Kendall County Times

Gov. J.B. Pritzker has named Terry Prince, a 31-year Navy veteran, the new director of the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs (IDVA) after the former administrator stepped down in January. 

Before the appointment, Prince was the superintendent of Ohio's veterans' homes, director of the U.S. Navy Hospital Corps and force master chief of Navy Medicine, according to the March 19 release from the Governor's Office. 

"I've dedicated my life to serving those who've served us, and as a veteran myself, I know the value of compassionate and meaningful support centered around our nation's greatest heroes and their families," Prince said in a statement.

Terry Prince, new Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs director. | Twitter

Price began his military career in 1986 and said that he dedicated his life to helping the people who have served America. 

"As the proud son and grandson of Naval officers, it's my mission that Illinois will provide every possible support for our military men and women, their families and our veterans," Pritzker said in a statement. "I have complete confidence in Terry's ability to advance that mission on behalf of those who have made sacrifice upon sacrifice for the nation we proudly call home."

Illinois state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit (D-Oswego) said she supported Pritzker's choice in naming Prince as the new IDVA director. 

"New IDVA Director named who is a distinguished Veteran of the Navy and a Corpsman! I'm excited that he is qualified and has served his country proudly," Kifowit said in a tweet.

Linda Chapa LaVia, the former IDVA director, resigned after controversy and debate about the deaths of 36 veterans from COVID-19 at the LaSalle Veteran's Home was handled. 

Angela Mehlbrech, a LaSalle administrator, and Jackie Cook, the director of nursing at the facility during the time of the COVID-19 outbreak, both were terminated as a result of the outbreak and veteran's deaths. 

ABC 7 News reported that five families of the veterans who died at LaSalle Veteran's Home planned to file a lawsuit against the facility in January.