Governor appoints state’s first veterans’ affairs director

February 17, 2016 1:26 pm

By The Associated Press

news@abc6.com

WARWICK, R.I. (AP) _ Gov. Gina Raimondo has named the first director of the state’s veterans’ affairs division.

The Democratic governor appointed U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Kasim Yarn.

Raimondo is introducing Yarn on Wednesday at the National Guard Family Assistance Center in Warwick.

Yarn, a Rhode Island resident, will officially assume the role this spring after retiring from the Navy. Raimondo says he’ll begin meeting with staff immediately. Yarn also plans to meet with veterans across the state in the coming weeks.

The director’s position was authorized in 2011 and funded by Raimondo last year. Raimondo launched a search in August for a cabinet-level veterans’ affairs director.

She says Yarn understands the unique challenges veterans and their families face and will be an advocate for veterans.

Rhode Island is home to about 70,000 veterans.