Whenever his country has asked him to step up and serve, Randy Reeves has done so without question.

    Now, the retired Operation Desert Storm veteran and Newton County native has again stepped to the forefront, this time to lead the Mississippi Veteran Affairs Board, (VAB) replacing Adrian Grice who has retired.

    “I feel it is an honor to serve our veterans in any way possible,” said Reeves, who before was the deputy director of the VAB. “The board felt I was capable of taking over for Adrian, who did an outstanding job, and I hope I don’t let them and the veterans down.”

    Reeves, a Little Rock native, entered military service in 1980 when he enlisted in the United States Air Force. In 1998, Reeves was commissioned as an officer of the U.S. Navy where he became a combat veteran of Operation Desert Storm. Reeves retired from the Navy in August 2008 with 27 years of service to his country.

    Reeves was appointed as the first director of the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Cemetery in January 2009. The cemetery, that has been referred to as the “Arlington of the South,” is between Newton and Hickory on Highway 80 and has since opened for Mississippi military veterans. He was appointed deputy director of the VAB in late 2009.

    Reeves said his duties now are much like those he tackled as deputy director. He said the job of his position and those he leads is to make sure Mississippi veterans are getting the representation, benefits and care they require as being a part of our nation’s military forces. The VAB oversees four veterans nursing homes across the state plus many other programs geared toward the needs of veterans.

    “This is a great organization with great people,” said Reeves. “We are here for the vets to make sure they are getting the attention they deserve.”

    Reeves resides in Madison with his wife, Aida, who is retired from the Air Force.