Milwaukee Regional Office

Executive Director: Bruce Voigt

Bruce Voigt was appointed Executive Director of the Veterans Benefits Administration's (VBA) Milwaukee Regional Office (RO) effective November 17, 2024. The Milwaukee Regional Office delivers more than four billion dollars annually in compensation and pension benefits. In addition to administering the Veteran Readiness and Employment program to Veterans, their families, and survivors. Mr. Voigt also oversees one of three Pension Management Centers, one of two Committees on Waivers and Compromises, one of nine Benefit Eligibility Support Teams, and one of six Fiduciary Hubs. In his current position, Mr. Voigt is responsible for providing executive leadership and direction for 842 full-time employees, managing available financial and human capital resources, directing programs for quality control in all operational elements, as well as actively participating in outreach efforts in Veteran communities.

Prior to this, Mr. Voigt was the Executive Director of the Roanoke Regional Office, administering benefits to over 780,000 Virginia Veterans and their families. He also served as the Director of the Des Moines Regional Office, where he was responsible for administering VA benefits to 42,000 Iowa Veterans..

He was also detailed as Executive Director of Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) Service during his time in Iowa. In this role, Mr. Voigt was responsible for overseeing the delivery of VR&E services for Veterans with service-connected disabilities to prepare for, find, and maintain suitable careers, or obtain independence in daily living. In this role, he led operations for over 1,400 employees located at 350 locations throughout the U.S. and overseas.

Mr. Voigt has held several diverse positions, including Assistant Director for Compensation Service and Deputy Director for the Office of Strategic Planning, as well as Deputy Director and Lead Analyst for VBA’s Implementation Center during the transformation of the disability claims process from 2011 through 2015. His efforts led to improvements in the timeliness and quality of VBA’s claims process, increasing Veterans’ access to benefits and services, and reducing Veteran homelessness.

Assistant Director: Keri Brezgel

Since February 2013 Keri Brezgel has served as an Assistant Director for the Milwaukee VA Regional Office (VARO). She assists the Director in managing the Veterans Service Center, Veteran Readiness and Employment, the Support Services Division, Human Resources, and three special missions including the Pension Management Center, the Benefits Eligibility Support Team, and the Fiduciary Hub. 

The Milwaukee VARO has over 840 employees and serves Veterans and their dependents across the country by receiving work through the national work queue. In addition, the VARO’s Fiduciary Hub provides fiduciary oversight for beneficiaries residing in Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Minnesota, and Missouri.

Keri began her career with the Department of Veterans Affairs in December 1993 as a Rating Analyst in the Milwaukee VA Regional Office. She was later promoted to a Rating Veterans Service Representative and served in the Milwaukee VARO for seven years. Keri then worked in VA Central Office in Washington D.C. for five years, first as a Consultant for C&P Service on the Procedures and the Program Operations staffs, and then as a Management Analyst for the Associate Deputy Under Secretary for Policy and Program Management. From June 2006 until February 2013 Keri was the Assistant Director for the Chicago VA Regional Office.

Keri has a Master of Arts Degree in Communications and is a graduate of Leadership VA and the Assistant Director Development Program. She completed details as the Director of the Milwaukee VARO, Assistant Director in the San Juan VARO, and Assistant Veterans Service Center Manager in the Los Angeles VARO. Keri has contributed to articles in Human Communication Research. Her Master’s thesis is cited as a reference in several publications. 

Assistant Director: Jesse Severe

Mr. Jesse Severe was promoted to the position of Assistant Director, Milwaukee Regional Office in March 2012. At the Milwaukee RO, he provides oversight for one of VBA’s largest offices with six business lines. He has served on a number of national projects including as the Senior Field Lead for VBA’s VSR Skills Certification and Competency-Based Testing project since 2013.

Jesse began his VA career as a Veterans Service Representative at the Milwaukee Regional Office in 2001. In 2005, Jesse moved to the Nashville Regional Office. In 2008, Jesse joined the Southern Area office in Nashville first as a Management Analyst, and starting in 2009, as the Supervisory Management Analyst. He has served details in the Office of Field Operations, as Assistant Director of the Houston Regional Office, as Assistant Director of the St. Louis Regional Office, and as Assistant Director of the VBMS Program Management Office.

Jesse grew up in Sheffield, Iowa. He received a B.A. in History, Religion and Philosophy from Wartburg College in 1996 and an M.A. in Chinese language and history from the University of Iowa in 1998. He also received an M.S. in Strategic Analytics from Brandeis University in 2017. Outside of work, Jesse enjoys spending time with his wife, Rebecca, and two children.

Fiduciary Hub Manager: Andrew Staff

Andrew Staff was selected as the Milwaukee Fiduciary Hub Manager in February 2024. He is responsible for managing the fiduciary program in Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin. He began his career with VA in 2003 and has held various positions, to include Assistant Veterans Service Center Manager and Benefit Eligibility Support Team Division Manager.

Andrew graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater with a Bachelor’s degree in History.

Support Services Division Chief: Bryan Carroll

Bryan Carroll began his career with the Milwaukee Regional Office in April 2008. He was selected as the Support Services Division Chief in November 2022. Bryan has spent his entire career with the Milwaukee Regional Office and has held various positions including, Supply Technician, Purchasing Agent, Support Services Specialist, Supervisory Financial Administrative Specialist, and Assistant Chief of the Support Services Division.

Veteran Readiness and Employment Officer: Michael Duke

Michael Duke was selected as the Veteran Readiness & Employment Officer (VREO) in April 2023. He was a participant in the VR&E program, receiving his Master's Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of North Texas. Mr. Duke previously held the positions of Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor in the Fort Worth and San Diego offices and Integrated Disability Evaluation System Counselor at the Balboa Naval Hospital. Prior to his current assignment, he served as the VREO in Boise, ID, and the Assistant VREO in the Oakland Regional Office.

Veterans Service Center Manager: Barbara Nehls

Ms. Nehls began her career with the Milwaukee Regional Office in August 1991. She was selected as the Veterans Service Center Manager in May 2013. She has spent her entire career at the Milwaukee Regional Office and has held various positions, including Veterans Claims Examiner, Rating Specialist, Coach, and Assistant Veterans Service Center Manager. 

Ms. Nehls graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.

Benefits Eligibility Support Team Manager: Erica Benninghoff

Erica Benninghoff began her career with the Milwaukee Regional Office in April 2007. In May of 2024, she was selected as the Benefit Eligibility Support Team Manager. Erica has held various positions within the Milwaukee Regional Office, such as a Veterans Service Representative, Coach, Assistant Benefit Eligibility Support Team Manager, and Assistant Veterans Service Center Manager. 

Erica graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater with a Bachelor’s degree in Finance.  

Pension Management Center Manager: Chris Fischer

Chris Fischer took this position in December 2008. As one of two Pension Management Center Manager, he administers approximately $3.3 billion in annual federal benefits to 262,932 beneficiaries.