(Reno, Nev.) – The Nevada Department of Veterans Services (NDVS) is pleased to announce its Veteran Advocacy Support Team (VAST) Director Pieter Droog has been named as the State of Nevada’s Employee Veteran of the Month for February 2022.
Mr. Droog’s was selected for this recognition and honor due to his leadership, innovation, and drive in serving Nevada’s veterans. Under his direction, the department fully converted from paper to electronic claims filing to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Prior to Mr. Droog’s efforts, all claims submitted through NDVS were in paper form. As of January 2022, almost all NDVS claims submitted (99.5%) were done so electronically.
This conversion has greatly increased NDVS’s ability to meet the needs of Nevada’s veterans. It allows eligible veterans to connect to their earned benefits as quickly as possible. It also provides for greater efficiencies, enabling NDVS Veterans Service Officers (VSOs), who assist veterans with filing, to process a higher volume of claims, resulting in more veterans being served as well as reducing wait times for other veterans in need of claims assistance.
“It is such an honor and so humbling to receive this recognition and award,” said Droog. “However, the members of my team also deserve credit because they fully embraced this change and helped to facilitate it. We are now able to fulfill our mission in the most efficient way, so our veterans don’t have to wait to either file a claim or receive the benefits they deserve and have earned.”
“This kind of change within an organization is not always easy, but Pieter’s leadership helped make it happen,” said Fred Wagar, NDVS Deputy Director of Operations. “Pieter exemplifies the the passion behind our NVDS team. Each member takes pride in providing the best service possible to our veterans, who truly deserve no less.”
Mr. Droog directly oversees the department’s VSOs, ensuring they are all certified by the State of Nevada and accredited by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Prior to joining NDVS, Mr. Droog received his degree and commission from Loyola College. He spent 20 years in the U.S. Army, serving in a wide range of positions from from transportation officer to commander of both the Direct Support Ordnance and General Support Aircraft Maintenance Companies. He also served as Director of Logistics and Deputy at the Materials Management Center in Sinai, Egypt. Additionally, he attended Army flight School, Maintenance Test Pilot School and the Aircraft Maintenance Officer Course.
About the Nevada Department of Veterans Services (NDVS)
NDVS is dedicated to helping Nevada veterans obtain the services and benefits they have earned through military service in the U.S. Armed Forces. In addition to offering benefits counseling and assistance, which includes assistance with filing VA claims at no cost, NDVS manages the Northern and Southern Nevada State Veterans Homes and the Northern and Southern Veterans Memorial Cemeteries. To learn more about NDVS programs or services visit veterans.nv.gov and follow us on Twitter @NVDeptVeterans and on Facebook @NevadaDepartmentofVeteransServices.
Want more information on earned veterans benefits or have questions or concerns? You are in the right place! Veterans Service Officers are here to help. Please fill out the form and click “Submit." To find VSO Locations, please visit the Veterans Service Officer page.
