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Committee Members
The statute creating this Committee, the Jobs for Veterans Act (JVA), requires the appointment of 15 voting members as well as ex officio non-voting members. The JVA requires the appointment of candidates from specific organizations ("Paragraph A" appointees described in § 6(c)(1)(A) of the JVA) and organizational categories ("Paragraph B" appointees described in § 6(c)(1)(B) of the JVA) to be appointed at the Secretary of Labor's discretion. The statute also identifies six ex officio members of the Committee.
About Charles S. Ciccolella, Assistant Secretary Veterans’ Employment Training
Charles S. (Chick) Ciccolella is the Assistant Secretary for the Veterans’ Employment Training at the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). He oversees the Veterans’ Employment and Training Services (VETS)—the agency responsible for helping veterans make the transition from the military to good civilian jobs and for protecting their employment rights and benefits.
Prior to coming to the DOL, Chick served four years in the U.S. Senate, first as the Chief of Operations for the Senate Sergeant at Arms and later as the Director of Information Technology Policy for the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration.
Chick served as an officer in the U.S. Army for 28 years, from 1968 to 1996. He began his military service as an infantry lieutenant after graduation from Auburn University. He served with the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam from 1969 to 1970. During his military career, he held many troop command and staff positions, including high-level joint service staff.
His awards include the Silver Star, the Defense Superior Service Medal and the Bronze Star for Valor. He’s a recipient of the Department of State’s Superior Honor Award. He holds a Master’s Degree in Business Management and Supervision from Central Michigan University and is a graduate of the National War College.
About T.P. O'Mahoney, Chairman
In February 2004, Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao named T.P. O'Mahoney as Committee chairman. In 1997, then-Governor George Bush appointed Mr. O'Mahoney to the three-member Texas Workforce Commission. His emphasis on veteran issues led to more than 98,000 veterans entering employment in Texas in 2002. He also played an important role in the passage that year of the Jobs for Veterans Act.
Mr. O'Mahoney knows firsthand the issues connected with transitioning from the service. Designated a Naval Aviator and Commissioned in the United States Marine Corps, he was honorably discharged with the rank of Major. He then joined Delta Airlines as a pilot and completed 32 years of service, the last eight of which he flew international routes. During his career, he served in numerous capacities representing pilots at state and national levels, including equal employment opportunity.
- Below are the appointees representing organizations specified in Paragraph A of the statute.
- The Ad Council:
Tom Aiello, Vice President of Military.com, is an Army veteran and a 1993 graduate of West Point.
- The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve:
M. LaRae Bakerink is the CEO of Westfield, Bakerink, and Brozak. Ms. Bakerink currently serves on the Board of the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD).
- Veterans' service organizations:
Patrick Botbyl is a Senior Manager, Medco Health Solutions, a former New Jersey Department of Veterans Affairs staff-person and recommended by the VFW.
- State employment security agencies:
Susan Pareigis is the Director of the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation.
- One-Stop Career Centers:
Jean Fisher is the Employment Center Manager of the Clearfield, Utah, One-Stop Center.
- State departments of veterans affairs:
James Nier is Executive Director of the Texas Veterans Commission, and is a former Commander in Chief of Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
- Military service organizations:
Nick D. Bacon is an entrepreneur from Arkansas and a recipient of the Medal of Honor for service in Vietnam.
- The following are candidates appointed by the Secretary of Labor from the organizational categories specified in Paragraph B of the statute, and their representative on the Committee as relevant:
- T.P. O'Mahoney is Chairman of the President's National Hire Veterans Committee.
- Joseph Achacoso is president of a small and economically disadvantaged business and recently separated from the Army.
- Hanif Akhtar is a leading member of the Pakistani-American community. He is President of the Pakistani-American Business Association and is employed by Lincoln Financial Advisors.
- Robert Lutz is Vice Chairman, General Motors Corporation, and a former Marine aviator. (Represented by Mark Roberts - Director, Talent Acquisition)
- Jackson Moore is President and CEO of the Regions Financial Corporation in Birmingham, AL, and a Vietnam-era veteran. (Represented by Brad Champlin- Executive Vice President, Government Affairs)
- Bob Ravener is Vice President of Human Resources for Starbucks. He graduated in 1981 from the United States Naval Academy.
- Andy Silins is General Secretary-Treasurer, United Brotherhood of Carpenters, and a Marine Vietnam veteran.
- The following are ex officio members and their representatives where relevant.
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The Honorable Hector V. Barreto
Administrator
Small Business Administration
Representative: William Elmore, Associate Administrator
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The Honorable Linda M. Springer
Director of
Office of Personnel Management
Representative: The Honorable Dan G. Blair, Deputy Director
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The Honorable Charles S. Ciccolella
Assistant Secretary for Veterans' Employment Training
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The Honorable John E. Potter
Postmaster General
United States Postal Service
Representative: DeWitt Harris, Vice President Human Resources
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The Honorable R. James Nicholson
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Representative: Jay R. Vargas, Regional VA Liasion
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The Honorable Donald H. Rumsfeld
Secretary of Defense
Representative: Barney Barnum, DAS, Navy, Reserve Affairs
About William L. Offutt, Executive Director
William L. Offutt, the Committee's Executive Director, is responsible to the Committee for its national campaign. To this task he brings a varied experience in large and small business as well as governmental affairs, politics and the armed forces. Prior to joining VETS in 2003, Mr. Offutt was COO of Nanofab Inc., a nanotechnology developer. Previously he specialized in preparing business plans for small businesses as the managing director of Great Falls Consultants. He also served as CEO of Cir-Q-Tel Microwave. In addition to working for five years as an investment banker, he worked in governmental and public affairs for such firms as AlliedSignal Corporation (now Honeywell) and RJR (now Reynolds American, Inc.). Mr. Offutt has had extensive experience managing political campaigns. He served with distinction in Vietnam.
About Michael A. Olen, Director of Marketing
Mike Olen is the Committee's Director of Marketing. To this task he brings a wide array of experience in workforce development and the public labor exchange systems. Prior to joining VETS in August 2004, Mr. Olen served as a Disabled Veterans Outreach Program Specialist, Local Veterans Employment Representative and the State Veterans Program Manager for the Texas Workforce Commission. He has also served on national and state committees addressing veterans' issues. Mr. Olen has received numerous awards for his service to veterans including: the Veterans of Foreign Wars National Distinguished Service to Veterans Award in 2002, the International Association of Workforce Professionals National Veterans Representative of the Year Award in 1996, and the American Legion of Texas Veterans Representative Award for 1993. His military awards include the Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (four awards), and the Army Commendation Medal (three awards).
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