Thursday, June 23, 2022

Mississippi VA Board Appoints New Director

The Mississippi VA Board issued the following statement. 

The Mississippi Veterans Affairs Board has appointed Mark Smith as the Agency's new Executive Director. Smith was hired as Deputy Director of MSVA in April 2022 and most recently served as the Agency's interim Executive Director.

"I am honored to serve Mississippi's 186,000 Veterans through our mission programs," said Smith. "With a great team already in place, we will continue to provide superior service, care and assistance to America's heroes."

Smith, a Veteran, served in the United States Army and Mississippi National Guard from 1976 to 2006, retiring with the rank of Colonel. He received his undergraduate degree (Bachelor of Business Administration) from William Carey University and his master's degree (Master of Business Administration) from Mississippi College.

Smith has served over 16 years in state government at multiple agencies, including the Mississippi Department of Child Protective Services (Deputy Commissioner), Mississippi Department of Archives and History (Personnel Director), and Mississippi Department of Human Services (Deputy Executive Director).


44 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is a great pick. Mark will be an excellent director.

Anonymous said...

I appreciate his service, but what a gig.

He's got an 0-6 military pension, and he's within sight of the finish line for a good ole PERS annuity with a high 4 somewhere in the mid-100s.

Some folks have it rough. I hope he left MDHS far behind.

Anonymous said...

I hope this selection is a man of high moral character-

Anonymous said...

Will he bring the doctors back from the border and make them work where they are supposed to work? I haven't been able to see a doctor since covid was a baby.

Anonymous said...

I don't know Mark. I have heard good things about him. So I hope this is a good decision that will serve the veterans well.

I'm still flabbergasted that someone was ignorant enough to hire Stacey Pickering in the first place.

Anonymous said...

11:07? Care to explain a little more? I have had plenty of Dr. visits at the Jackson VA (which really has nothing to do with MS VA).

Anonymous said...

@ 11;07; He Heads the Mississippi Veterans Affairs Board which has no effect on the Federal VA who took the Doc's on a trip south.

Unknown said...

I hear good things about him.

Anonymous said...

So no competitive process just a unilateral selection

Anonymous said...

I hear good things about him.

Anonymous said...

Must have missed the job posting

Anonymous said...

Hope he cleans house. The CFO was smart enough to exit that dumpster fire

Yossarian said...

Wow, this was done in secret? Their attorney needs a lesson in public meetings. You can’t post blank agendas

Anonymous said...

11:21AM, I go to the Jackson VA, or I used to. I haven't seen a doctor since one of mine left the VA over two years ago. Went to the emergency room and got kicked out. Don't even know the name of my doctor since mine left the VA.
Last thing I heard Joe sent all of the doctors to the border to care for the illegals. I do know you can't speak to one on the phone. You can not even speak to a live person. I would have better care if i would have stayed in Nam.

Anonymous said...

Just guessing he won't have his assistant bent over the desk.

Anonymous said...

A fine human being and true public servant. Excellent choice.

Anonymous said...

Will he have access to the same perks (wink, wink) as the former director?

Anonymous said...

What's the matter 10:40, you weren't smart enough to start planning your career out in your 20's???? Too bad on you.

Mark Smith was the type commander every soldier wishes they served under. He is a no nonsense man who is fair and above reproach. He is smart, level headed and was a commander to apply common sense to situations. He will look you in the eye and tell the truth, even if it's not what you want to hear.

If he called me today and told me he needed me go on a mission with him, I gladly pack my bags to go without any explanation of where we were going and what we'd be doing.

I glad he saw what a train wreck MDHS was and left. As I was nearing the end my career in the military, he called to talk to me about my future plans and offered me advice, which I took to heart. That's the kind of man he is.

Mississippi state government leadership could stand to have another 500 just like him!

Anonymous said...

Didn’t consult the leadership on that homes or cemeteries. Tone deaf

Anonymous said...

12:04 what don't you get about the difference between the VA ( Federal control) and the MISSISSIPPI VETERANS AFFAIRS (MSVA)?

I will write it slow, so you can read it slow: The MSVA Doesn't Have Anything To Do With The VA Hospital. (State controlled)

I call BS on all your talk. I've there 3 (would have been 4, but I rescheduled one appointment) times in the last two weeks and I saw & talked to all my providers...... Yesterday I had a future appointment that conflicted with non-VA appointment. Called to reschedule, on hold 5 minutes, TALKED to a real person and got new appointment one day later than original!!!

Two weeks ago, got letter that my primary provider had left the VA, gave name of my new provider and new appointment date for a face to face 1st time consult......

Wonder what your real problem is.......I have a good idea after reading your
"Nam" statement.

Anonymous said...

This board is executing the “do it all wrong at full speed” play book

Anonymous said...

I guess there weren’t any other veterans who wished to be considered

jb said...

Mark Smith is a perfect choice. I had the pleasure of working for him. He is a great leader.

Anonymous said...

"This is a great pick. He will be an excellent director. This is a great pick. He will be an excellent director."

Is it my failed hearing or is there an echo in here? That's the same thing we heard when Pickering's appointment was announced just a few years ago.

Anonymous said...

These selection people just ain't come around to 'woke' yet. Give 'em time.

Anonymous said...

Note to the man having problems with the VA hospital in Jackson. I also had some of the same problems. Two of my doctors quit the VA. One said she couldn't continue to work in a place that treated the veterans like the Jackson VA did. I had problems getting prescriptions filled. My doctor didn't believe me and tried calling the pharmacy from her office. She couldn't get an answer. I found a way to get my medication by accident. I had been calling all day long. It was after 4:30 PM and all the phones at Jackson VA were not being answered. My call was transferred to a VA in Arkansas. The filled my prescription and said if I ever needed help to call them. I do not call the Jackson VA for prescriptions now. Mine comes from another VA.

