Center for Women Veterans (CWV)

The Advisory Committee on Women Veterans (ACWV) was established and chartered in November 1983 by Public Law 98-160.  The Advisory Committee on Women Veterans assesses the needs of women Veterans, with respect to VA programs such as compensation, rehabilitation, outreach, healthcare, etc.  The Committee reviews VA’s programs, activities, research projects and other initiatives designed to meet the needs of women Veterans; and makes recommendations to the Secretary on ways to improve, modify, and affect change in programs and services for women Veterans and follows up on all those recommendations.

The Advisory Committee prepares and issues various reports, summaries, and proceedings addressing issues related to Women Veterans.

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• Wanda Wright, Tempe, Arizona. A retired U.S. Air Force Colonel; currently serves as Director of the Office for Veteran and Military Academic Engagement for an institution of higher education and an advocate for women Veterans, promoting quality benefits and services to Veterans and their dependents; currently serves as Committee Chair.
• Nestor Aliga, Vallejo, California. Retired U.S. Army Colonel, a former member of VA’s Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans; currently serving as a Veterans advocate focusing on policy and programs specifically impacting women and other minority Veterans.
• Alex Dietrich, Syracuse, New York. Retired U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander; a former F/A-18F strike fighter pilot with service in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan; currently serving as the Chief Human Resources Officer.
• Sharon Dunbar, Manassas, Virginia. Retired U.S. Air Force Major General; former member of several joint services committees addressing issues impacting female military members in the Department of Defense; currently serving as a senior executive in private industry.
• Shannon Hough, Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. A U. S. Navy Veteran; a long time Veterans advocate and former mayor, she currently serves as the President and founder of Shield of Sisters, an organization dedicated to issues impacting women Veterans who are survivors of military sexual assault (MST).
• Yolanda Mayo, Jacksonville, North Carolina. Retired U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Major, with service in Operation Desert Shield/ Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom; a homeless Veterans advocate currently serving as the Deputy Operations Officer for Marine Corps Community Services.
• Centra Mazyck, Columbia, South Carolina. Retired U.S. Army Sergeant First Class; currently serves as an advocate for the needs of disabled Veterans and a motivational speaker for disabled Veteran athletes and as an ambassador for organizations such as Disabled American Veterans, Astro Access, True Car/Driven to Drive and Permobil.
• Rebecca Meyer-Worthen, Maryville, Tennessee. California Army National Guard Veteran with a background in family readiness support, transition, and career development; currently serving as the Comprehensive Development Classroom Special Education Teacher at Coulter Grove Intermediate School, working with students in grades 4 through 7.
• Sandra Miller, Birdsboro, Pennsylvania. A U. S. Navy Veteran, with service during the Vietnam era; currently serves as Chair of Vietnam Veterans of America’s (VVA) National Homeless Committee and has membership on several of VVA’s National committees.
• Lachrisha Parker, Gaithersburg, Maryland. A retired U.S. Army Reserve Master Sergeant; currently serves as founder and chief executive officer of Parker Executive Consulting, LLC, where she provides high level executive administration to the vice president and chief of operation officer for a real estate investment banking group.
• Wendy Rogers, Flagstaff, Arizona. A retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel; currently serves as an Arizona State Senator, where she is the vice chair of the Senate Committee on Government; chair of the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Elections; and member of the Senate Committee on Military Affairs and Border Security.
• Kathryn Smith, Esq., Phoenix, Arizona. An U.S. Air Force Academy graduate; currently serves as a member of the board of directors for Zoomies Against Sexual Assault and the Way of Life Committee, an affinity group that supports African American cadets and alumni.