Colonel Stephen G. Abel, United States Army (Retired), was appointed in November 2004, as Deputy Commissioner for Veterans Affairs. In this capacity, Deputy Commissioner Abel administers three Divisions. The Division of Veterans Healthcare Services oversees the operations of the state's three long-term care veterans' homes and respite care program. The Division of Veterans Programs oversees the Veterans Service Offices, other state entitlement programs and services-veteran's preference determinations, veteran's status determinations, and the blind and catastrophic veteran pension entitlements. The Division of Veterans Services oversees the nation's busiest State Veterans Cemetery, located in North Hanover Township; the operation of the state's Homeless Veterans Transitional Housing program, the State Approving Agency, which is responsible for certifying the VA funded educational and training program, and the state-owned monuments and memorials.

Colonel Abel served as the Director of the Division of Veterans Services from 1 April 2000 to 2 October 2004. In that capacity, he oversaw the operation of the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Cemetery at Arneytown as well as the maintenance of the veterans' section of three satellite cemeteries. He also was responsible for operation of Veterans Haven, a transitional housing unit for homeless veterans. Additionally, he supervised the State Approving Agency, which certifies all educational and training programs for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Finally, he was responsible for the construction, operation, and maintenance of New Jersey's Veterans Monuments and Memorials. They include the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial and Educational Center in Holmdel, the New Jersey Korean War Memorial in Atlantic City, and the New Jersey World War II Memorial, which is under design. He chaired the Doyle Cemetery and Jersey City Veterans Park Quality Review Boards, served as the Secretary to the World War II Commission, and was the Department's liaison to the Cemetery Veterans Advisory Counsel and the World Trade Center Memorial Commission.

Colonel Abel previously was Inspector General, New Jersey Army and Air National Guard. The Adjutant General (TAG) of New Jersey appointed him to that position and he reported for duty on 26 February 1998. Colonel Abel served as an extension of the eyes, ears, and voice of The Adjutant General. He reported on the discipline, efficiency, economy, morale, training, and readiness of the New Jersey National Guard to the TAG. He provided assistance to soldiers and airmen on demand, conducted investigations as required, and monitored the Command's Organizational Inspection Program.

He was born on July 25, 1951, in Tamaqua, Pennsylvania. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Education degree (1973) from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Science in National Security Strategy degree from the National Defense University (1994). His military education includes: the Infantry Officers Basic Course at Fort Benning, Georgia, the Field Artillery Officers Basic and Advanced Courses at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, the Battle Staff Officers Course at Hurlbert Field, Florida, the resident Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and the National War College at Fort McNair, District of Columbia. Colonel Abel earned his commission through the ROTC Program at Indiana University of Pennsylvania where he was a Distinguished Military Graduate.

He began his military career at Fort Riley, Kansas, in July 1973 where he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Regular Army. He was immediately assigned to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, where he served as the Executive Officer of Company B, 5th Battalion, 2d Brigade and later as the Aide-de-Camp to the Deputy Commanding General. In 1976 he was assigned to Camp Pelham, Korea, where he served as the Executive Officer of Battery B and then as the Commander of Service Battery, 2d Battalion, 17th Field Artillery. He was promoted to Captain during this tour. Upon returning to the United States in 1978, he was assigned as the Commander of the Wichita Recruiting Company in Wichita, Kansas. In 1981 he was assigned overseas again, this time to 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. During this tour, he served as the 1st Brigade's Fire Support Officer and Division Artillery's Adjutant.

In 1983, he was promoted to Major and assigned to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where he served in a number of positions. While assigned to the Field Artillery School, he served first as the Field Artillery Branch Representative and then as the Executive Assistant to the Assistant Commandant. He was next assigned to the III U. S. Corps where he served as the Executive Officer of 2d Battalion, 37th Field Artillery and finally as the Operations Officer (S3) for the 212th Field Artillery Brigade. He left Fort Still in 1988 for a tour of duty in Washington, DC His first assignment was as the Lieutenant Colonel's Assignment officer at the United States Army's Personnel Command. He finished his assignment in Washington as the Assistant to the Director of the Army Staff, Office of the Chief of Staff, Army.

Colonel Abel was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1991 and reassigned to Fort Sill where he took command of 1st Battalion, 19th Artillery. After completing command, he became the Deputy Commander of the Field Artillery Training Center. In 1994 he was promoted to Colonel from below the zone and reassigned to Korea where he served as the Secretary to the Combined Joint Staff of United Nations Command/Combined Forces Command/U. S. Forces Korea and the Eighth United States Army. After returning to the United States in 1996, he assumed duties as the Chief of Combat Arms Division, U. S. Total Army Personnel Command.

His military decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, two awards of the Legion of Merit, six awards of the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Ribbon with numeral three device, and the Army Staff Badge.

Colonel Abel is a: Member of the Association of the United States Army, the National Guard Associations of New Jersey and the United States, the Field Artillery Association, Military Officers Association of America, the Elks, the Marine Corps League and is a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Jewish War Veterans, and Catholic War Veterans and the Korean War Veterans.