About The Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs

The Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs was created by the State Legislature in 1999 as an executive agency with the mission of assisting veterans, active duty service members, their families and dependents, in securing benefits earned through military service. The Department’s origin follows the history of the Maryland Veterans Commission back to 1924, when the Soldiers’ Relief Fund Commission was formed to administer a State relief fund for disabled veterans of World War I.

Under the Department of Veterans Affairs are five major programs:

• The Service and Benefits Program provides assistance to the men and women who served in the Uniformed Services of the United States, their dependents, and survivors in obtaining benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense, State of Maryland and other programs for veterans and their families. Located in communities throughout Maryland, Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs Service Officers assist veterans and their eligible dependents in acquiring benefits.
• The Charlotte Hall Veterans Home has been proudly “Serving Those Who Served” since 1985.  The Home is situated on 126 beautiful acres in St. Mary’s County, and offers a continuum of care from the 168-bed assisted living program to the 286-bed skilled nursing program.   Charlotte Hall Veterans Home also offers memory care in secure units.
• The Cemetery and Memorial Program: The cemetery program is the largest of its kind in the nation.  The State of Maryland and the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs are honored to offer our veterans and their eligible dependents a final resting place at one of five state veterans cemeteries located throughout Maryland. In addition the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs manages a memorial program.  The Maryland World War II Memorial is in Annapolis, and the Vietnam War and Korean War Memorials are in Baltimore. Additionally, the Department shares joint responsibility with the City of Baltimore for the War Memorial Building in Baltimore.
• The Communications, Outreach, & Advocacy Program’s mission is to develop innovative ways to seek out and inform Maryland’s veterans about benefits and services that are available from federal, state, and local organizations, as well as solicit feedback from veterans regarding their requests and needs for additional services. To accomplish its mission the Outreach & Advocacy Program works closely with multiple local, state and federal agencies and non-profit organizations to coordinate efforts to locate and inform Maryland’s veterans as well as to expand benefits and services available to Maryland veterans.
• The Maryland Veterans Trust receives donations, and then makes grants and loans to veterans and their family members who are in dire financial situations, or to private organizations that help veterans. The Trust Fund gives citizens, businesses, and other organizations a way to express their support to veteran causes through their donations and contributions.

The Department is assisted by the Maryland Veterans Commission; the Maryland Veterans Home Commission; and the War Memorial Commission.

For a listing of our staff, please view the staff directory page.

Staff Bios

Anthony Woods
Secretary

Ross Cohen
Deputy Secretary

Peter Pantzer
Chief of Staff

Andrew Libraty
Deputy Chief of Staff

Robert (Bob) L. Finn
Senior Advisor

Morgan Murphy
Director, Intergovernmental and Legislative Affairs

Alayna Charland
Director, Finance and Administration

Phillip Munley
Director, Service and Benefits Program

Russell Ware
Director, Cemetery and Memorial Program

COL John Lombardi, U.S. Army, Retired
Director, Charlotte Hall Veterans Home

Dana S. Burl
Director, Communications, Outreach, and Advocacy Program

Denise G. Nooe
Deputy Director, Communications, Outreach, and Advocacy Program

Denise Nowlin
Maryland Veterans Trust Fund Administrator