Raleigh, N.C. - Governor Pat McCrory and Secretary of Military and Veterans Affairs General Cornell Wilson today welcomed James Prosser, U.S. Air Force (Ret.), as the Assistant Secretary for Veterans Affairs. Prosser has extensive experience serving North Carolina veterans as Director of Veterans Services for Mecklenburg County and President of the North Carolina Association of County Veteran Service Officers.  Prosser served for 27 years in the United States Air Force and held various mental health service positions, including Superintendent of Mental Health Services. He also worked in medical administration at the Salisbury VA Medical Center.

“Jim Prosser will play an important role as the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs continues to work to keep North Carolina the nation’s most military and veteran-friendly state,” said Governor McCrory. “His experience and passion for this state’s veterans will be instrumental in making sure we address the needs of the men and women who served our country.”

Governor McCrory created the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs in 2015 to streamline all services and initiatives aimed at assisting our veterans, active duty military, military installations and communities, and military families. The department focuses on connecting veterans and military families with jobs and vital services, while protecting our military installations and the communities around them.

“I am pleased to welcome Jim Prosser aboard as we continue our work to expand veteran service networks throughout the state,” said General Wilson. “He will be an important addition to our department’s efforts to do more for the veterans who call North Carolina home.”

Prosser succeeds Ilario Pantano, who led numerous successful veterans’ initiatives in the state over the last three years as Director of Veterans Affairs, making North Carolina a national leader in veteran service.

“I congratulate Ilario for a job well done and wish him well in his new assignment,” said General Wilson. “His work was instrumental in improving support for North Carolina’s veterans’ community.”

Pantano is joining the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University (IVMF) as Senior Director, Community Services, Programs & Services, and will be based in North Carolina.

North Carolina’s recent accomplishments include cutting veteran unemployment in half, increasing federal compensation to veterans and military retirees by over $1 billion, reducing veteran homelessness, and establishing an innovative veteran hiring initiative, the North Carolina for Military Employment program. North Carolina has also pursued a successful approach in leveraging public-private partnerships, expanding veteran service networks throughout the state, and creating a premier veterans Resource Guide and website (NC4VETS.com).