The Deputy Commissioner of Veterans Affairs
Dr. Mark A. Piterski
Dr. Mark A. Piterski, Ph. D., CDFM, is the Assistant Commissioner for Veterans, serving in the position of Deputy Commissioner for Veterans Affairs (DCVA).
In this capacity, he administers two Divisions that serve the more than 300,000 Veterans in New Jersey.
The Division of Veterans Healthcare Services, oversees the operations of the state's three long-term care veterans' homes and respite care program.
The Division of Veterans Services, oversees the Veterans Service Offices, other state entitlement programs and services, veteran's preference determinations, veteran's status determinations, and the blind and catastrophic veteran pension entitlements.
Additionally, the Division of Veterans Services oversees the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, the operation of the state's Homeless Veterans Transitional Housing program, the State Approving Agency, which is responsible for certifying the VA funded educational and training program, and the state-owned monuments and memorials.
Piterski served as Deputy Adjutant General of New Jersey and the Assistant Adjutant General – Army before his retirement as a Brigadier General in the New Jersey Army National Guard.
An Iraq Veteran, his previous assignments include Chief of Staff, New Jersey Army National Guard and Commander, 50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. He began his career in the Army National Guard as an enlisted infantryman in 1987.
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Education
- 1989. Southern Connecticut State University, Bachelor of Arts, Urban Education
- 1997. Jersey City State College, Master of Arts, Urban Education
- 2013. United States Army War College, Master of Science, Strategic Studies (MSS)
- 2015. Trident University International, Ph.D., in Educational Leadership
Assignments
- 1989-1992. Platoon Leader, Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 102nd Infantry, Ansonia, Connecticut
- 1992-1994. Platoon Leader, Echo Company, 50th Main Support Battalion, West Orange, New Jersey
- 1994-1998. Maintenance Officer, Detachment 1, Charlie Company, 50th Main Support Battalion, Lawrenceville, New Jersey
- 1998-1999. Commander, Delta Company, 50th Main Support Battalion
- 1999- 2000. S2/S3, 50th Main Support Battalion, Teaneck, New Jersey
- 2000- 2003. Support Operations Officer, 50th Main Support Battalion, Teaneck, New Jersey
- 2003. Support Operations Officer, Headquarters, 42nd Division Support Command, Somerset, New Jersey
- 2003-2007. S2/S3, Headquarters, 42nd Division Support Command, Somerset, New Jersey
- 2007-2008. Executive Officer, 50th Brigade Combat Team, Lawrenceville, New Jersey
- 2008- 2010. Commander, 2nd Battalion, 113th Infantry, Riverdale, New Jersey
- 2010-2011. Executive Officer, Joint Training and Training Development Center, Fort Dix, New Jersey
- 2011-2012. Deputy Commander, 50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Lawrenceville, New Jersey
- 2012- 2014. Commander, 50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Lawrenceville, New Jersey
- 2014 2016. Deputy United States Property and Fiscal Officer, Fort Dix, New Jersey
- 2016- 2018. New Jersey Army National Guard Chief of Staff
- January 2018 – April 2018. Acting Deputy Adjutant General, New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, Lawrenceville, New Jersey
- April 2018. Deputy Adjutant General, New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, Lawrenceville, New Jersey
Awards and Decorations
- Bronze Star Medal with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
- Meritorious Service Medal with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
- Army Commendation Medal with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
- Army Achievement Medal
- Humanitarian Service Medal
- National Defense Service Medal
- Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 1 Silver Hour Glass Device and M-Device for Mobilization
- Army Service Ribbon
- Overseas Service Ribbon
- Overseas Training Ribbon
- Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
- Iraqi Campaign Medal
- NJ Distinguished Service Medal
- NJ Commendation Medal
- Order of Saint Maurice (Infantry)
- Order of Samuel Sharpe (Ordnance)
- Parachutist Badge
Effective Dates of Promotion
- Second Lieutenant 8 July 1989
- First Lieutenant 6 July 1992
- Captain 24 May 1995
- Major 7 July 2000
- Lieutenant Colonel 15 February 2005
- Colonel 1 February 2010
- Brigadier General 19 May 2018
- Retired 30 April 2019
(Current as of May 2019)
Army Guard
