The NASWVC Executive Board Members are individually successful veteran advocates that are nationally recognized for their more than 35 years of dedicted service to others including both military and civil service. They have been putting service to this country, the men and women who served this country, and the families of veterans before themselves, through their career choices, through this organization, and through other volunteeer efforts.

Valerie Conley - President

Valerie Conley is a U.S. Army veteran.·She came to work for the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs in January of 1979 and worked on the veteran’s home loan side of the agency for the first 12 years of her career. In 1991 she moved to the Veterans Services Division as a Veterans Service Officer and in 1996 became the manager of the Portland Claims office. In 2004 she was promoted to Administrator of the Veterans Services Division and effective June 1, 2011 she was appointed as the Deputy Director of the Oregon Dept. of Veterans’ Affairs. Valerie was appointed and assumed the duties of the Oregon State Women Veterans Coordinator in 1998 and still serves in that capacity.

At the 2007 NASWVC Training Conference in Branson MO, Conley was elected to Second Vice President and was re-elected in 2009 at the 10th NASWVC Training Conference in Manchester NH. On May 18, 2011 at the 2011 NASWVC 12th Annual Training Conference Business Meeting, Conley was elected President of the association. Effective August 1, 2011 Conley assumed the duties of President of the National Association of State Women Veterans Coordinator. Full Bio... [email)

Pamela Luce - First Vice President

Pamela Luce, First Sergeant (Retired) entered the Army directly after graduating from High School in 1982. Throughout her twenty-one year career as a military police officer, 1SG Luce’s held many leadership position and she is a Master Jumpmaster with over 100 military parachute jumps.

Upon her retirement from the Army in 2003, Ms. Luce spent 7 years in state government service working as an Executive Advisor for the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs, the Women Veterans Coordinator for the Commonwealth of Kentucky and was appointed to the Veterans Program Trust Fund Board of Directors. Luce currently serves her community as a therapist with Shelby Counseling Associates, Shelbyville, Kentucky.

On May 18, 2011 at the 2011 NASWVC Training Conference Business Meeting in Madison Wisconsin, Luce was elected to the position of First Vice President. Beginning August 1, 2011 Luce steps down as Second Vice President of the association and will assume the position of First Vice President for the Executive Board years 2011 to 2013. Full Bio… [email]

Barbara Ward - Second Vice President

Barbara Ward, BSN., M.P.A., U.S. Air Force served during the Vietnam War era, as an officer and staff nurse at Scott AFB Medical Center, Illinois. She was the former Deputy Secretary of Women and Minority Veteran Affairs in California and was responsible for outreach efforts, policy development of issues related to women and minority veterans, and identifying issues that require legislative solutions at the local level.

Ward was elected Second Vice President at the 2011 NASWVC 12th Annual conference, held in Madison, WI. Beginning August 1, 2011 Ward will assume the position of Second Vice President for the Executive Board years 2011 to 2013. Full Bio... [email]

Larri Gerson - Secretary

Larri Gerson served in the US Air Force 1977-79 as a Law Enforcement Specialist as a Narcotic Patrol Dog Handler, a pioneering role for women at the time. After her service, Gerson worked for the American Red Cross as the SAF Coordinator at Malmstrom AFB, MT.

Gerson followed her calling to work in Law Enforcemnt and started her career with the Florida Department of Corrections as Probation officer; supervising sex offenders, mental health offenders, and violent felony offenders released from prison. She also worked as a Court Officer in the felony and drug court. Unfortunately, in 2002 after 16 years working in law enforcement, a work related accident forced her to change careers.

In 2003, Gerson once again was called to serve her community. She became an accredited Veteran Claims Examiner for the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs at the VARO St Petersburg, Florida. In 2007, she was appointed the State of Florida Women Veterans Coordinator until· 2010.

Gerson was elected Secretary of the NASWVC at the 11th Annual Training Conference held in Portland Oregon. 2011 NASWVC 12th Training Conference in Madison, Wisconsin, Gerson was re-elected to Secretary. Beginning August 1, 2011 Gerson will assume the position of Secretary for the Executive Board years 2011 to 2013. Full Bio… [email]

Gina Stamper- Treasurer

Gina Stamper served in the US Coast Guard. She was elected Treasurer at the 2011 NASWVC 12th Annual conference, held in Madison, WI. Beginning August 1, 2011 Stamper will assume the position of Treasurer for the Executive Board years 2011 to 2013.·Full Bio... [email]

Precilla Landry Wilkewitz - Senior Advisor

Precilla Wilkewitz, a native of Iowa, Louisiana and a resident of Zachary, Louisiana. Wilkewitz served with the United State Army Republic of Viet Nam (USARV), Inspector General's Office, Investigations and Complaints Administrative Department in Long Binh, Viet Nam, from January 5, 1968 to September 5, 1969. She was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal.

