Governor Tina Kotek has appointed Dr. Nakeia Daniels to lead the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs (ODVA). Daniels has previously served as deputy director and interim director since October.
According to the Ashland Chronicle, Daniels will be the first Black person to lead the agency, pending Senate confirmation. She will also be the second female director, succeeding Kelly Fitzpatrick, who served for five years, from September 2018 to September of last year.
Sharing her excitement and eagerness for the position in a statement from the State of Oregon, Daniels said, “I am honored and deeply committed to serve Oregon’s veterans, our true American heroes. They deserve the utmost quality in services and benefits tailored to their unique needs. I am grateful and humbled for the opportunity to lead the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs, and I pledge to carry out this important work with diligence, dedication, and duty.”
Last year, Daniels spoke about her family’s military heritage during a Veterans Day ceremony in Salem, according to the Statesman Journal.Her great-grandfather and grandfather were drafted and served in WWI and WWII. Her grandfather worked as a cook, which was the only employment available for Black males, she said.
The 44-year-old, like her elder sisters, enlisted at the age of 19. Her oldest son is presently serving in the army. After serving in the United States Army’s Finance Administration for eight years, she joined the Maryland Transportation Administration, formerly the Maryland State Highway Administration.
Daniels later relocated to Oregon and worked for the Oregon Department of Energy in 2015.She later joined former governor Kate Brown’s cabinet, serving as deputy director of the Oregon Youth Authority, director of equity and racial justice, and veterans affairs advisor.
Governor Kotek said of the trailblazer, “Dr. Daniels is a talented, dedicated public servant who will bring strong leadership to the director’s office. Her experience in the U.S. Army and multiple executive branch positions equip her well to serve Oregon’s veterans with the persistence and compassion the role demands.”
Daniels holds a doctorate, master’s degree in business administration, and a bachelor’s degree in organizational management.