Missouri Veterans Commission Unanimously Selects New Leader

The Missouri Veterans Commission has unanimously selected Colonel Paul Kirchhoff as its new executive director.

Kirchhoff replaces Grace Link, who retired in May and took a position with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. He is the former Missouri Emergency Response Commission director and served 33 years of combined military service with the U.S. Army and the Missouri Army National Guard.

Kirchhoff says staff vacancies at its seven veterans homes are lower than what they have been in about two years.

Kirchhoff says he wants to find new ways to provide further benefits to veterans. He says the commission lacks veterans service officers who steer veterans toward filing for a variety of VA benefits.

The commission serves more than 458,000 veterans and 1,700 workers in its seven veterans homes, five state veterans cemeteries and veterans services program.