In Feb 2003, Wilkewitz was instrumental in assisting the Department of Louisiana and the Veterans Affairs to host the first Annual Women Veterans Forum, to educate women veterans about VA entitlements.In 1997, Wilkewitz Co-Founded the Vietnam Women Veterans, Inc. (VWV) and served as the National Treasurer. There were 1,234 women who served as non-nurses in Vietnam and to date over 800 women have been found. The current Governor of Louisiana, Bobby Jendal appointed Wilkewitz as a member of the State, Military Family Assistance Board.

In 2002 the Louisiana Veterans Affairs Commission appointed her as the first State Women Veteran's Coordinator for the State of Louisiana. Since her appointment, she has attended every National State Women Veteran's Coordinators Conference and has served in various leadership positions. At the 2007 NASWVC Training Conference in Branson MO, Wilkewitz was re-elected to First Vice President and assumed her current position as President in 2010. Beginning August 1, 2011 Wilkewitz steps down as President of the association and will assume the position of Senior Advisor for the Executive Board years 2011 to 2013. Full Bio... [email]

Lynda Waldroop - President Emeritus/Founder

Lynda Waldroop is a U.S. Navy Veteran (1961-1965). She was the first WAVE assigned by BUPERS to the U.S. Naval Air Facility, Andrews AFB, Washington, D.C. in 1961. She served in the Captain's Administration Office; YN2 Legal Yeoman/Certified Court Recorder; Top Secret Clearance Communications; Special Services. She flew often as part of Admiral Shroup's flight crew.

Lynda originated and co-founded the Oklahoma State Women Veterans Appreciation Day in 1984 and continues till today, each first Saturday of November. She was awarded the first Oklahoma Woman Veteran of The Year award by State Veterans Organizations in 1985. Lynda was Oklahoma Coordinator for the Vietnam Women's Memorial; and later became Central-Southern Coordinator for eight states. She served as The National Woman Veterans Representative for The National Association of County Veterans Services Officers/Executive Board from 1995-2003. She was awarded Medal of Valor by 569 Native American tribes at Pearl Harbor in 2007 for her work with Native American Veterans on reservations.

Lynda is the founder and past National President and Senior Advisor of The National Association of State Women Veteran Coordinators. Begining August 1, 2011 Waldroop was given the presitgious title of President Emeritus to the Executive Board. Full Bio ... [email]

Bertha Cruz Hall - Co-Conference Chair

Bertha Cruz Hall served in the U.S. Air Force from August 1968 to August 1972. She worked in Personal Affairs and assisted survivors of Servicemen to obtain their benefits. Immediately after her discharge from the Air Force she went to work for the Texas Veterans Commission.

Bertha was appointed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to serve on the VA Advisory Committee on Women Veterans in 1998 and served until the expiration of her second term in 2004. She has served as a member and secretary of the Tarrant County Veterans Council; District Service Officer for the American Legion; Adjutant of the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 20, and Director VIP of the 20/4 Honor Society of Women Legionnaires, Echelon 31 of Texas.

At the 2007 NASWVC Training Conference in Branson MO, Hall was re-elected to Treasurer and was relected at the 2009 NASWVC Training Conference Manchester NH. Beginning August 1, 2011 Hall steps down as Treasurer of the association and will assume the position of Co-Conference Chair for the Executive Board years 2011 to 2013. Full Bio... [email]

Karen Etzler - Co-Conference Chair

Karen Etzler served in the U.S. Air Force from 1974 to 1984 as a Pneudraulic Aircraft Repairman, a non-traditional role for women at the time. She cross-trained into a new AFSC as Personal Affairs Specialist working as the NCOIC.· After discharge from the Air Force, worked for the Missouri Veterans Commission as a VSO until retiring in 2010 as the State Women’s Veterans Coordinator. She also works closely with the Women’s Memorial in DC. In October 2009, the VA appointed her to the Women Veterans Advisory Committee in Washington DC.

June 2006, Etzler was appointed as a member of the executive board of the National Association of State Women Veteran Coordinators as Conference Chair. Etzler was reappointed by the President 2007, 2009, 2011. Beginning August 1, 2011 Etzler will assume the position of Co-Conference Chair for the Executive Board years 2011 to 2013. Full Bio... [email]

Delilah A. Washburn - In Memorium

Delilah A. Washburn of Wichita Falls, Texas. At the time of her death, she was President of The National Association of State Women Veterans Coordinators, Inc.· She was a spokesperson to Senate Hearings, Congressional Committees and National forums regarding concerns of veterans as well as a frequent representative to the White House. Full Bio