• Mar 28, 2024
  • 7:18 AM

VSC Members


Michael Musgrove, Chairman

Michael Musgrove was born in San Diego, California, and is a 40-year resident of Nevada, currently residing in Spring Creek. He served in the United States Air Force from 1968 to 1976 and attended Clark County Community College and Great Basin College.  Mr. Musgrove is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, and the Military Order of the Cootie. He was reappointed to his second term on the Commission in January of 2010, and was elected Vice Chairman in January of 2011. Mr. Musgrove continues to be instrumental in the development of NDVS rural outreach efforts. His goals as a commission member are to ensure veterans always have a place for interment at a veterans cemetery, that they receive health care and assistance they need, and that they are afforded the respect, dignity, and consideration they deserve for their service to the country. He is a father of two and grandfather of three.

Wendell Blaylock, Vice-Chairman

Wendell Carl Blaylock is recognized as a company and community leader, Wendell Blaylock has advocated successfully for the development of organization programs, policies and practices that have resulted in significantly increased diversity and inclusion in the areas of on-boarding, mentoring and promotion within a major multinational banking and financial services holding company.

Wendell is a United States Air Force veteran (Captain) and supported the 831st Tactical Squadron Hospital at George AFB, CA. He grew up in a military family. His father was a career Air Force Officer and one of the Original Tuskegee Airmen of World War II. His older brother is a retired Navy Officer and the first African American to command a flight wing in the U.S. Navy. Wendell’s younger brother is a retired Air Force Officer who served in Combat Control & Special Operations.

He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Baylor University and his Master of Science degree from the University of Texas-Arlington. Wendell completed Executive Certification programs in Strategic Diversity and Inclusion Management sponsored by Georgetown University and the Society for Human Resource Management. In addition, he is certified in Employee Relations Law from the Institute of Applied Management & Law and served as an adjunct faculty member with the Georgetown College of Continuing and Professional Education.

Wendell was appointed in 2012 as an advisor to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights assisting with fact-finding, investigations, policy guidance and the dissemination of information pertinent to local and state civil rights issues. He currently serves as the Chair of the Nevada Advisory Committee to the Commission.

Wendell’s community involvement and recognition are extensive. He is on the Advisory Board for Teach for America – Las Vegas and serves with a number of community and veterans organizations including: the Thunderbird Chapter of the Air Force Association, National Association for Black Veterans, Merging Veterans and Players, attended the Congressional Black Caucus Military/Veterans event in 2017, presented to the Armed Forces Chamber and other organizations advocating for military & veteran causes.

As a result of his outstanding professional and community achievements in Nevada, he is recognized as a Citizen of Distinction by the Foundation for an Independent Tomorrow – Las Vegas, Who’s Who in Black Las Vegas and named one of the Distinguished Men for the State of Nevada

Commissioner Jerome Washington

Jerome Washington is a United States Army Combat-Disabled Veteran of the Iraq War, serving the nation proudly as a Screaming Eagle of the 101ST Airborne Division (Air Assault).

He was elected as the Department Commander for Nevada in his hometown of Sparks at the 73RD Annual Convention.

Joining the Army in September 2001, Jerome spent the next year training in preparation for his inevitable deployment. After arriving in Fort Campbell, Kentucky from Fort Benning, Georgia in 2003, he deployed to Iraq where he participated in operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. There he served in many capacities to include assisting with leading his unit in different task forces such as Long Range and Surveillance Detachment and Downed Aircraft and Recovery teams, and Civil Affairs where he was responsible for establishing positive working relationships with non-compliant and friendly forces.

In 2006, Jerome was medically discharged following injuries sustained in services, ending his military career. He married his wonderful bride, Charise, who is also a Combat Veteran that served our nation in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Charise is also a member of the Disabled American Veterans and serves as the Department Adjutant. They have five children ranging from the ages of 4 to 16 years old. Their children are often seen volunteering for Veterans and the community.

Jerome has a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration with a concentration in Human Services. He is a licensed and ordained Minister for the State of Nevada and currently serves as an Assistant Pastor in Sparks,
where he is responsible for providing spiritual guidance and counseling throughout the community. He is often requested by local and state government officials to provide ministerial services, to include the House of
Representatives as well as the Governors office.

His chosen career since 2010 has been with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) where he currently serves as a Supervisor Legal Administrative Specialists. Throughout his years of services with the VA, he has been accredited and nationally recognized for spearheading one of the most robust outreach teams in the nation.

Jerome has focused on volunteerism, fundraising, organization support, and assists in membership growth and participation, specifically concerning our member’s population within college and Gulf War era Veterans.

Having a proven history of service to others, he is considered a champion in Veteran advocacy and is frequently called upon for teaching and assisting Veterans with their benefits and providing aid as needed.

In continuation of service, Jerome has served in other organizations and leadership roles in the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, American Veterans (AMVETS) Association, and other non-profit organizations, to include being an avid youth sports coach. Jerome is also frequently called upon to serve on varying committees to include community Veteran boards, Veterans Benefits Advisory committees, and he has served in and with other organizations such as Gold Star Families, Honor Flight Nevada, and the Truckee Meadows Suicide Prevention Team.

