Flood hired as new veterans affairs administrator

The search for Jasper County’s new administrator of veterans affairs has come to an end. During the March 8 board of supervisors meeting, it was announced veterans service officer Alyssa Flood will be taking over. Despite some pushback from a supervisor who felt the department should be led by a veteran, Flood’s hiring was approved in a 3-0 vote.

The position has been vacant since Dec. 31, 2021, when former director Kurt Jackson formally resigned due to health concerns.

Flood was hired on staff to help with responsibilities following Jackson’s departure in October 2021. She will be taking over her new role immediately. Due to state laws, Flood’s official title within the department will be administrator of veterans affairs instead of director, because Flood herself is not a veteran.

Veterans in the county are already familiar with Flood. Besides her work at the office, she has previously aided veterans as a state service officer for the American Legion.

She is also the founder and board president of Bombshell Patriots, a non-profit in Colfax which focuses on helping female veterans find resources, connect with other veterans and transition back into everyday life after leaving the military.

After only a few months of working within the county, Flood’s impact on the veteran community is already evident. Ever since she began working on claims cases and hosting community outreach programs, engagement with the office has skyrocketed.

“Right now I think we have around 70 different claims active,” Flood said.

Her impact was most evident at the board of supervisors meeting. About a dozen local veterans attended to support her appointment.

“I only met Alyssa last week when I came into her office to ask some questions,” American Legion Officer Wally Schermerhorn said. “When I talked to her, I heard knowledge.”

Schermerhorn’s sentiment was echoed by several veterans in attendance, including the hiring committee from veteran’s affairs.

“Alyssa’s ties to the veteran community run deep,” Jasper County Veteran Affairs Commissioner Matt Smith said. “Since she was hired, the office’s metrics have gone up across the board.”

Smith also cited Flood’s extensive recommendations from former employers, most notably former Iowa State Veterans of Foreign Wars Commander Russell Staffell.

“I’ve known Russ for a long time and I can tell you this: he doesn’t hang his hat on just anyone,” Smith said.

One factor working against Flood’s hiring was the fact that she is not a veteran herself.

“I originally wanted to go into the marines like the rest of my family, but they wouldn’t take me because of my asthma,” Flood said. “People in my circle always joke that I’m the token civilian.”

One of the people left on the fence of Flood’s hiring was supervisor Brandon Talsma, a veteran himself.

“I’ve always believed in vets helping vets,” Talsma said. “But I won’t ignore the opinions of the people who do this work.”

Flood will be working 30 hours each week at a pay rate of $54,038 a year. With Flood now working full-time, as opposed to her former part-time hours, veterans affairs will now be at full capacity.

Contact Abby Knipfel at 641-792-3121 ext. 6531 or aknipfel@shawmedia.com