Strategic Partnerships Division

Sheronne Blasi, Division Director

Strategic Partnerships Division – New Tribal Veteran Coordinator

We are excited to share information with you about ODVA’s new Tribal Veteran Coordinator, Jon Taylor.

Jon was hired in February 2023, as ODVA’s first Tribal Veteran Coordinator. In this role, Jon will serve as ODVA’s liaison on Tribal veterans’ issues between Oregon’s nine federally recognized Tribes and other partners. He will also conduct outreach to help identify Tribal veterans, and assist in connecting them and their families to earned state and federal benefits, in a culturally responsible manner.

Jon will also be collaborating with the Oregon Tribal Veteran Service Officer (TVSO) program, providing consultation, advice, assistance and support to Tribal Veteran Service Officers, as well as others who advocate on behalf of Tribal veterans and their families.

Prior to joining ODVA, Jon worked as a Compliance Manager for the Oregon State Police’s Tribal Gaming Section, where he established and developed a trusting relationship with his Tribal counter parts. He will build on that foundation, to support the nine federally recognized Tribes of Oregon, and work with Tribal Veterans and their families in this new role.

Before to coming to Oregon, Jon served in the U.S. Navy for 30 years. For the last 10 years of his naval career, Jon served as a Command Master Chief (CMDCM) for the United States Fleet Cyber Command and United States TENTH Fleet, the United States Naval Academy, USS MOUNT WHITNEY (LCC-20), and Navy Information Operation Command Whidbey Island, Washington. As a CMDCM, he led a leadership team in the implementation of command policies concerning morale, personnel welfare, job satisfaction, discipline, utilization, and training of Navy enlisted personnel. He was responsible for each command’s Ombudsman program, which is designed to improve mission readiness, utilizing Navy spouse volunteers. Leading a strong command Ombudsman team, both ashore and afloat, helped ensure families had the information they needed to meet the challenges of a military lifestyle.

A native of Kansas City, Kansas, Jon entered the Navy in San Diego, California in June of 1986. Throughout his career, he served in additional locations around the world including: Edzell, Scotland; Imperial Beach, California; Winter Harbor, Maine; USS LEYTE GULF (CG 55) Norfolk, Virginia; Oahu, Hawaii. While in the Navy, Jon earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Information Systems.