Committee recommends confirmation of John F. Scott II to lead Arizona Department of Veterans Services

The Arizona Senate Committee on Director Nominations unanimously recommended that the full Senate confirm John Francis Scott II as director of the Arizona Department of Veterans Services (ADVS) after a hearing on April 17 that included Scott’s opening statement, committee questions and multiple supportive public witnesses.

Scott outlined a decade of work with veterans’ programs in Arizona and earlier experience with U.S. Vets in California. He described operational work as ADVS deputy director and acting director, including construction and expansion of veterans cemeteries, the development of two new veterans homes, growth of veteran benefit counselors, work to reduce veteran homelessness, and management of budgets up to approximately $86.9 million.

Committee members asked Scott about priorities, hiring practices, outreach to rural veterans and use of technology. Scott said his primary near‑term goal is to increase census at the state veterans homes so they operate in the black and provide stable, five‑star care; he described workforce challenges, especially nursing shortages, as a key constraint on expanding census. Scott said ADVS has grown its veteran benefit counselor team and cited examples of retroactive benefits awarded to veterans’ families after ADVS appeals or assistance.

Scott described outreach efforts that include in‑community events and a program to deploy Starlink units to rural areas to enable veteran benefit counselors to assist claimants remotely, and said ADVS is exploring artificial intelligence tools to improve claims handling efficiency.

Public testimony was uniformly supportive. Veterans leaders and nonprofit directors—Thomas Winkle, Terry Grama (Arment), Vic Peterson, Ted Vogt and others—testified that Scott has shown consistent, hands‑on leadership and that he has strong working relationships with veteran service organizations and federal VA medical centers. Several speakers said Scott’s experience rebuilding programs for homeless veterans and expanding service capacity makes him qualified to lead ADVS.

After public testimony the committee voted to recommend confirmation. The roll call recorded five ayes, zero nays; the committee chair announced the recommendation to the full Senate.

Scott said his vision is to ensure no veteran spends a night without housing and to expand the department’s ability to address underlying causes of veteran housing instability by coordinating benefits, health care and employment services. He told the committee he considers himself a servant leader and emphasized succession planning within the department’s hiring process.

The committee’s recommendation will be transmitted to the full Senate for final confirmation.