Colonel Wanda Wright. Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services Director Wanda Wright is the third generation of her family to serve in the U.S. military. She has three decades of military experience. As a 1985 United States Air Force Academy graduate, Colonel Wright began her military career as Deputy Budget officer with the Tactical Air Command at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina with a follow-on assignment to Davis-Monthan AFB as the Budget Officer.

Leaving active duty in 1990, Colonel Wright joined the Arizona National Guard.  During the next 21 years, she served in various positions including accounting and finance officer, communications officer, executive officer and, finally, as the Director of Staff for the Adjutant General in Phoenix. Among her proudest achievements was to serve as Air Commander of Operation Jump Start from June 2006 – December 2008 during which she commanded more than 4,000 airmen from 52 states and territories on our Southwest border.

Colonel Wright holds a B.S. in Management from the U.S. Air Force Academy, a M.B.A from Webster University in South Carolina, a M.P.A. from the University of Arizona and an M.A. in Educational Leadership from Arizona State University.
Colonel Wright’s decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster and the Air Force Commendation Medal.

In 2018, Director Wright was appointed to the VA’s Advisory Committee on Women Veterans, an expert national panel that advises the secretary on issues and programs impacting women Veterans.

Senator Sonny Borrelli.  Senator Sonny Borrelli is retired USMC, GySgt (oorah!), and served in the Marines from 1977 to 1999.  He moved to Arizona in 2000.  Senator Borrelli is a former small business owner and served on the Lake Havasu City council from 2010-2012.

In 2012, Senator Borrelli was elected to the Arizona House of Representatives, where he served two terms and was the Chairman of the House Military Affairs & Public Safety Committee and Vice-Chair of the House Judiciary Committee.

Senator Borrelli was elected to the Arizona State Senate in 2016, where he served as Vice Chair of the Senate Government Committee and later as Chairman of the Government Committee.  He was also a member of the Appropriations Committee, Commerce & Public Safety Committee as well as the Senate Finance Committee.  In December 2017, Senator Borrelli was assigned to the Joint Legislative Income Tax Credit Review Committee. 

In 2018, Senator Borrelli was elected to his 2nd term at the Senate and was elected by his colleagues as Senate Majority Whip where among his duties, he presides over Majority Caucus.  He is Vice-Chair of the Senate Government Committee, and a member of both the Transportation & Public Service and the Judiciary Committees.  In 2018, Senator Borrelli was appointed to serve as a member of the Legislative Council Committee.