Veteran's Advisory Board
Veteran's advisory board
Thank you for your Service and Sacrifice.
Juntos Unidos
Together United
In recognition of the service of veterans and in an effort to meet the needs of veterans in this community, the Santa Fe City Council by unanimous vote approved resolution 2015-18 to create a Veterans’ Advisory Board to advise the Governing Body on veteran affairs and streamline Santa Fe’s veteran services.
About: Citing unemployment, underemployment, aging, homelessness, and the difficulty of accessing the range of services available in the Santa Fe community, the Council voted unanimously to create an advisory board to “address matters affecting veterans, propose solutions to alleviate or address the needs of local veterans and recognize the contributions local veterans have made.”
The Veterans’ Advisory Board will: make recommendations on the use of funding; streamline transition services for recently discharged veterans; serve as a clearinghouse for physical and behavioral health services, housing, and financial benefit programs available for veterans; recommend local services to supplement federal and state benefits; work with local non-profits, the State of New Mexico, and the Santa Fe Resources Opportunity Center to streamline provision of services in Santa Fe; and, recognize and honor the accomplishments of local veterans.
The board will consist of nine residents of Santa Fe County appointed by the Mayor and approved by the Governing Body. At least three members must be veterans or immediate family members of veterans.
Memorial Day 2019 Veterans Day 2018
with VAB Members and supporters with Senator Tom Udall, Mayor Webber
and Adjutant General Ken Nava
How you can help: the Veterans Advisory Board recieves the total accumulated donations from NM State Tax & Revenue annually. The VAB adminsters the donations to help veterans in Santa Fe City and County with education, an assitance fund and veterans community events.
Are you getting a State Tax Refund? Make it count for veterans in Santa Fe and Santa Fe County.
Donate your State Tax refund to support veterans. The VAB administers the donations to help veterans in Santa Fe and Santa Fe County with education, an assistance fund, and veterans community events.
When you file your NM State Tax Return, use the 2017 PIT-D form, NEW MEXICO VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS SCHEDULE.
- Enter the amount of your donation (up to the full amount of your refund) in BOX 3 —Veterans State Cemetery Fund.
- File your 2017 PIT-D with your state tax return.
- The VAB receives the total accumulated donations from NM Tax & Revenue annually.
Give a Hand Up, not a handout!
Thank you!
CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS:
Chris Calvert (Chair) (AIR FORCE) Member since 2015
After I graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1970, I served five years in the USAF as a pilot (C-141). In 1975, after separating from the Air Force, I enrolled at UC Berkeley to get a 2nd B.S. There I met my future wife, Carol; we married 20 years later. After a year as an intern for an assemblyman in Sacramento, CA I returned to UC Berkeley in 1977 to enter the Masters in Public Policy Program. After graduating in 1979, and a year off spend building a dome house in CA with my brother, I started work at Blue Cross of California. Initiallly I was a systems analyst located in Oakland, CA, and I later became a claims and customer service manager at the Woodland Hills office in southern CA. One day in 1989 I had my "take this job and shove it" moment. After remodeling my home in Pasadena, I began working for the US Postal Service as a letter carrier in 1991. In 1995, Carol and I reconnected and were married on a bridge over the Merced River in Yosemite National Park. In 1998, we moved from Pasadena, CA to Santa Fe, NM when I secured a transfer with the US Postal Office. In 2006 I was elected to the Santa Fe City Council, where I served 2 four year terms. In March of 2014 I chose not to run for re-election and so stepped down from the council, and also retired from the USPS. We are now enjoying the retired life here in Santa Fe and on our travels.
Dorothy M. Seaton (Vice Chair) (ARMY) Member since 2016
Dorothy Seaton is a retired Army officer. She served on active duty 1971-74, and then more than 17 years in the Army National Guard in four states. She was assigned to the full-time staff at New Mexico National Guard Headquarters from 1989-91.
In addition to serving on the Veterans Advisory Board for the City of Santa Fe, she is a past Vice President of Women Veterans of New Mexico, and past President of the Bataan Chapter of American Veterans for Equal Rights which serves Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Northern New Mexico. She was a member of the Host Committee for the National Convention of American Veterans for Equal Rights held in Albuquerque in April 2016.
Dorothy is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma with a Master of Human Relations degree and is a graduate of the University of Nebraska with a Bachelor of Science in Life Sciences. Her civilian career was primarily in the fields of Public Affairs, Quality Management, and Addictions Counseling. She has served her homeowners’ association Board of Directors and she volunteers as a Voter Registration Agent for the Santa Fe County Clerk’s Office.
Dettelbach, Kenneth (ARMY) Member since 2015
Kenneth Dettelbach, Captain ROTC University of Pennsylvania Distinguished military student 1966 to Vietnam, US Army Transportation Corp.
Boards: City of Santa Fe Veteran’s Advisory Board Vietnam Veterans of America Northern New Mexico Chapter 996 President – Roof & Ramps for Vets LLC Santa Fe Community College Foundation
Personal: Married to Pam Scotty 3 children 5 grandchildren 27 years in Santa Fe Entrepreneu
Hannah Sigrid Mabel (ARMY) Member since 2015
Staff Sergeant Mabel joined the Army in 2003 and completed Basic Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. followed by Advanced Individual Training as a Metal Worker (44B) at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. She was selected to attend Jump School at Fort Benning, GA before her first duty assignment in Hanau, GER with the 502nd Engineer Company (Float Bridge). SSG Mabel has participated in four campaigns during her three combat tours (Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Freedom's Sentinel). She still serves in the Army Reserve at Kirtland Air Force Base with the 3/95th Regiment (Maneuver Support), and concurrently works at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Anna Vigil (ARMY) Member since 2018
Kenny Keelin (ARMY) Member since 2018
Richard Christensen (MARINES) Member since 2019
Rich presently works at Los Alamos National Laboratory as a Sr. Recruiter. He has over 14 years of talent acquisition and HR management experience, sourcing for engineering, technical, business, and DoD positions. Rich’s 30-year career is diverse. He is a retired San Bernardino County Deputy Sheriff and a USMC Veteran of Desert Shield/Desert Storm as a Radio Repairman and Career Planner. Rich has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management, from the University of Phoenix as well as a MBA degree from Pepperdine University, Graziadio School of Business and Management, with an emphasis in Managing Organizational Change. After hours, Rich enjoys time with his family and dogs or exploring New Mexico via his motorcycle.
Jim Williams (ARMY) Member since 2019
John Palomino (NAVY) Member since 2019
IF INTERESTED IN A BOARD VACANCY PLEASE CONTACT THE CURRENT BOARD LIAISON LISTED BELOW
VAB Grants:
Grant funding is now closed for 2018-2019; please check back frequently for updates.
Current Recipients:
Veteran Navigator:
Veteran Scholarships:
Homeless Veteran Support:
Veteran Education:
Veteran Events:
UPCOMING MEETINGS:
March 18, 2020 5:00pm
Meetings are held the third Wednesday of every month from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at 500 Market Station, Suite 200 (City Railyard Offices).
Meetings are subject to change based on member avalibility and holidays
CONTACT:
George Carrasco, Project Administrator/Temp Board Liaison
Youth and Family Services Division
(505) 955- [bot protected email address]
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