The new Secretary of Veterans Affairs is moving forward full steam in her new position.
Karen Berry was unanimously confirmed by the Delaware Senate in late September, and she looks at leading the new office as both a challenge and opportunity.
Berry says it’s a challenge because it’s putting together a whole new department, and it’s not staffed where it should be right now. She’s pulling resources from the Office of Veterans Services which is problematic.
But it’s an opportunity to help that office grow as well as build the department by working with other cabinet secretaries.
Berry says those interactions with other department secretaries should help those doing day-to-day work just focus on that.
"I can work with them to figure out where we have overlap in areas that support one another, and that takes that off of the office that's doing the busy work of meeting with veterans day-to-day,” said Berry. “And then our commission who is comprised of volunteers, they help me outreach to the community, and keep that open."
In the first month, Berry has heard from veterans that two main issues that need to be prioritized are access to resources and awareness.
She previously served 36 years in the National Guard and was the first female in the Delaware National Guard to hold a Brigade Command position and earn the rank of Brigadier General.
Berry explains why she’s leaving retirement.
"I think because I know it's needed, I'm hoping that I can do good for and be a help so that veterans in Delaware get some focus, get educated and have availability of resources," said Berry.
She likes starting a new office, saying it helps not having to fill anyone else’s shoes and having the flexibility that comes with starting from scratch
The office needs to be fully functional by July 2030, but the hope is it will be fully operational sooner than that.
It’s replacing the Department of State in overseeing all veteran services in Delaware including the Commission of Veterans Affairs.
That commission, the Office of Veterans Affairs, both Veterans Memorial Cemeteries and the state-run Veterans Home are under the new office.
