Sammie L. Quillin was appointed Executive Director in October 2020. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Quillin served as the Director of the Albuquerque Regional Office. Mr. Quillin is responsible for administering VA benefits and services to over 233,000 Veterans and beneficiaries throughout Arkansas and Bowie County, Texas. The Regional office has 233 employees.
Prior to being appointed as a Director, he held numerous positions of increasing responsibility. Mr. Quillin served as the Assistant Veterans Service Center Manager at the Seattle Regional Office and as the Veterans Service Center Manager at the Buffalo Regional office, managing benefits for Veterans in 31 counties throughout Upstate and Western New York.
CAREER CHRONOLOGY:
2020 - Present Director, VA Regional Office, Little Rock, AR
2016 - 2020 Director, VA Regional Office, Albuquerque, NM
2013 - 2016 Veterans Service Center Manager, VA Regional Office, Buffalo, NY
2010 - 2013 Assistant Veterans Service Center Manager, VA Regional Office, Seattle, WA
2009 - 2010 Supervisory (Coach), VA Regional Office, Seattle, WA
2008 - 2009 Supervisory (Assistant Coach), VA Regional Office, Seattle, WA
EDUCATION:
2002 - Bachelor of Science, Liberty University
MAJOR MILITARY ASSIGNMENTS/AWARDS/DECORATIONS:
MR. Quillin served in the U.S. Army for over 25 years, with diversified technical experiences in field operations and headquarter environments with multiple duty assignments in the United States and overseas.
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS:
2018 - Graduate Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program (SESCDP)
2017 - Executive Level Operational Management Course, George Washington University
2012 - Graduate VBA Division Leadership Management Training (DLMT)
2007 - VBA Instructor Development Course
Jason Ware was appointed Assistant Director in June 2020. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Ware served as the Veterans Service Center Manager at the Little Rock Regional Office. Mr. Ware is responsible for administering benefits and services to over 233,000 Veterans and their families residing in Arkansas and Bowie County, Texas.
Donna Shively was appointed the Veterans Service Center Manager in April 2021. Ms. Shively is responsible for the daily operations of the Veterans Service Center and supervising the administration of work involving development, examination, adjustment, reconsideration, and authorization of the settlement of claims filed by over 233,000 Veterans and their families living in Arkansas and Bowie County, Texas.
Trena Hyde was appointed Veteran Readiness & Employment Officer in 2014. Ms. Hyde is responsible for the delivery of VR&E benefits throughout Arkansas and Bowie County, Texas. VR&E has four outbased offices; Fayetteville, Texarkana, Fort Smith, and Jonesboro.
Laura Jones was appointed Chief, Support Services Division in 2021. As SSD Chief, she is responsible for the Financial and Administrative support at the Regional Office. She is also responsible for the timely and cost effective support services (administrative, financial, budget, records management, PIV and facilities management) necessary to meet all Regional Office accountabilities, to include development, implementation, and management of these areas.
James McLean was appointed the BEST Division Manager in 2020. Mr. McLean is responsible for the division's daily operations in processing Veteran and Veteran beneficiary benefit adjustments, required benefit reviews, and unique eligibility decisions.