WOODBRIDGE, Va. – The Virginia Council of Chapters of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) has announced that Virginia Delegate Rich Anderson (R-51st) has been named as the organization’s “2013 Virginia Legislator of the Year.” The award recognizes Anderson’s steadfast support of Virginia’s 830,000 veterans over the past year.
For the last two years, Anderson has chaired the General Assembly Military and Veteran Caucus, which is the legislative clearing house for bills that are introduced on behalf of veterans and military missions based in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Because Virginia is home to 830,000 veterans, the Caucus plays a central role in maintaining Virginia’s national reputation as one of the most veteran-friendly states in the country.
When notified of the award, Anderson stated that “as a 30-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force, I am humbled to be named the Legislator of the Year by such a distinguished group of American patriots. Nearly one in 10 Virginians has worn the cloth of the country at one time or another, and I have valued the opportunity to play a central role in the quality of life for my fellow veterans. Since my first election in 2009, I have made it one of my priorities in the General Assembly to focus on veterans issues. I’m especially pleased to chair the legislative body that is charged with military and veteran issues.”
Anderson further stated that “I’m pleased to have carried legislation this year with Sen. Toddy Puller (D-36th) to make the “Virginia Values Veterans” (V3) program a formal part of the Virginia Department of Veterans Services. The V3 program is focused on reducing veteran unemployment in Virginia by increasing job opportunities for a skilled group that has served our country in uniform. Because of this legislation, more than 4,000 jobs have been committed to Virginia veterans by more than 100 employers across the state.” More information on the V3 program is https://virginiavaluesvets.com.
Del. Anderson is a 30-year veteran of the Air Force who retired in 2009 as a full colonel. Additionally, his wife Ruth served for 21 years in the Air Force Nurse Corps as a senior officer and commander.
Since March of this year, Anderson has served on the Virginia Commission on Military Installations and Defense Activities, which is working on a mitigation plan to ease the impact of Sequestration and possible base closures in 2015 and 2017, with a special focus on Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads. He also serves on the Virginia Board of Veterans Services and the Virginia War Memorial Board of Trustees. Outside of his legislative duties, Anderson sits on the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary Board of Governors, a congressionally-mandated body that reports to the Secretary of the Air Force.
While Anderson may be receiving state-level recognition from MOAA for his past work, he is already looking ahead to the 2014 session of the Virginia General Assembly. Anderson stated that “working with 23 veteran organizations across the state, we’ve already written a comprehensive veteran plan and accompanying legislation for introduction in January. We will never stop working to make Virginia the most veteran-friendly state in America.”
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