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 “I am honored with this confirmation, and look forward to working
with the men and women of the Illinois Department of Veterans’
Affairs to provide great services and support to our Illinois
veterans and their families,” Director Jeffries said. “Under the
leadership of Governor Rauner, we will strive to improve the lives
of our veterans, focusing on mental healthcare, employment, and
education. Our mission is to create opportunities for our veterans
to thrive.”
In the corporate world, Jeffries joined Exelis Inc., a global
aerospace and defense corporation, in June 2012. In July 203, she
became the Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer for the more than
10,000 Exelis employees worldwide. While there she was responsible
for all training, learning and development relating to diversity and
inclusion in the workplace. She also developed and led the
Leveraging Military Leadership Program, Exelis’ signature corporate
philanthropy program helping more than 200 veterans to gain
employment.
Jeffries served as the Acting Director following her arrival for
duty on Tuesday, February 17, 2015, when she took over from Harry
Sawyer, who was serving as the Interim Director after the change in
administration.
The IDVA’s mission is to empower veterans and their families to
thrive and does so by assisting them in navigating the system of
federal, state and local resources and benefits; by providing
long-term health care for eligible veterans in the four Veterans’
Homes; and by partnering with other agencies and non-profits to help
veterans address education, mental health, housing, employment, and
other challenges.
In government service, Jeffries served as a White House Fellow
(2010-2011), and worked at the US Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) where she focused on building domestic and international
public-private partnerships. Her primary role was in developing
investment strategies with international corporations to provide
sustainable solutions at the state and local levels. She later
received an appointment to serve as the Senior Advisor to the EPA
Chief Financial Officer.
Prior to her White House Fellowship, Ms. Jeffries was an Associate
with Booz Allen Hamilton where she specialized in defense strategy
and national security policy supporting government clients both
domestically and internationally.
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Following her graduation from the United States Military Academy at
West Point, Jeffries served as an active duty Army aviation officer.
She was a platoon leader and an Executive Officer in an Aviation
battalion as a UH-60L Blackhawk helicopter pilot, and later as the
Assistant Secretary of the General Staff (ASGS) for all of III Corps
and Fort Hood, one of the Army’s largest installations. She was
medically retired from the Army in 2003.
Jeffries holds a Bachelor of Science in International Relations and
Systems Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West
Point; a Master of Arts in National Security Studies from the School
of Foreign Service at Georgetown University; and a Master of
Business Administration from the Pamplin School of Business at
Virginia Tech University.
Jeffries established her home in Illinois in 2014 and currently
resides with her family in Chicago.
Illinois’ long and proud history of service to veterans began in
1886 with the establishment of the Illinois Soldiers’ and Sailors’
Home for Civil War Veterans. Created through legislation enacted in
1945, the Illinois Veterans’ Commission was responsible for state
services to veterans until 1976, when it was succeeded by the
Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs (IDVA). The IDVA, created
by Public Act 79-376, is charged with responsibility for the welfare
and needs of Illinois veterans, their dependents and survivors. IDVA
maintains administrative offices in Springfield and Chicago, four
veterans’ homes, and more than 71 full and part-time field offices
servicing the 102 counties of the state.
For media interviews with IDVA personnel, please contact Ryan
Yantis, communication manager, IDVA, ryan.yantis@illinois.gov or
312-814-0778.
[Illinois Department of Veteran
Affairs]
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