GOVERNOR-ELECT MALLOY REAPPOINTS LINDA SPOONSTER SCHWARTZ TO VETERANS AFFAIRS

January 3, 2011

(HARTFORD, CT) - Governor-Elect Dan Malloy today announced that he has chosen to reappoint Linda Spoonster Schwartz as the Commissioner of Veterans Affairs. Commissioner Schwartz has held her position for more than seven years.

"With her experience as a veteran and a nurse, Commissioner Schwartz brings first-hand knowledge to the job that few others have," said Governor-Elect Malloy. "Her dedication to improving the lives of Connecticut's veterans is admirable to say the least, and I look forward to working with her."

"My commitment to improving the lives of our state's veterans transcends politics and I'm pleased to say that it has transcended administrations, as well," said Commissioner Schwartz. "Many Connecticut men and women have chosen to serve our nation in Iraq and Afghanistan, and we need to ensure that they return to a state ready to help them transition into civilian life. I'm looking forward to working with Governor-Elect Malloy and his Administration as we ensure that our state's veterans, regardless of when or where they served, receive the programs and services they need and deserve."

Commissioner Schwartz, USAF (Ret) received her Masters in Nursing from Yale and holds a Doctorate in Public Health from the Yale School of Medicine.

Commissioner Schwartz was a member of the United States Air Force (1967-1986) and served on Active Duty and as a Reservist. She retired in 1986 after sustaining injuries in an aircraft accident while serving as a USAF Flight Nurse and holds the rank of Colonel on the Governor's Military Staff. She served for seven years on the U.S. Department of Veterans'

Affairs Scientific Advisory Committee Vietnam Veterans Longitudinal Study and was the Co-Chair of the Connecticut General Assembly study of the "Effects of Depleted Uranium on Gulf War Veterans." She has served as the President of the Connecticut Nurses Association and Connecticut Nurses Foundation. She has been elected to the National Board of Directors of the American Nurses Association, Vietnam Veterans of America and the Vietnam Women's Memorial. From 1989-1998, Commissioner Schwartz served in several advisory positions to the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs, which included the issues of readjustment of combat veterans, homeless veterans, women veterans and seriously mentally ill veterans. In 2001, Commissioner Schwartz was elected to the American Academy of Nursing.

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