Greetings, from the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs! I am honored to have been selected as the incoming Commissioner of MDVA. I’ve been on the job almost four days now, and I can already tell this is going to be an incredible experience.

First and foremost, I would like to recognize my predecessor, Commissioner Larry Shellito, for his service to the state and nation over the past 40+ years. I am fully aware I have big shoes to fill! He has set a tremendous example of service; from his time as Commissioner of MDVA, to his service as Adjutant General of the Minnesota National Guard, his work in the education field – and his service in the Army in Vietnam. I am thankful to be able to continue the important work he started, along with the tremendous team here at MDVA.

In the coming months I will be traveling to greater Minnesota to meet with the Veterans community, including Veteran Service Organizations, County Veteran Service Officers, Veterans, families, and supporters. In addition to meeting with you, our partners, I look forward to working closely with state lawmakers in the coming State Legislative Session. My sustained focus will be on building relationships and partnerships that allow us to achieve more together. Although we are in a time of great division in this country, I believe that we can – and will – bridge any gaps necessary to care for our Veterans.

For more than 30 years I have had the opportunity to serve my nation and state as a member of the U.S. Army and Minnesota National Guard.  During my military career I met thousands of diverse and talented service members from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard. I was constantly humbled by their selfless service and dedication to duty. Since retiring from the National Guard in 2016, I have been employed by the State of Minnesota as the Director of the Office of Enterprise Sustainability. In this position I assisted all 24 Cabinet Level Agencies to develop sustainability plans to save money while reducing the impact of their operations on the environment and society.

With my service and experience, the “One Minnesota” approach resonates deeply with my personal leadership philosophy, which is to listen more than talk, serve others, understand the facts so I can make informed decisions, and deliver results that improve people’s lives.

It is an extraordinary honor for me to represent the nearly 330,000 Veterans in Minnesota. I look forward to multiplying the work already started, as we continue in our mission of “serving Minnesota Veterans and their families.”

Yours in service,

Larry Herke, Commissioner
Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs