Public Relations
College President Appointed to Yellow Ribbon Task Force
BENTONVILLE (Thursday, July 24, 2008) – NorthWest Arkansas Community College President Dr. Becky Paneitz has been named an ex-officio member of an Arkansas Yellow Ribbon Task Force, Governor Mike Beebe announced this week.
 Paneitz will join 19 other Arkansans appointed to the task force focusing on issues faced by veterans returning from deployment overseas and aging veterans with increasing health needs.
NWACC has taken steps in recent months to strengthen its services to veterans. It opened the George Westmoreland Veterans Affairs Office in February. It hosted in April more than a dozen partners who are working to improve Arkansas’ support of its veterans.
“Many soldiers returning home from military duty find reintegration extremely difficult and experience difficulties upon their return,” Dr. Paneitz said. “There are many services, including higher education, that help providing reintegration for soldiers. We want to help connect the dots.”
Gov. Beebe said the volunteers recognize the need to do more for men and women in uniform.
“By sitting down together, members of this Task Force will share their specialties and ideas to identify ways that we can better serve all our veterans,” he said.
In addition to Paneitz, members of the Arkansas Yellow Ribbon Task Force are:
- George Westmoreland (Chairman), Rogers, civilian aide to the Secretary of the Army
- Senator David Bisbee, Rogers, veteran
- Bob Burns, Magnolia, Farmer Bank and Trust, veteran
- Representative David Cook, Williford, veteran
- Kim Dixon, Prairie Grove, military wife
- David Fletcher, Monette, director of the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs
- Janet Huckabee, North Little Rock, American Red Cross Arkansas Program Manager for Services to Military Families
- Theotis King, Little Rock, elder, McAlmont Church of Christ, veteran
- Dr. Joann Kirchner, Heber Springs, South Central Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center
- Colonel Nate McGee (Ret.), Hensley, former Army National Guard Deputy Chief of Logistics
- Major General Don Morrow (Ret.), Little Rock, Executive Director of Employer Support for Guard and Reserve
- Representative Bobby Pierce, Sheridan, former Arkansas National Guardsman
- Cheryl Rawls, North Little Rock, director of VA Regional Office
- Andrea Rockefeller-Hobbs, Little Rock, Arkansas Chapter President of Operation Homefront
- Paige Smith, Fayetteville, president of Families Readiness Group – 142nd Fires Brigade
- Representative Randy Stewart, Kirby, veteran
- Chris Sultemeier, Rogers, Wal-Mart, veteran
- Mike Winn, Bryant, director of the Little Rock VA Medical Center
- Major General William Wofford, Conway, Adjutant General, Arkansas National Guard
Gov. Beebe’s office is coordinating efforts with Congressman John Boozman’s office in developing the task force. Representatives from Arkansas state agencies and higher education institutions are also working with the Task Force.
For questions/comments on this content, please contact Jim Hall.
This page was last updated on: December 21, 2009 @ 8:51 am
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