NEW: Kim A. Ripoli Named Associate Director of Veterans Affairs
Friday, September 07, 2012
Governor Lincoln D. Chafee today announced his appointment of Kim A. Ripoli to the position of Associate Director of Veterans Affairs. Ripoli will coordinate efforts to enhance and expand veterans’ services statewide, especially for Rhode Islanders returning from active service.
“There are currently unmet needs to the veterans’ community,” said Governor Chafee. “This position will strengthen and improve veterans’ services for those Rhode Islanders who have done so much for our state and our country. Senior Chief Ripoli is a perfect choice for this post and brings years of experience in veterans’ affairs to this position. I am honored to have her agree to serve our state and our veterans.”
Senior Chief Ripoli was most recently assigned as the Regional Advocate for the Chief of Naval Operations’ Navy Safe Harbor Program. This is the Navy’s lead organization for coordinating the non-medical care for all wounded, ill, and injured Sailors, Coast Guardsmen and their families. Operating out of the Naval Health Clinic in Newport, her area of responsibility was all the New England states, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“For 24 years I have had the privilege of serving my country in the U.S. Navy,” Ripoli said. “Now I am looking forward to applying that same dedication toward Governor Chafee’s goal of expanding and improving the services to the veterans of the State of Rhode Island. As Winston Churchill once said, ‘You make a living by what you get – you make a life by what you give’.”
Ripoli entered the Navy in 1988 and was first deployed to Saudi Arabia with the 1st Marines Expeditionary Force during Operation Desert Shield/Storm in 1991. Her USMC deployments include Operations New Horizon, Rolling Thunder, Alaskan Road, and African Lion. In 2003, she was part of the initial invasion for Operation Iraqi Freedom.
As a Wounded in Action Analyst for the Bureau’s Pay, Policy and Benefits Division of Navy Personnel Command she was responsible for the creation and implementation of a historical database that tracked pay and special entitlements of Sailors participating in the Global War on Terrorism. As a result of her efforts she was assigned to the Pentagon in 2007, where she worked directly for Office of the Secretary of the Navy on the joint agency Department of Defense/Department of Veterans Affairs Senior Oversight Committee Task Force. She was a pivotal member of the team which developed the DoD/DVA Federal Recovery Coordination Program and authored the program’s trifold literature; and she was Project Manager for the development and creation of the National Resource Directory.
Ripoli earned a Bachelor’s degree in General Studies from Rhode Island College, and a Master’s degree in International Relations and Administration of Justice from Salve Regina University. Her military decorations and awards include: Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (x2); Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (8x); Army Achievement Medal; and various service, unit and campaign awards.