For the person who answered your post. That person is probably one of the doctors that have not been to the VA for work in over a year. He or she is probably setting at home collecting a paycheck.

Anonymous said...

Why wasn’t the position posted and a competitive interview for all qualified candidates conducted? The MSVA Board has once again dodged their responsibilities. Reeves needs to replace the Board. No disrespect to Mark but there are other qualified veterans available that were interested in the position. Mark was there when Pickering was monkeying around with his assistant but he said nothing about it.

Anonymous said...

Veteran Affairs is long overdue adult leadership. That so called team of high paid clowns was a circus and Pickering was the circus master. I wish Mr. Smith the best of luck

Anonymous said...

Well 4:34 & 6:08, Pickering was a politician and presented a profile for people to see. People knew, but decided to keep quite.

Mark Smith may have know about the side chick, but doesn't play politics and use dirty politics to advance his career. He does his job and does it well and lets that speak for him

6:08, it doesn't need to be posted. It is a will and pleasure position and there is no guarantee for it to last more than a week. I sure other candidates there were recommended and wanted it, but I'd bet Mark smith had way more positive points considering his education level, background handling finances.
If he'd not been selected, he'd still be there tomorrow doing his job and working to get the choice up to speed.

My guess if you were in the position you'd do the same thing and accept the job. So why didn't you throw your hat in the ring? Riddle us that hotshot!!

Anonymous said...

@6:54

There was no ring to throw a hat in. Why don’t you act like a pro and respond to media requests.

Anonymous said...

@12:22 and others in support. I appreciate your comments. My father was career military and served under Col. Smith for well over a decade (if I recall correctly). I also have worked with Veterans in various clinical and forensic roles for over two decades now, and I have colleagues that have worked with him in some capacity after his military service. I have never heard anything but accolades about his character from anyone that ever worked with or served under his leadership. I also met him early in my academic pursuits and near the time of my father’s death, and I agree 100% with all the positive comments. I have decades of unsolicited data from many sources that affirm the same positive impressions given here, and I am thrilled to see he was chosen. Every soldier I know that worked with or under him feels the same as you stated. IMO, bloggers can speculate and naysay all they wish. I don’t think there could have been a better selection.

Anonymous said...

Mark Smith won't be able to excel until he cleans house. There are still several snakes slithering around that Admin office left over from the Pickering reign of foolishness. Pickering is too dumb to get away with all he did so common sense tells you he had help carrying out his corruption. There's a lot more that went on than just an affair.

Anonymous said...

Smith gets to benefit from the hard work of one person who modernized that agency, built out its programming, built out its social platforms, designed its data driven systems, and built up the staff. That person is not Pickering

Anonymous said...

@6:41 am

Case in point, I have never seen a state employee get a $10K year over year raise 3 years in a row.

https://www.openthebooks.com/members/employer-detail/?Id=92930&tab=1&F_Name_S=Palmer&Year_S=0

Anonymous said...

@6:41 Dude, it's Stacey Pickering we are talking about. Of course there is a lot more that went on than just an affair. I wouldn't hire that clown to run a subdivision corner lemonade stand. He's a snake oil salesman. He is the worst of the worst. He's not just a bad leader and employee. He's a bad person.

I don't know Mark Smith. but I've heard good things about him, so I'm hopeful this is a good hire that can get things going in the correct direction. I want to see him, and the agency, be successful. I hope he works hard and improves everything daily.

Anonymous said...

To be fair, Stacey did many great things for the MSVA agency.

Anonymous said...

Stacey made a mockery of veterans. The only great things he initiated were things he could personally profit from. Wake up people. It's time out for defending wrong doing

Anonymous said...

@3:11 “many great things” such as stealing 205 days/$118,260 of leave time from the state during his tenure? Not to mention, the affair, huge raises given to the paramour and blatant workforce retaliation against his employees for exposure of his “great” accomplishments. As stated earlier, “to be fair”, he made a mockery of the MSVA agency.

Anonymous said...

The real question is what will Pickering pretend to next? Surgeon? Dentist? River Boat Captain?

Anonymous said...

So he was hired in April as the deputy without an announcement then hired in June as the executive director without an announcement?

So what is the board trying to hide? Who is he protecting?


Why not announce the job and find the most qualified individual? If you limit your talent pool to one person how have you done your job as a board?

Anonymous said...

MS Veterans Affairs Board is a “public body” with a track record of abusing the open meetings act. The Board and the agency is in desperate need of competent leadership, especially considering that every competent person in the leadership whose rapid rise and bloated salary was tied to enabling Pickering has now jumped ship.

Veterans of Mississippi deserve better!

Anonymous said...

Who is advising this Board on legal matters? Does he or she have a license to practice law? Can I mail him or her a code book?

Anonymous said...

CORRECTION:

MS Veterans Affairs Board is a “public body” with a track record of abusing the open meetings act. The Board and the agency is in desperate need of competent leadership, especially considering that every competent person in the leadership whose rapid rise and bloated salary was NOT tied to enabling Pickering has now jumped ship. 

Veterans of Mississippi deserve better!

Anonymous said...

@3:11 pm

Face it, Stacey Pickering will be remembered, if at all, for an RV and an affair. It’s unfortunate he didn’t join the two for a clever bumper sticker



Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.