Missouri Veterans Commission News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 17, 2011

Comerford and Fairfax Elected as Chair and Vice Chair

At its quarterly meeting on November 7, 2011, the Missouri Veterans Commission elected John Comerford as Chair and Emmett Fairfax as Vice Chair of the Commission. 
Mr. Comerford was nominated to serve a second term as Chairman.  Appointed to the Commission on March 14, 2008 by Governor Matt Blunt, Comerford served in the U.S. Navy as a Naval Flight Officer and Mission Commander onboard the EP-3E reconnaissance aircraft.  He also served as Deputy Director and Watch Officer at the President's Emergency Operations Center in the White House.   Mr. Comerford now resides in St. Louis where he is an attorney at Dowd Bennett, LLP.  
Mr. Fairfax was nominated to a second term as Vice Chairman.  He previously served on the Commission from April 12, 2002 until November 2005 and was reappointed by Governor Jay Nixon on March 18, 2009.  Mr. Fairfax served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He previously served as Sheriff of Pettis County, Missouri, Special Investigator of Missouri State Senate, and United States Marshal for the Western District of Missouri.  Mr. Fairfax resides in Sedalia, Missouri where he is involved in real estate.
The Commission is comprised of nine commissioners, five who are veterans of the U. S. Armed Forces, nominated by state veterans' organizations for appointment by the Governor and confirmation by the Senate.  Of the other four, two are members of the Senate, one appointed by the President Pro Tem of the Senate and one appointed by the Senate Minority Floor Leader, and two are members of the House of Representatives, one appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and one appointed by the House Minority Floor Leader.
The Missouri Veterans Commission, a state agency, operates seven State Veterans Homes, five State Veterans Cemeteries, and the Veterans Service Program.  The Commission is committed to honoring and serving Missouri's Veterans whose dedication and sacrifices have preserved our nation and its freedoms.  For more information about the Missouri Veterans Commission programs, call 573-751-3779 or access the Missouri Veterans Commission at www.mvc.dps.mo.gov or on facebook.

-30-

-END-

For more information, call 573-522-1421 or e-mail Daniel.Bell@mvc.dps.mo.gov