Cook County Department of Veterans Affairs Announces New Director
President Preckwinkle appoints Calvin Young to lead department
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle has appointed Calvin Young to lead the County’s Department of Veterans Affairs (CCVA). Young began his tenure yesterday as director of CCVA.
Young brings three decades of experience in the public and private sector as well as 20 concurrent years of service in the Illinois Army National Guard to his role with the department. Throughout his career, his experience has focused on military leadership, veteran advocacy, public service, strategic planning, organizational development, program management, partnership development and legislative engagement.
“I am pleased to welcome Calvin to Cook County and look forward to working with him to ensure our veterans, military service members and their families receive the resources, support and services they have earned,” said President Preckwinkle. “His decades of experience in military and public service, along with his experience building partnerships and advocating for veterans, will be valuable as we continue strengthening the County’s commitment to those who have served our nation.”
Young most recently served as program manager at Entrepreneurs Academy, providing entrepreneurial training in low-income, historically disinvested communities on the west and south sides and south suburbs of Chicago and developed programing for organizations including Chicago Urban League, Illinois Department of Human Services Teen REACH, Chicago Housing Authority, Bethel New Life Church and LifeHouse Group.
He also served as the executive director of the National Guard Association of Illinois, providing leadership for the state-wide military association representing more than 21,000 current and retired members. While there, Young directed strategic planning, organizational operations, board governance, legislative affairs, membership engagement and collaborative relationships with senior military leaders, elected officials, government agencies and community stakeholders. He also worked with the Illinois General Assembly to obtain benefits for Illinois active National Guard members and retirees.
As state partnership program manager for the Illinois Army National Guard, he strengthened strategic relationships with the Republic of Poland through military exchanges, collaboration with senior military and government officials and supported multi-national initiatives to promote regional security.
Young began his career in the Illinois Army National Guard where he served as an avionics radar specialist in his first role. He maintained advanced aviation radar and electronic systems requiring technical excellence, precision and disciplined execution. Years later, Young became an engineering officer supporting military readiness, infrastructure planning and multi-disciplinary project coordination.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus on e-Business from the University of Phoenix, and an executive Master of Business Administration from the University of Illinois Springfield. Young is currently completing a certificate in Business Applications of Artificial Intelligence from the University of Illinois Springfield as well.
Young and his wife reside in suburban Chicago near their two children and three grandchildren.