Wisconsin Board of Veterans Affairs
Daniel J. Naylor

Biography

Dan Naylor, of Waupaca, was appointed to the Wisconsin Board of Veterans Affairs for a six-year term ending May 1, 2013. He was elected as the Board Chair on September 17, 2010 and reelected February 11, 2011. He previously served as Chair of the Long Term Care Committee and as Vice Chair of the Finance Committee.

Dan is a Vietnam era veteran, having served on active duty in the U.S. Army from 1971 to 1973, primarily at Fort Hood, Texas as a Military Police Officer and Correctional Specialist. He was on standby reserve status until his honorable discharge in 1977. Dan was awarded the Army Commendation Medal. In 1973, Dan began his veterans’ service as a work study student with Vets for Vets on the UW-Madison campus. In 1974 Dan assisted in the establishment of Vets House, a service center for Vietnam era Veterans in Madison. During his tenure at Vets House, Dan helped expand the incarcerated veterans outreach program as well as the development of the Attic Correctional Halfway House, which he also directed. Naylor also testified before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs in Washington regarding the importance of Vets Centers similar to Vets House. Eventually over 240 Vets Centers have been developed nationwide. Dan helped create and direct Readjustment Counseling services for Vietnam era Veterans in seven northern Wisconsin counties and one county in the upper peninsula of Michigan under contract with the VA. Over the last 30 years Dan has been involved in supporting veteran’s activities throughout the state.

Dan is the owner of White Pine Consulting Service where he promotes collaborative efforts among public and private organizations in expanding community-based resources for children with special needs and their families. Naylor is a member of the American Legion, Vietnam Veterans of America and AMVETS. He received a master’s degree in Public Administration from UW Oshkosh.

Dan and his wife Mary, an Assistant Director for a Head Start agency, live in the Town of Farmington in Waupaca County and have three children. Their son Joe served in the U.S. Army as a Combat Medic including a year in the Anbar Province of Iraq and a year on the DMZ in Korea. Joe is currently a Disabled Veterans Outreach Program Representative for the Department of Workforce Development. Their daughter Laura served in the Wisconsin Army National Guard including 14 months as a Military Police Officer in Baghdad and is currently a teacher in Madison. Their youngest son Andrew served in the Peace Corps in South Africa working as an education specialist and is currently a teacher in Madison.

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