Governor Matt Meyer has nominated retired Brigadier General Karen A. Berry to serve as the first Cabinet Secretary of the newly created Delaware Department of Veterans Affairs.
Legislation signed earlier this month established the Department of Veterans Affairs, elevating veterans’ services to a cabinet-level agency. The new agency will centralize and expand services for more than 70,000 veterans across the First State, from benefits assistance and housing support to healthcare coordination and mental health support services.
State Rep. Jeff Hilovsky, a USAF veteran and a prime sponsor of the measure creating the new veterans agency, applauded the nomination. “I have known Gen. Berry before she was a general, when she was my son’s math teacher at Sussex Central High School. She is an excellent choice, possessing a unique combination of skills and personality traits. I have found her to be energetic, empathetic, and a strong leader who is fact-driven in her decision-making. I look forward to working with her to enhance the range and quality of veterans’ services in Delaware.”
Brigadier General Berry retired from the Delaware National Guard in 2023 following more than three decades of distinguished service. Her awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, and the Delaware Conspicuous Service Cross.
In addition to her military career, Berry is a retired educator, having taught mathematics for 25 years in Delaware schools. Since 2023, she has served as a veterans advocate at Delaware Technical Community College’s Owens Campus in Georgetown.
“I am humbled and honored by this nomination,” Ms. Berry said. “Delaware’s veterans have given so much to our state and our nation. As Secretary of Veterans Affairs, I will work every day to ensure they receive the care, respect, and opportunities they have earned. This department is a promise kept — and I look forward to serving those who served us.”
Pending Senate confirmation, Berry will lead the Department of Veterans Affairs through its transition from the Department of State, with complete independence by July 1, 2030, as required by HB 1.
