Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs Director Terry Prince Elected President of the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs

Chicago, IL - Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA) Director Terry Prince was elected president of the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs (NASDVA) at its annual conference in Washington, DC. Director Prince is the first NASDVA president from Illinois since 1947, when Homer Bradney served as NASDVA's first ever president. When Director Prince joined IDVA in April 2021, he became a member of NASDVA and served on the leadership team as secretary in 2022, junior vice president in 2024, and senior vice president in 2025.

Director Prince, a 31-year Navy veteran and former Superintendent of the Ohio Veterans Homes, takes the reins from outgoing president and U.S. Army veteran Tim Sheppard, the Executive Director of the Wyoming Veterans Commission.

"Director Prince is an unwavering advocate for our courageous veterans, and it is my pleasure to congratulate him on becoming NASDVA's next president. I am proud to thank him for his service to our country, to the veterans of Illinois, and to NASDVA," said Governor JB Pritzker. "Director Prince's leadership represents the very best of Illinois, and his legacy is rooted in honor, bravery, and an enduring commitment to those who served."

"I would like to thank Director Sheppard for his leadership and all the members of NASDVA for their service," said Director Prince. "NASDVA is made up of an impressive group of knowledgeable and passionate leaders who are connected by the bonds of honorable service and our common goal to ensure the nation's veterans, their families, and survivors receive the benefits and services they have earned to improve their quality of life and overall well-being. I'm thankful for the opportunity Governor Pritzker has given me to lead IDVA and humbled to be a part of an organization where the unified voice of NASDVA serves as a powerful beacon of hope in the hearts and minds of those we are privileged to serve."

Following World War II, states established agencies to assist veterans in claiming their earned benefits and services. NASDVA was founded in 1946 to connect the leaders of these agencies to ensure that veterans were represented effectively, offer a forum to exchange ideas and information, facilitate reciprocal state services, advocate for legislation, and foster uniformity across the states and territories. The NASDVA members represent all fifty states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

The Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs' mission is to ensure veterans thrive in Illinois. It manages five Veterans' Homes in Anna, Chicago, LaSalle, Manteno, and Quincy. Veteran Service Officers are deployed across the state to assist veterans in obtaining their earned benefits and services. The State Approving Agency ensures educational benefits. Veterans Cash Grants provide nearly a million dollars in grants to veteran service organizations. IDVA also offers programs for Gold Star Families. Women Veterans, Homeless Veterans, Veterans Suicide Prevention, and Remembrance Day ceremonies.

To learn more about IDVA and its services for veterans, visit: https://veterans.illinois.gov

To learn more about NASDVA, visit: NASDVA - National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs