United States Department of Veterans Affairs
United States Department of Veterans Affairs

Center for Women Veterans

Advisory Committee on Women Veterans

The Advisory Committee on Women Veterans (ACWV) was established and  chartered in November 1983 by Public Law 98-160.  The Advisory Committee on Women Veterans assesses the needs of women veterans, with respect to VA programs such as compensation, rehabilitation, outreach, healthcare, etc.  The Committee reviews VA's programs, activities, research projects and other initiatives designed to meet the needs of women veterans; and makes recommendations to the Secretary on ways to improve, modify, and affect change in programs and services for women veterans and follows up on all those recommendations.   

Members of the   VA Advisory Committee on Women Veterans:

  • Shirley Ann Quarles, (Chair), McCormick , S.C.   Colonel, U.S. Army Reserve, Nurse Corps; currently a professor at Medical College of Georgia’s School of Nursing .
  • Rene A. Campos, Washington , D.C.   A retired Navy Commander; currently serves as the Deputy Director of Family Matters, Government Relations, Military Officers Association of America (MOAA).
  • Helena R. Carapellatti, Upper Marlboro, Md.   A retired Chief Master Sergeant, Air National Guard; currently tutors with the Literacy Council of Prince George’s County and owns a business with her spouse. 
  • Velma Hart, Upper Marlboro, Md.   A former Army Reserve Sergeant; currently National Finance Director/Chief Fiscal Officer (CFO) for AMVETS.
  • Kathleen Janoski  , Pittsburgh  , Penn.   A retired Navy Chief Petty Officer; currently working in private industry and active in several civic and military organizations.
  • Marlene Kramel, Pineville  , La.    A former Army Nurse with service in Vietnam ; retired psychiatric nurse and Women Veterans Program Manager with the VAMC in Alexandria , LA.
  • Mary Antoinette (Tonie) Lawrie, St. Petersburg , Fla.   A former Air Force Nurse Corps Captain with service in Vietnam ; retired as coordinator of the Women Veterans Health Program at the VAMC in Bay Pines.  Former Commissioner for the State of Florida Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • Pamela Luce, Shelbyville , Ky.   A retired Army First Sergeant; currently Women Veterans Coordinator for the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and Benefits Branch Manager for the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • Brenda Moore, Getzville , N.Y.   Served in the Women’s Army Corps; currently a professor in the Department of Sociology at the State University of New York at Buffalo .  Former Commissioner of the American Battle Monuments Commission and former member of the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services (DACOWITS). 
  • Jacqueline Morgan (Vice-Chair), Seattle , Wash.   A retired Air Force Medical Corps Colonel and retired physician. 
  • Barbara Pittman, Washington , D.C.   A retired Air Force Technical Sergeant; currently works for the Government of the District of Columbia , Executive Office of the Mayor as the Veterans Benefits Special Assistant to the Mayor.
  • Celia Szelwach, Bradenton , Fla.   Graduate of the U.S. Military Academy .  A former Army Captain; currently self-employed.
  • Joanna Truitt, West River , Md.   Served in several leadership positions in institutions of higher education; currently serves as the D.C. Director of the American Legion Auxiliary.