LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Gov. Mike Beebe has named a retired colonel with the Arkansas National Guard as the next director of the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs.
Beebe picked Cissy Rucker as the agency's next director. She'll replace Dave Fletcher, who announced his resignation Monday. Fletcher stepped down after state auditors questioned the agency's expenditures.
Rucker spent 33 years with the Arkansas National Guard before retiring with the rank of colonel. She is a member of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Committee, along with the Women's International Helicopter Pilots Association.
The governor says he's grateful Rucker is willing to postpone her retirement to take over as the agency's director. Beebe says Rucker will rescind her state retirement status and not receive retirement benefits while at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
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