Commissioner Jeff Detrick

Jeff Detrick is a US Army veteran who served 12 years as a medic, deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan. Currently, he works as an Academic Coordinator at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where he assist adults pursuing a university/vocational/technical diploma/certification or their high school equivalency diploma. He sits on the Adult Learner Advisory Committee and the Non-Traditional Student Scholarship Committee at UNLV. Jeff is also a student pursuing his Master’s degree in Public Administration at UNLV.

Jeff is a Committee Member on the Southern Nevada Veterans Cemetery Advisory Committee and the president of the UNLV Alumni Veterans Club. Jeff was the president of the UNLV Rebel Vets (2013-2015) and the first Team Leader for the Peer Advisors for Veteran Education (PAVE) program at UNLV (2015-2016).

Jeff spends his free time with his wife Elizabeth, also an US Army veteran pursuing her Master’s degree in Public Health at UNLV, and their two dogs, Chuck and Odin.

Kacy Drury

Kacy Drury was appointed to the Veterans’ Services Commission in 2020 and has been a resident of Las Vegas, Nevada for 17 years. She is a senior executive for a local company with sixteen years working in the gaming industry and eleven of those in the financial services sector. Kacy is also a member of the International Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists as well as a member of the local Southern Nevada ACAMS Chapter and is CAMS and CAMS-Audit Certified.

Kacy has twenty-six years of diverse work experience in a variety of industries in Nevada as well as California and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from California State University, San Bernardino. She also sits on the Board of the Community Roots Foundation, a charter school in Laguna Niguel. Ms. Drury finds it a privilege and an honor to serve the State and her community by contributing as a Member of the Veterans’ Services Commission.

Jeanette Evans

Jeanette Evans, C.P.M., has served her country and her country’s veterans for more than 30 years. She served in the U.S. Air Force both on active-duty and in the reserves, retiring in 2002 with nearly 24 years of military service.

Jeanette was one of the first women in the Air Force to complete training and serve as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician (EOD). Later in her career, she served as a Career Counselor in the Air Force Reserve.

Jeanette’s Military decorations include the Air Force Commendation & Meritorious Service Medals. Jeanette has continued to serve Nevada’s veterans as an Accredited Veterans Service Officer. As a Certified Public Manager, she served as the State of Nevada Veterans Services Program Manager where led State Service Officers throughout Nevada who act as advocates assisting veterans with the complex task of completing and filing claims for disability and medical benefits. She retired from State service in 2011 and accepted a position with the VA Medical Center Reno as Chief, Eligibility and Enrollment and fully retired at the end of 2014. In retirement, Jeanette now volunteers to assist veterans through her membership in the American Legion, where she has held positions as Post Commander, State Commander and National Vice-Commander.

She currently serves as a member of the Veteran Affairs and Rehabilitation Commission, Health Administration Committee. She also serves locally as Chairman on Senator Heller’s Northern Nevada Veteran’s Advisory Council, is a member of the VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System, Reno facility Veteran and Family Advisory Council; and is a member of the United Veterans Legislative Coalition where she helps shape both Federal and State policies that affect veterans.

Jeanette grew up in Auburn, California and currently resides in Fallon, Nevada with her husband David. She enjoys country western dancing and Yoga. She has two sons who live in California and Idaho with their wives and children.

John Hansen

John was born and raised on Chicago’s Southside, and moved to the Southwest Suburbs in 1972. He Graduated from Chicago State University in May 1987, and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant on May 15, 1986. He served with the 327th Military Police Battalion as a Communications/Electronics Officer, and the 814th Military Police Company in Rosemont, Illinois as a Platoon Leader. Due to a career ending injury sustained at Ft. Benning, Georgia, he was transferred to the Retired Reserves on May 1, 1996.

John is retired and currently resides in Fallon, NV. Since relocating to Nevada in 2008, John has served on the Nevada Indian Commission, Veterans Service Commission and was appointed in 2020, to the Northern Nevada Veterans Cemetery Commission. John is a Life Member of the Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, AMVETS, Military Officers Association of America, and National Native American Veterans Association.

David Behbahani

Commission Student Veteran Representative

Mr. Behbahani was appointed as the Student Veteran Representative on the Veterans Services Commission to serve from July 2023 to the Spring of 2025. He is the point of contact to provide information and suggestions regarding Nevada’s student veterans to the Chair of the Commission.

Behbahani enlisted into the US Army in 2012 as a 190 Calvary scout and served 4 years. He was deployed to Qatar and Kuwait for 9 months, and served with both 1-10 CAV 4th infantry division and 4-1 CAV Infantry Division.

He is a student at the University of Nevada, Reno majoring in Geological Engineering, with a minor in Physics and Military Science. He enjoys reading history books, learning something new everyday, and traveling, he has visited most of Europe, Asia, Central, and South America.

Behbahani can help voice the opinions or concerns of student veterans as well as vote in favor of items that benefit student veterans.

Assemblywoman Brittney Miller

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Barbara Ortiz

Barbara Ortiz served 38 years in the Air Force, first as an enlisted Aircraft Mechanic and upon commissioning, as a Logistics Readiness Officer. She has held positions at all levels of command, to include Numbered Air Force, Major Command, Combatant Command, Air Force Headquarters and The Joint Staff. Barbara is the co-owner of Ardaithe Consulting, providing individualized consulting to government offices on strategic management issues and conducts internal investigations into workplace disputes and personnel matters. She holds a TS/SCI Clearance.

Senator Pat Spearman

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