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Agency Directory

ODVA Directory

There are 10 divisions within the Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs. The divisions are as follows: Director's Office, Deputy Director's Office, Government and Policy Relations, Communications, Financial Services, Strategic Partnerships, Appeals & Special Advocacy, Aging Veteran Services, Information Services, and Human Resources. Within each division, there are departments and programs that ODVA houses. Contact information within each division can be found below.


General Contact Information

Address
700 Summer St NE
Salem, OR 97301

Phone: 503-373-2051
Toll Free: 1-800-828-8801

​ODVA is located in the heart of downtown Salem, Oregon. As part of the executive branch of the State of Oregon, ODVA is responsible for veteran advocacy, state programs, access to federal benefits and policy on behalf of Oregon veterans. The major and direct programs that exist within ODVA includes Statewide Veteran Services, Aging Veteran Services, Oregon Veterans' Homes, Oregon Veteran Home Loans, Educational and Emergency Aid, Conservatorship and Representative Payee Services.​
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Phone: 503-373-2383

Email: odva_vaac@odva.oregon.gov

Website: https://oregon.gov/ODVA/Connect/Pages/Advisory-Committee.aspx

Since the Advisory Committee was established in 1945, it has held a distinct and fundamental role advising the Director and staff of ODVA. Advisory Committee members are military veterans who are appointed by the Governor and act as advocates for veteran issues and represent veteran concerns across Oregon.

The Advisory Committee is fortunate to have volunteer members who bring diverse talents and experiences to the table from every generation of veterans and communities across this state. As an Advisory Committee, they are informed by the broader veterans’ community that they serve. As such, all Oregon veterans, their families and our partners are invited to attend and participate in the quarterly meetings held across the state.​​

Website: https://www.oregon.gov/odva/Services/Pages/default.aspx

​If you as a Veteran or a veteran you know needs help locating services in Oregon, you can find them through ODVA's Locate Services page. You can find services by any Oregon county or by services that ranges from County Veteran Service Offices, medical clinics, Vet Centers and more.​


Divisions and Programs

Accounting Manager
Derek Simmons
(503) 508-2727
derek.simmons@odva.oregon.gov

Phone: 503-373-2028

Interim Director
Kelly Breshears

The Aging Veteran Services Division is a program within the agency that was established to address the needs and concerns of our rapidly aging veteran demographic and their families. Currently more than 50% of Oregon veterans served during WWII, Korea and Vietnam eras and nationally, more than 12.4 million veterans are age 65 or older.

Long-term care needs for older Americans is a national concern. For the foreseeable future, older veterans and their families will increasingly need access to long-term care, adult foster care, home and community based services, as well as access to prosthetics, mental health care, health care, dental and hearing aids, and prescription medication.

According to the Oregon Office of Economic Analysis, the population of adults 65 years and older will grow at a pace of 4% annually, and will comprise 22% of all Oregonians by 2040.

The Aging Veteran Services Division is the front line for connecting all aging veteran related benefits and resources. Currently, the division incorporates the operational management of the two Oregon Veterans’ Homes and Conservatorship program.​​

Division Director
Joseph Glover
(503) 373-2232
joseph.p.glover@odva.oregon.gov

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Email: ODVA_PUBLIC_INFO@odva.oregon.gov

Division Director
Nicole Hoeft
503-373-2386
nicole.hoeft@odva.oregon.gov

Media and Events
Tyler Francke
503-373-2389
tyler.francke@odva.oregon.gov

ODVA's Communications team is responsible for managing all internal and external communication and information representing the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

Conservatorship Manager
Helen Ireland
(503) 373-2099
helen.ireland@odva.oregon.gov

When veterans are deemed to be incompetent by a court or the Federal VA to manage their own finances, ODVA may be appointed to provide conservatorship services, which include managing all assets for the veteran as fiduciary. In 2013, ODVA began representing new clients as a Representative Payee, in which the agency acts in a limited capacity to pay the bills of these veterans.​

Phone: (503) 373-2383

Email: Agency.Directors@ODVA.oregon.gov

Agency Director
Dr. Nakeia Daniels
Nakeia.L.DANIELS@odva.oregon.gov

The Director's office manages overall agency operations, provides governmental and external communications, supports statewide efforts to improve outcomes for Oregon veterans, and coordinates legislative and policy activities.

Facility Services Manager
Troy Croff
(971) 388-8214
troy.croff@odva.oregon.gov

Division Administrator/CFO
Donna Haole-Valenzuela
(503) 931-2197
donna.haole-valenzuela@odva.oregon.gov

Legislative Director
Jay Defillipo
(971) 388-9016
jay.defillipo@odva.oregon.gov

ODVA offers a handful of grants to veterans based on specific needs. The grants ODVA offers are listed below.

Campus Veteran Resource Center Grant: Designed to expand and enhance Campus Veteran Resource Centers on the campuses of Oregon community colleges and public universities.​

Veteran Services Grant​: Designed is to help Oregon veterans by granting funds to veteran service organizations that provide critical services for veterans within a community, region, or statewide basis.

Veteran Educational Bridge Grant: Created to help student veterans achieve their educational goals. This grant is specifically designed to provide some support to student veterans that find themselves unable to complete their academic programs on time, due to the unavailability of a required class.

Emergency Financial Assistance Grant​: The Oregon Veterans’ Emergency Financial Assistance Program (OVEFAP) is for veterans and their immediate family (spouse, unremarried surviving spouse, child, or stepchild) who are in need of emergency financial assistance. Assistance is granted one time only and average award amounts vary.

