Schenectady committee confirms Marine Corps veteran as director of county veterans service agency

The Schenectady County Committee on Military Affairs and Veterans confirmed the appointment of Steve McCutcheon as director of the Schenectady County Veterans Service Agency during the June 10 meeting.

Steve McCutcheon, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and former military justice clerk who later served as a paralegal at the Washington Navy Yard, told the committee he views the role as a way to serve county veterans and help them navigate veterans’ benefits. “As a veteran myself, there's there's no greater thing that I can think of than serving our veterans,” McCutcheon said during his introduction.

Committee members praised McCutcheon’s background and cited his experience working in county government. Legislators noted about 7,000 veterans live in Schenectady County and said the office needs a director who can help veterans access benefits and services. The committee moved to confirm the appointment by motion and voice vote.

Separately, the committee considered MAV 2, a budget amendment that would add an additional veteran services officer (VSO) position in response to increased outreach and demand, particularly among female and younger veterans. County officials said the position would be internally posted and the county hopes an internal candidate will fill the slot. The budget amendment was reported to the full legislature for placement on the agenda.

The appointment is effective immediately; the budget amendment will proceed through the county’s standard legislative and budgetary review process.