NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – U.S. Army veteran Keith Boylan of Winters, Calif., has been appointed deputy secretary of veteran services at the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet).

Boylan has been government relations liaison at the California Association of Veteran Service Agencies since 2012 and government relations and community education manager at the Institute for Veteran Policy since 2008.

He was owner and operator of Boylan Window Fashions from 2004 to 2008 and Gulf War program coordinator at Swords to Plowshares from 1998 to 2003.

Boylan was a tactical fire specialist in the U.S. Army from 1989 to 1992. He is a member of the American Legion and of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

“Keith brings a wealth of valuable experience to this position,” said CalVet Secretary Peter J. Gravett. “His work with the California Association of Veteran Service Agencies and the Institute for Veteran Policy will be especially helpful as the Department works to create additional avenues through which veterans and veteran families can connect with the benefits they are entitled to.”

Deputy Secretary for Minority Veterans Affairs Lee Gutierrez, who has been also Acting Deputy Secretary for Veterans Services, will return to devoting his time exclusively to minority veterans issues.