Address
700 Summer St NE
Salem, OR 97301

Phone: (503) 373-2373
Toll Free: (800) 633-6826

Email: ODVA_ORVETSHOMELOANS@odva.oregon.gov

Website: http://www.orvethomeloans.com/

Home Loans Manager
Cody Cox
cody.cox@odva.oregon.gov

​Since 1946, the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs has helped more than 334,000 veterans realize their dreams of owning a home.

ODVA offers a state veterans’ home loan that is an additional and distinctively separate benefit from the Federal VA Home Loan Guaranty Program. Veterans are now eligible to use the loan as a lifetime benefit.

The program is designed specifically to provide veterans the lowest interest rate possible. ODVA takes pride in achieving consistent high levels of customer satisfaction, and makes every attempt to be flexible and provide and easy application process.

Interim Division Director
Barb Maras
(503) 373-2381
ODVA_HUMANRESOURCES@odva.oregon.gov

Human Resources Analyst
Elissa Johnson

Division Director/CIO
David Kampff
(503) 373-2288
david.kampff@odva.oregon.gov

Address
600 North 5th Street
Lebanon, Oregon 97355

Phone: (541) 497-7265
Toll Free: (877) 321-3077
Fax: (541) 248-2001

Website: http://www.lebanon.oregonveteranshomes.com

Address
700 Veterans’ Drive
The Dalles, OR 97058

Phone: (541) 296-7190
Fax: (541) 296-7862

Website: http://www.thedalles.oregonveteranshomes.com

Address
100 SW Main Street, 2nd Floor
Portland, OR 97204

Manager
Martin Ornelas
(503) 689-0612
martin.ornelas@odva.oregon.gov

ODVA’s Portland office is the central submission point for all VA claims under ODVA Power of Attorney in Oregon. This office provides quality assurance on claims and acts as liaisons with the Federal VA. This office primarily represents veterans during various stages of annual appeal hearings.

Statewide there are more than 70 State and County Veteran Service Officers across 36 counties to serve the state’s veterans. If you are located in the Portland area, please contact your local County Veteran Service Office for claims assistance.​

Phone: (503) 373-2327

Email: ODVA_LGBTQVets@odva.oregon.gov

Website: https://www.oregon.gov/odva/Resources/Pages/LGBTQ-Veterans.aspx

LGBTQ+ Veterans Coordinator
Ian Michael
ian.michael@odva.oregon.gov

​ODVA's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) veteran coordinator office was created to help LGBTQ+ veterans and their families learn about and gain access to the full range of their earned benefits.​

Phone: (503) 931-5780

Email: ODVA_ORWomenVets@odva.oregon.gov

Website: https://www.oregon.gov/odva/Resources/Pages/Women-Veterans.aspx

Women Veterans Coordinator
Jessica Bradley
jessica.bradley@odva.oregon.gov

The goal of the women veterans coordinator is to improve advocacy and outreach to women who have served in the military, gather better data and research on women veterans in Oregon, participate in policy that is (or may be) relevant to women veterans, and help advance the level of care women veterans receive in Oregon.

Phone: (503) 373-7367
Toll Free: (833) 604-0883

Email: ODVA_OregonSAA@odva.oregon.gov

Veterans Education Manager and Interim SAA Director
Kim Douthit

SAA Compliance Specialist
Lisa Deneen

ODVA is the State Approving Agency for the state of Oregon. The State Approving Agency (SAA) is responsible for the review, evaluation, approval, and oversight of schools and training facilities to ensure state and federal quality criteria are met for veterans using their G.I. Bill® funds.

Phone: (503) 931-5780

Division Director
Sheronne Blasi
sheronne.blasi@odva.oregon.gov

The Strategic Partnerships division is responsible for providing advocacy and benefits to veterans, their dependents, and survivors. The program provides benefits counseling, claims and appellate representation, certification and training for counties and national service organizations, educational assistance, emergency financial assistance, and other service delivery partnerships across the state.

The division is the front line for all veteran benefits, ensuring that veterans obtain all the benefits to which they are entitled as a result of their military service.

The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (Federal VA) benefit system is a legal system. In order to qualify for benefits, veterans must file a claim against the United States proving they are eligible for these benefits through the submission of legal, military and medical evidence.

ODVA is responsible for the federal accreditation and state certification of Veteran Service Officers (VSOs) in Federal VA law (Chapter 38 United States Code and Chapter 38 Code of Federal Regulations), allowing these service officers to practice veteran law by taking Power of Attorney and representing veterans seeking benefits. These VSOs also represent veterans, their dependents and survivors before the Federal VA in their claims and appeals.​

Email: ODVA_VeteranVolunteer@odva.oregon.gov

Website: https://www.oregon.gov/odva/Benefits/Pages/Volunteer-Program.aspx

Veteran Volunteer Coordinator
Mark Newell
(503) 373-2057
mark.newell@odva.oregon.gov

​The goal of this program is to have a statewide network of volunteers trained to locate veterans and their  families, assist them in recognizing potential earned benefits and services, and connect them to individuals and organizations for additional assistance. This program will provide training and oversight on an ongoing basis to volunteers, ensuring that volunteers are supported in assisting these Oregonians to the resources who can best advise them regarding their benefits. Lastly, this program will continue to explore and identify additional opportunities to assist veterans and/or their families.