Leadership Team
Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records (unless confidential under Federal Law). If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.
To contact a Veterans’ Claims Examiner, call (727) 319-7440 and they’ll return your call within 24 hours. You may also contact them via e-mail at FDVA.VSO@FDVA.FL.GOV
Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs
11351 Ulmerton Road, Suite 311-K
Largo, FL 33778-1630
(727) 518-3202
Deputy Executive Director
Bob Asztalos
(850) 414-2717
Biography
Chief of Staff
Al Carter
(727) 518-3202, ext. 5621
Biography
Legislative and Cabinet Affairs Director (Tallahassee)
Roy Clark
(850) 414-2717
Biography
General Counsel
Andrew Benard
(850) 414-2717
Communications & External Affairs Director (Tallahassee)
Steve Murray
(850) 414-2717
Biography
Director, Administration
Linda Rizzo
(727) 518-3202, ext. 5538
Biography
Inspector General
David Marzullo
(727) 518-3202, ext. 5570
Biography
Chief Information Officer
Teresa Stillwell
(727) 518-3202, ext. 5507
Director, Hope Navigator
Holly Bernardo
(850) 414-2717
Benefits and Assistance:
Director, Benefits and Assistance
Don Stout
(727) 319-7440
Field Services Bureau Chief (Questions about VA medical benefits)
Andy McCormick
(727) 398-6661, ext. 5489
Veterans’ Claims Bureau Chief (Questions about VA claims)
Sherrel Pinson
(727) 319-7425
State Approving Agency Bureau Chief (Questions about veterans’ education & training programs)
Betsy Wickham
(727) 319-7401
News Media:
For media questions, contact Communications Director Steve Murray or 850-491-1092.
Public Records Requests:
To request a public record from the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs, please contact the following individuals.
Main Contact:
(850) 414-2717
FDVA.Publicrecordsrequest@FDVA.FL.GOV
En Espanol:
Dennys Massanet
(407) 205-5773
Dennys.Massanet@FDVA.FL.GOV
Veterans’ Homes:
Director, State Veterans’ Homes Program
Connie Tolley
(727) 518-3202, ext. 5516
Biography
Robert H. Jenkins Jr. Veterans’ Domiciliary Home
Lucille Gwinn, Administrator
(386) 758-0600
751 SE Sycamore Terrace, Lake City, FL 32025
Emory L. Bennett State Veterans’ Nursing Home
Paula Twitty, Administrator
(386) 274-3460
1920 Mason Avenue, Daytona Beach, FL 32117
Baldomero Lopez State Veterans’ Nursing Home
Marlies Sarrett, Administrator
(813) 558-5000
6919 Parkway Boulevard, Land O’ Lakes, FL 34639
Alexander “Sandy” Nininger State Veterans’ Nursing Home
Lawrence Militello, Administrator
(954) 985-4824
8401 West Cypress Drive, Pembroke Pines, FL 33025
Clifford C. Sims State Veterans’ Nursing Home
Kay Maley, Interim Administrator
(850) 747-5401
4419 Tram Road, Springfield, FL 32404
Douglas T. Jacobson State Veterans’ Nursing Home
Jocelyn Wurster, Administrator
(941) 613-0919
21281 Grayton Terrace, Port Charlotte, FL 33954
Clyde E. Lassen State Veterans’ Nursing Home
Heather Salerno, Administrator
(904) 940-2193
4650 State Road 16, St. Augustine, FL 32092
Ardie R. Copas State Veterans’ Nursing Home
Donna Rogers, Administrator
(772) 241-6132
13000 SW Tradition Parkway, Port St. Lucie, FL 34987
Alwyn C. Cashe State Veterans’ Nursing Home
Maria Griffin, Administrator
(407) 741-4613
5255 Raymond Street, Orlando, FL 32814
Florida Relay Service:
Through the Florida Relay Service, people who use specialized telephone equipment can communicate with those who use standard telephones. To call Florida Relay, dial 7-1-1, or use the appropriate toll free numbers:
- 1-800-955-8771 (TTY)
- 1-800-955-8770 (Voice)
- 1-877-955-8773 (Spanish)
- 1-877-955-8707 (French Creole)
En Español
Para obtener información y ayuda sobre beneficios de veteranos, contactar Dennys Massanet, Dennys.Massanet@FDVA.FL.GOV, al (407) 615-0111.
VA releases health care benefit application for Spanish-speaking Veterans
Aug. 8, 2018
WASHNGTON — The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs released the Spanish version of the application for health benefits, as part of VA’s effort to simplify and improve the health care enrollment process for veterans.
The new language version implements the VA Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans’ recommendation to provide Spanish versions of the application and instructions.
According to the National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics, the number of living veterans who identify as being Hispanic or Latino, as of Sept. 30, 2017, is nearly 1.5 million people. More than half a million veterans already enrolled in the VA health care system self-identify as Hispanic or Latino.
The form is available at VA medical facilities and online at https://www.va.gov/vaforms/medical/pdf/10-10EZ_Spanish.pdf
Veterans can apply for VA health care benefits online at https://www.va.gov/health-care/how-to-apply/; by telephone at 877-222-VETS (877-222-8387) between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. (EST) Monday through Friday; at a VA health care facility; or by completing a hard copy of the form and mailing it to Health Eligibility Center, 2957 Clairmont Road, Suite 200, Atlanta, GA 30329-1647.