Agencies, Boards and Commissions

Veterans Commission, Texas*

5 Members - Term: 6 Years

General Information

Agency #: 403 George HW Bush., 14th Fl, Ste. 14.10001801 Congress Avenue, P.O. Box 12277Austin, TX 78711-2277

Members

Office	Office Holder	Hometown / Term Ends
Chair	Laura Koerner	Fair Oaks Ranch, 12-31-2029
Board Member(s)	Kevin Barber	Houston, 12-31-2027
	Mary Lopez Dale	Cedar Park, 12-31-2025
	Mike Hernandez	Abilene, 12-31-2025
	Charles "Chuck" Wright	Frisco, 12-31-2029

Staff

Office	Office Holder	Phone / Fax
Executive Director	Thomas P. Palladino	(512) 463-0504
Deputy Executive Director	Shawn Deabay	(512) 463-0504
General Counsel	Kirstin Erickson	(512) 463-0663
Director of Veteran Services	Chip Osborne	(512) 463-3151
Director of Veterans Benefits	Charles Catoe	(512) 463-1466
Claims Operations Manager	Juan Amaya	(254) 718-4198
Director, Claims	Salvador Castillo	(512) 463-8730
Director, Human Resources & Training	Tina M. Whitis	(512) 463-1295
Director, Fund for Veterans' Assistance	Ervey Leos	(512) 621-6342
Funds for Veterans� Assistance Operations Manager	Joanna Orozco	(737) 376-0856
Health Care Advocacy Department Director	Gary Lee	(512) 463-5340
Health Care Advocacy Department Operations Manager	William Pryor	(512) 463-3605
Director, Veterans Employment Services	Katharine Tamez	(512) 987-2865
Veterans Employment Services Operations Manager	Robert Hertzel	(512) 463-8016
Director, Veterans Education	David Salgado	(512) 463-6160
Veterans Education Operations Manager	Charles Bryant	(512) 463-8189
Director of Veterans Mental Health	Brenda Keller	(512) 676-1895
Veterans Medical Health Director Operations Manager	Amber Morson	(512) 567-5477
Director, Communications and Outreach	Margaret Hession	(512) 434-3479
Chief Financial Officer	Michelle Nall	(512) 962-2380
Director, Government Relations	James Crabtree	(512) 884-1153
Veterans Entrepreneur Program Director	Megan Tamez	(830) 388-5251
Women Veterans Program Director	Dr. Krystle Matthews	(832) 728-3624
Information Resource Management Director	Swapna Jain	(512) 516-1843
Human Resources Operations Manager	Jeff Richey	(512) 463-5951
Training and Events Program Manager	Tycin Thompson	(512) 463-5339
Emergency Management Program Coordinator	Tim Shatto	(512) 517-7124

Claims Branch Offices

Office	Office Holder	Phone / Fax
Claims Northwest District Manager	Sandra Covin	(254) 299-9964
Claims Northeast District	Jana Else	(254) 743-0549
Claims Southwest District	Thalia Hernandez	(210) 706-8071
Claims Southeast District	Julio Harros	(713) 383-2756

Regional Veterans Employment Representatives

Office	Office Holder	Phone / Fax
South Texas Regional Office	Adrain L. King	(830) 629-2010 x2607
Central Texas Regional Office	Tony Ramirez	(254) 200-2014
North Texas Regional Office	Curtis Chalupa	(214) 548-1493
West Texas Regional Office	Trey Hubbard	(325) 338-0089
Gulf Coast Regional Office	Jo Ikard	(713) 993-2416

Notes

The commission guarantees Texas veterans and their families receive all the rights and entitlements provided for veterans of the U.S. and Texas armed forces.

* Subject to the Texas Sunset Act; will be reviewed in 2031.