The Amputee Coalition has elected combat wounded war veteran Ron Drach to serve a three-year term on the organization’s board of directors. He begins his term immediately.
After losing his right leg as a result of combat wounds in Vietnam, Drach left the U.S. Army in 1967 with a Purple Heart. He worked for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for two-and-a-half years, then joined the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) staff in 1970. He became the organization’s national employment director in 1975-the first Vietnam veteran to achieve a director position. After leaving the DAV, Drach was employed by the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS). Most recently, he served as director of government and legislative affairs, working on all legislative employment issues that affect the DOL, the VA, and the Department of Defense (DoD).
Drach has provided input into America’s response to the needs of veterans affected by post-traumatic stress disorder, homelessness, racial and gender discrimination, and other socio-economic issues. He has appeared before congressional committees, working for legislative change. He has also served on the governing boards of the President’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities, and the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans. He is immediate past president of the Wounded Warrior Project board of directors and continues as a board member. He was appointed by the Secretary of Defense to serve on DoD’s Recovering Warrior Task Force.
“We are honored to welcome Ron to the Amputee Coalition. He brings a wealth of personal and professional experience both as a combat wounded retired Army infantryman and as one of the nation’s foremost authorities on employment issues affecting persons living with disabilities,” said Kendra Calhoun, president and CEO of the Amputee Coalition. “We look forward to his input as we expand our programs in the areas of employment and community reintegration.”
