John Maxwell has been appointed the new Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS) by Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger.
A 28-year U.S. Navy veteran with experience in private industry, state government, and the non-profit sector, Maxwell previously served as DVS Commissioner from February 2020 through January 2022. He retired from active duty with the rank of Captain having served as a Carrier Strike Group Chief of Staff and other key executive positions.
Following his previous service to Virginia government, Maxwell joined a local electronic security firm while founding and leading the Veteran Community Network of Central Virginia, a community-based organization focused on connecting military veterans and their families with resources. He later served as the Chief Operating Officer for the Chimney Trail Foundation, another veteran-focused non-profit organization.
He is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics and holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Auburn University
“I look forward to continued service to veterans and their families and connecting them with the benefits and recognition they earned is priority one. In collaboration with our communities, we can guide them towards purposeful civilian employment, healthcare resources, housing, education, long-term care, and obtaining dignified final resting places in our veterans cemeteries, ultimately achieving the best quality of life in the Commonwealth.” said Commissioner Maxwell.
About the Virginia Department of Veterans Services
The Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS) is a state government agency with more than 50 locations across the Commonwealth of Virginia. DVS traces its history to 1928 and the establishment of the Virginia War Service Bureau to assist Virginia’s World War I veterans. Today, DVS assists veterans and their families in filing claims for federal veterans benefits; provides veterans and family members with linkages to services including behavioral healthcare, housing, employment, education, and other programs. The agency operates four long-term care facilities offering in-patient skilled nursing care, memory care, and short-term rehabilitation for veterans; provides an honored final resting place for veterans and their families at three state veterans cemeteries; and operates the Virginia War Memorial, the Commonwealth’s tribute to Virginia’s men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice from World War II to the present. For more information, please visit www.dvs.virginia.gov.