Director of the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs leaves office

Iowa Division of Veterans Affairs Government Director Steve Lukan has resigned, Gov. Kim Reynolds introduced Friday afternoon. 

Lukan is a U.S. Navy veteran. He represented elements of Dubuque County within the Iowa Home from 2003 to 2012, then was appointed by Gov. Terry Branstad to guide the Iowa Workplace of Drug Management Coverage. Reynolds appointed him in 2017 to go the Division of Veterans Affairs.

Lukan left to pursue a job within the non-public sector, based on a information launch.

“I need to thank Director Lukan for his navy service to our nation and to Iowa’s veterans all through his management of IDVA,” Reynolds mentioned in a press release. “Throughout his tenure, the division served a report variety of veterans which is to be counseled.”

Matthew Peterson, commandant of the Iowa Veterans Dwelling, will function interim director for the Division of Veterans Affairs.

Reynolds mentioned she plans to consolidate the administration of the Veterans Dwelling and the division to higher serve veterans in Iowa. She counseled Peterson for his “extraordinary management.”

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“I’m assured in his potential to supervise a newly mixed company and its crew and make sure that Iowa’s veterans proceed to obtain the standard service they deserve,” Reynolds mentioned. 

Peterson was nominated for the commandant place in July, two months after Reynolds fired the earlier commandant, Timothy Oujiri, for amassing extra wages and advantages.

Katie Akin is a politics reporter for the Register. Attain her at kakin@registermedia.com or at 410-340-3440. Observe her on Twitter at @katie_akin.