Jennifer Kamrowski: Jennifer Kamrowski served five years as a Quartermaster Officer after graduating from West Point and has been awarded the Bronze Star and various Army commendation medals. Jennifer is air assault certified and a member of the All-Army Women's Soccer Team. Jennifer currently works as a Principal and Partner at Price Water House Cooper's Cybersecurity, Privacy, and Forensics practice and previously served as the national leader of Ernst and Young's Veterans Affinity Group. She has been a board member for the West Point Society of New York for over eight years. Jennifer has served as a corporate affiliate to various veteran initiatives and charities and has significant experience with corporate veteran hiring programs and recruitment strategies. She has received the Veteran Vanguard Award recognizing women veterans in the workplace from Veterans on Wall Street and the United War Veterans Council.


• Mercedes Elias: Mercedes is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, having served for over nine years on active duty. She completed tours in Quantico, Virginia, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Okinawa, Japan, Camp Pendleton, California, and Garden City, New York. She is a combat veteran and served in Afghanistan from 2011 to 2012. After leaving the military, Mercedes attended Columbia University where she obtained her Advanced Business Certification. Mercedes currently serves as the Head of Veteran Engagement at AmeriVet Securities, a veteran-owned boutique investment bank. She is actively involved with numerous veterans' organizations throughout New York City and its surrounding areas. Mercedes represents Queens.


• Paul Dietrich: Colonel Paul H. Dietrich (retired) served as an officer and enlisted member of the United States Army Reserve for over 34 years, retiring from active service in July of 2009. He commanded at both the company and the brigade level. He served overseas tours of active duty in Belgium, Germany, Japan, South Korea, as well as two consecutive tours of combat duty in Iraq. He served on the staff of George W. Casey Jr. and General David Petraeus where his duties included the protection and rehabilitation of the oil and electric infrastructure in Iraq. Paul's awards include the Bronze Star, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, two Meritorious unit awards, six Meritorious Service Medals, the Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, and the Defense of Korea Medal. Paul lives on Staten Island with his wife of more than forty years and has two children and two grandchildren. Paul represents Staten Island.


• Andrew D. Walcott: Andrew D. Walcott, ESQ, CPA is the owner and operator of Fusion East Restaurant located in the East New York section of Brooklyn. Fusion East restaurant is a full-service upscale Caribbean and Soul Food restaurant with an Afro-Fusion menu that has been featured on Good Day New York, News 12 Brooklyn, Caribbean and Life, and the Amsterdam News. The restaurant opened for business in 2015 and was awarded its first New York State contract in 2017. Andrew is a product of East New York, Brooklyn, and the local public schools. He is a licensed attorney, Certified Public Accountant, and Air Force veteran. In addition, he has served on his local Community Board for 20 years and formerly taught at his alma mater Brooklyn College for 10 years. Andrew began his career as a staff accountant at a local accounting firm and moved up the ranks continuously in his career. At various times in his career, he has served as Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel for a national recruiting company and Chief Auditor for the USA operations of a foreign investment bank. Andrew also had a private law and CPA practice for many years whereby he provided legal and accounting services throughout the Brooklyn community. Andrew holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Brooklyn College, a Master of Business Administration degree from Pace University and Fordham University School of Law.


• Linda Ollis: Linda Ollis was born in Manhattan and raised in Brooklyn. In 1971, she and her husband Bob, a Vietnam Veteran, moved to Staten Island and started a family. They are parents to Kimberly, Kelly, and Michael. Linda is a Gold Star Mother to Michael Ollis, whom New York City's newest Staten Island Ferry is named after. After the death of Michael while serving during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, Bob and Linda founded the Staff Sergeant Michael Ollis Freedom Foundation. Its mission is to honor their son's memory and legacy and to assist Veterans in need. Linda is the Secretary-Treasurer of the Foundation. She is also an active member with the VFW Auxiliary. Linda is a graduate of Hunter College/Bellevue School of Nursing. After a 43-year career as a nurse, she retired seven years ago. Linda enjoys volunteering at Staten Island University Hospital/Northwell, traveling, and spending time with her five grandchildren.

Speaker's Appointments

• Wendy McClinton: Wendy Charece McClinton serves as Chair of the Veterans Advisory Boardand and represents Brooklyn. She served in the United States Army for a decade. This decorated Veteran served during the Desert Storm Persian Gulf Era. Wendy is an administrator with Black Veterans for Social Justice, Inc, and the National Association for Black Veterans. McClinton is the New York State Commander of the National Association of Black Veterans (NABVETS). While in the United States Army, McClinton was assigned to the United States Army Information Systems Command, Pentagon, Washington DC, the 118th Detachment Postal Unit, Pusan, Korea, and the 25th Infantry Division Light Mechanized, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. McClinton is a graduate of the United States Army Logistical Management College, and she holds a BA in Theology from the Andersonville Baptist Seminary, and a Masters of Arts in Theology from the Rehoboth Theological Institute in Brooklyn, NY.


• Charles Hernandez: Charles Hernández represents the Bronx on the Veterans Advisory Board. He served in the New York Army National Guard, attaining the rank of Sergeant, and was a key part of the military response to 9/11, serving as the Military Liaison to the New York City Office of Emergency Management. He has served in various capacities both at home and overseas - including service in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom - and has received numerous military commendations for his service, including the Army Commendation Medal, Army Conspicuous Service Medal, and National Defense Medal. Hernández also has extensive experience working with at-risk youth in the field of juvenile justice, with leadership roles at several suspension units within the New York City public school system, and as a former employee of the Department of Juvenile Justice. Fluent in English, American Sign Language, Spanish, he has also worked as an interpreter and crisis intervention specialist, and is certified in School Administration and Supervision in the state of New York. He holds a Masters in School Administration and Supervision from Mercy College, and a B.S. in Elementary Education from Boricua College.


