Mayor de Blasio Announces Appointments To The Veterans Advisory Board

November 20, 2018

NEW YORK – Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the appointment of six members to New York City’s Veterans Advisory Board, an independent advisory council of military service veterans. This eleven-member Board works in partnership with the Department of Veterans’ Services, veteran service organizations, and individuals across the City to better understand and address the issues facing veterans and their families. More information on the board can be found here.

“The Veterans Advisory Board ensures the voices of those who bravely served our country are heard,” said Mayor de Blasio. “These appointees are exemplars of service, both as military veterans and advocates for their communities. New York City is fortunate to gain the perspective and wisdom these distinguished veterans will provide over the next three years.”

“Our City is only as strong as the people who call it home,” said Deputy Mayor J. Phillip Thompson. “The men and women appointed to the Veterans Advisory Board exemplify the strengths, capacity for leadership, and commitment to public service that define New Yorkers. I commend the appointees for their service to our nation and their continued service to the people of our City.”

“We’re thrilled at the Mayor’s selection of appointees, who are as diverse as the City itself, representing different eras of military service and educational and professional backgrounds,” said Commissioner Loree Sutton, MD, Brigadier General (US Army, ret.). “This brings a diversity of perspectives that will most effectively represent the interests of the City’s veteran population. As always, we thank the Veterans Advisory Board for their leadership within the veteran community and look forward to continuing a strong, collaborative working relationship with the VAB in this new term.”

Todd Haskins, Chair of the Veterans Advisory Board said, “I am personally honored to be re-appointed to the New York City Veterans Advisory Board.  As Chairman, I am thrilled to have so many citizens step forward to support New York City in its quest to develop the most effective local veteran policies of any large city in the nation.” 

Mayor de Blasio appointed four new members including:

Tiffany Daughtery (US Army): Tiffany is the Head of Military Employment for First Data Corporation, where she is charged with driving the strategy for veteran and military spouse hiring, retention, internal mobility, and community engagements. Since Tiffany joined First Data, the team has won several national awards, including being ranked as the #1 “Best for Vets: Employers” in 2017 by Military Times. Tiffany began her career as a US Army Air Traffic Controller, serving in the US as well as the Republic of Korea. Prior to First Data, Tiffany spent four years at the Wounded Warrior Project, serving as both a regional and then national employment program manager. She holds a Masters of Arts in Rehabilitation Counseling from Assumption College and a Bachelor of Science in Professional Studies from Austin Peay State University.

James Hendon (Lieutenant Colonel, US Army Reserve): James is the Director of the NYU Veterans Future Lab, a small business incubator for practicing and aspiring entrepreneurs who are US Military Veterans or Veterans’ Spouses.  A Veteran entrepreneur himself, James is also the CEO of the Energy Economic Development Corporation, an organization that helps communities and small businesses take advantage of energy-related advancements. Before entering the civilian workforce, James spent seven years in the US Army as an Active Duty Infantry Officer where he deployed as a Mortar Platoon Leader and Battalion Public Affairs Officer to Iraq (2005), worked as an Admissions Officer for West Point (2006-2007), and served as the Senior Advisor to the Afghan Border Police in Afghanistan (2007-2009). James is a 2002 graduate of West Point, a 2012 graduate of Harvard Kennedy School and Columbia Business School, and a 2015 graduate of the Earth Institute’s Program in Conservation and Environmental Sustainability. As a drilling US Army Reservist, James serves as the New York City Lead for the 75th Innovation Command. 

Peter Kauffmann (US Navy): Peter is the founder and principal of Bluejacket Strategies, a public affairs firm based in New York City. He is Vice Chair of VoteVets, a progressive advocacy organization representing 500,000 veterans. Prior to starting Bluejacket, Peter was Communications Director for the Governor of New York, Press Secretary for Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Deputy Press Secretary at the Democratic National Committee. During his military service, Peter spent five years on active duty as a Naval Intelligence Officer and was part of the 2005 tsunami relief operations in the Pacific Rim. Peter earned his Bachelors of Arts in Government at Franklin & Marshall College, is a member of the Board of Advisors for the VetVoice Foundation, and a Truman National Security Project Fellow.

Annette Tucker Osborne (US Army Reserve): Annette served as Chief of Clinical Operations from 2009-2013 at the 8th Medical Brigade, Fort Wadsworth in Staten Island and is now a doctoral candidate at Walden University. Having devoted 29 years of service to the US Army Reserve, Annette held numerous positions of increasing authority in both general and combat support hospitals and deployed to Kuwait in 2011 as Chief of Clinical Operations at the rank of Colonel. Annette received fifteen separate commendations for her service, including the Legion of Merit. Previous employment includes positions at the New York City Health + Hospitals Corporation, United States Department of Health & Human Services, and the Visiting Nurse Services of New York. Annette is a registered nurse and holds a Masters Degree in Professional Studies, as well as certifications as a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator and Legal Nurse Consultant.

Mayor de Blasio reappointed two members:

Todd Haskins (US Marine Corps):  Todd serves as Chairman of the Veterans Advisory Board, a position he has held since 2015.  He is currently a principal at Reverence Capital Partners, a private investment firm focused on thematic investments in leading financial services businesses.  Previous employment experience includes over twelve years with Goldman Sachs Group Inc as a Managing Director where, among other roles, he served co-chair of the Goldman Sachs Veterans Network and was actively involved in the leadership of Veterans on Wall Street (VOWS).  Todd holds a Masters of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Texas at Austin and a Bachelors of Science in Chemical Engineering from Rice University, where he was a Naval ROTC student.  

Charles Greinsky (US Army; New York Army National Guard): Charles has represented Staten Island on the Veterans Advisory Board since 2015. He served for a total of ten years in the US Army and New York Army National Guard and holds a number of military commendations. Charles currently serves as Commander of the Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America, Staten Island Post 80. He also serves as Chair of the Staten Island Sports Hall of Fame. Charles was a board member of the Civilian Complaint Review Board from 1993 to 2003. He holds a Bachelors of Arts from Touro College.