The New York State Division of Veterans' Affairs was created in 1945 as part of the Executive Department with the task of assisting World War II service men and women with readjustment from the military to civilian life.

To provide quality service, advocacy and counseling for New York State Veterans and their families to ensure they receive benefits granted by law for their service to New York and the Nation.

Colonel (Retired) James D. McDonough, Jr. was appointed Director of the New York State Division of Veterans’ Affairs on Veterans’ Day, 2007. Colonel (Retired) McDonough was commissioned an Air Defense Artillery Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School, Class 1-82 on March 11, 1982. Following graduation he attended the Air Defense Artillery Officer Basic Course, Improved Hawk Weapons Course and the Air Defense Command and Control Course at Fort Bliss, Texas. He is a graduate of the Army’s Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia. His first assignment was as Platoon Leader, Battery C, 1st Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery Regiment, Fulda, Germany. Following a stint as Brigade Electronic Counter-Counter Measures Training Officer, 10th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, Darmstadt, Germany, he returned to Fort Bliss, Texas, to attend the Air Defense Artillery Officer Advance Course and PATRIOT Weapons Course. Upon graduation he returned to Germany and assumed command of Battery A, 4th Battalion, 3rd Air Defense Artillery, Giessen, Germany, where he commanded for twenty-nine months. Following command, he was selected to participate in the Army’s Advanced Civil Schooling Program at Indiana State University where he earned an M.A. in Communications. Following graduate school he was assigned as Strategic Planner in the Office of the Chief of Public Affairs and then Speechwriter to the Secretary of the Army, the Honorable Togo D. West, The Pentagon, and Washington, DC. From 1995-1996 he served as Battalion Operations and later, Executive Officer, for 1st Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, Suwon, Republic of Korea. Following Korea, he reported to the Joint Staff, Operations Directorate, for three years. COL McDonough was selected to command the 3rd Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, Fort Bliss, Texas, where he commanded from 1999-2001. In 2001 he was selected to attend the United States Army War College, Centennial Class, and Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Following the Army War College he was assigned to the United States Military Academy, West Point, as Professor of Outreach, the Simon Center for the Professional Military Ethic. In 2003 Colonel (Retired) McDonough deployed as G3, Current Operations Officer, 32d Army Air and Missile Defense Command, Camp Doha, Kuwait, for OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM. Upon return, he was assigned as Inspector General for the New York National Guard, in Albany, New York, where he served for three years. Upon retirement and following 26 years of service, he became the Director of Veterans Employment and Training Service in the United States Department of Labor.

Colonel (Retired) McDonough was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Legion of Merit Medal (w/1OLC), Defense Meritorious Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (w/2OLC), Joint Staff Commendation Medal (w/1OLC), Army Commendation Medal (w/5OLC), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, the Korean Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the Army Service Medal, and Overseas Service Ribbon (w/2OLC). During his service he wore the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge, the Army Staff Identification Badge, and Parachutist Badge.

He is married to the former Barbara Joan Schehr of Saratoga Springs, New York. Together they have three children, Matthew, a professional engineer based in New York, Andrew, a college sophomore, and Nicholas, a sixth-grader. The McDonough’s reside in Wilton, New York. Director McDonough is a member of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and the American Legion, Horace D. Washburn Post 533, Corinth, New York.