• John Rowan: John Rowan represents Queens on the Veterans Advisory Board. Rowan served in the United States Air Force, where he was a linguist in the Air Force's 6990 Security Squadron in Vietnam and at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa. Rowan has served as the National President of Vietnam Veterans of America since 2005 and has been active with VVA since the organization's inception in 1978. A founding member and the first president of VVA Chapter 32 in Queens, New York, he has served as the chairman of VVA's Conference of State Council Presidents, for three terms on the organization's Board of Directors, and as president of VVA's New York State Council. Prior to his election as National President, Rowan served as a VVA veterans' service representative in New York City. Rowan retired from city service as an investigator with the City of New York's Comptroller's Office. He holds a B.A. in political science from Queens College and a Master's Degree in Urban Affairs from Hunter College.


• Patricia LaBorda Patricia LaBorda was born in the Bronx, and raised in Northern Virginia. In 2004 she joined the Army Reserve, while an undergraduate student at Virginia Commonwealth University. She deployed to Iraq in 2007, after graduating took an assignment at the Pentagon, supporting Army G-3,5,7. After her assignment at the Pentagon, she moved back to New York City and attended Columbia University, School of International and Public Affairs. While at Columbia Patricia had the opportunity to take courses under professor John Liu, New York State Senator and the late Mayor David Dinkins, who both served as inspiring mentors. After graduate school Patricia worked in finance at Barclays in New York and London, during this time she became active in the Veteran community in finance, and helped co-found women veterans on Wall Street. Outside of work Patricia enjoys spending time with family throughout the east coast, in Tampa, Northern Virginia and New York.


• Brendan Gibbons Brendan Gibbons is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served for over four years, attaining the rank of Sergeant. During his time in service, he was involved in multiple deployments and operations, such as Operation Joint Guard in Bosnia and Operation Joint Guardian in Kosovo. He has received numerous military commendations for his service, including Two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Unit Commendation, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, Kosovo Campaign Medal, and Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. Brendan has been an active member of the VFW for over twenty years and currently holds the position of Junior Vice Commander for District One, which covers Brooklyn and Queens. Additionally, he serves as the Commander of Haspel-Staab VFW Post 551 in Middle Village, Queens. Brendan is also a member of American Legion Post 0460, Catholic War Veterans Post 870, PLAV Frank Kowalinski Post 4, and The United Veterans & Fraternal Organizations of Maspeth. In 2002, Brendan joined the NYPD and retired as a detective in 2020. Brendan represents Queens.


• Ryan Graham Ryan Graham is an Air Force and Iraq War Veteran from Queens, New York. Enlisting after the 9/11 terror attacks, Ryan’s military service spanned six years from the 52nd Fighter Wing in Germany, working within the A4 directorate of the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) headquarters at Hurlburt Field, Florida, the Logistics Support Center under Air Combat Command (ACC) headquarters at Langley AFB, Virginia, as well as deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom to Camp Sather, Baghdad International Airport. Since coming home, Ryan's broad experience includes working within the Fortune 500 and Aerospace industries as a Supply Chain Management professional, and has been active in the Veteran community and the VFW. Among his various roles, Ryan served as the Queens County Council VFW Commander from 2014 to 2018, representing 2,000 members throughout 20 Posts, and currently serves through policy initiatives as the Chairman of the Legislative Committee for District 1, as well as the Vice Chairman for Legislative Affairs for the Department of New York VFW. Locally, Ryan is the Commander of the Flanders Field VFW Post 150 in Corona, serves on the Veterans Advisory Council for Queens DA Melinda Katz, and served on Queens Community Board 10. Ryan holds a Bachelor of Science degree from St. John's University, and an MBA from Syracuse University.

VAB Member Borough Representation & Contact Info

• Todd Haskins (Manhattan)
  Email: THaskinsVABNYC@gmail.com


• John Rowan (Queens)
  Email: JRowanVABNYC@gmail.com


• Wendy McClinton (Brooklyn)
  Email: WMcClintonVABNYC@gmail.com


• Charles Hernandez
  Email: CHernandezVABNYC@gmail.com


• Jennifer Kamrowski
  Email: JKamrowskiVABNYC@gmail.com


• Patricia LaBorda
  Email: Patricia.laborda@gmail.com


• Linda Ollis
  Email: LOllisVABNYC@gmail.com


• Peter Kauffmann
  Email: PKauffmannVABNYC@gmail.com


• Mercedes Elias
  Email: MEliasVABNYC@gmail.com


• Ryan Graham
  Email: ryansgrah@gamil.com


• Brendan Gibbons
  Email: brendangibbonsnycvab@gmail.com


• Paul Dietrich
  Email: PDietrichVABNYC@gmail.com

Video

• MOVA VAB Meetings
• DVS VAB Meetings

Minutes

• November 2021
• September 2021
• June 2021
• April 2021
• March 2021
• November 2019
• September 2019
• June 2019
• April 2019
• March 2019
• November 2018
• September 2018
• June 2018
• January 2018
• July 2017
• April 2017
• February 2017
• November 2016
• September 2016
• June 2016
• April 2016
• February 2016
• December 2015
• November 2015
• October 2015
• August 2015
• April 2015
• January 2015

Annual Reports

• 2022
• 2021
• 2020
• 2019
• 2018
• 2017
• 2016
• 2015
• 2014
• 2013
• 2012
• 2011
• 2010
• 2009
• 2002-2008