United States Department of Veterans Affairs

Advisory Committee on Women Veterans

The Advisory Committee on Women Veterans (ACWV) was established and  chartered in November 1983 by Public Law 98-160.  The Advisory Committee on Women Veterans assesses the needs of women veterans, with respect to VA programs such as compensation, rehabilitation, outreach, healthcare, etc.  The Committee reviews VA's programs, activities, research projects and other initiatives designed to meet the needs of women veterans; and makes recommendations to the Secretary on ways to improve, modify, and affect change in programs and services for women veterans and follows up on all those recommendations.   

  • Shirley Ann Quarles, (Chair), McCormick , SC.   Colonel, U.S. Army Reserve, Nurse Corps; currently a professor at Medical College of Georgia’s School of Nursing .
  • Matrice Browne, M.D., Olney , MD.   A retired Army Colonel; currently in private practice, specializing in women’s health and gynecology-- from adolescent to post menopausal care--to include surgical management of gynecological problems and preventative care.  She also serves as adjunct assistant professor of obstetrics/gynecology at two universities.
  • René A. Campos, Washington, D.C.   A retired Navy Commander; currently serves as the Deputy Director of Family Matters, Government Relations, Military Officers Association of America (MOAA).
  • Helena R. Carapellatti, Upper Marlboro, MD.   A retired Chief Master Sergeant, Air National Guard; currently tutors with the Literacy Council of Prince George’s County and owns a business with her spouse. 
  • Davy Coke, Poway , CA .  A retired Navy Second Class Petty Officer with service in Vietnam ; currently contributes as a trainer/mentor for new service members in the aerospace field.
  • Val erie Cortazzo, Pittsburgh  , PA.   A former Navy administrative assistant and former employee of the Pittsburgh VA Health Care System; currently serves as an advocate for Veterans in southwestern Pennsylvania, specializing in mental health and women’s issues.
  • Karen S. Etzler, Amazonia , MO.   A former U.S. Air Force pneudraulic aircraft mechanic and personal affairs counselor; currently serves as a Veterans service officer/counselor and the women Veteran coordinator/counselor for the Missouri Veterans Commission. 
  • Lindsay M. Long, Knoxville  , TN.    A former Marine aviation electronics technician trainee; currently works as a chemical operator for a private contractor, and serves as the American Indian representative for the Department of Energy’s Native American Committee. 
  • Gloria Maser, Alexandria , VA.   Colonel, U.S. Army Reserves; former Deputy Chief of Staff Health Affairs, Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq; currently serves as a Principal for a strategy and technology organization.
  • Gundel M. E. Metz, Madison , WI .  A retired   Army Sergeant First Class; currently serves as a Women Veterans Coordinator for the State of Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • Barbara Ward, Sacramento , CA .  A former Air Force staff nurse; currently serves as the Deputy Secretary for Women and Minority Veterans Affairs for the California Department of Veterans Affairs. 
  • Kayla Williams, Ashburn , VA.   A former Army interpreter, with service in Iraq; currently employed as a project associate in a private research organization, conducting research and analysis on intelligence, defense, military, and Veterans’ issues.