Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs (ADVA) commissioner Kent Davis resigned on Monday, effective December 31.
Mike Lewis, a spokesman for Gov. Kay Ivey, said Davis met with Ivey and members of her senior staff on Monday afternoon. During the meeting, he submitted his resignation as commissioner to Ivey.
"Caring for our country's veterans is something I have been passionate about throughout my life, and especially throughout my tenure as lieutenant governor and now as governor. Alabama veterans are a priority for the Ivey Administration, and we cannot let anything stand in the way of their care. Our meeting with Commissioner Davis today was respectful, frank, and informative, with both sides gaining new perspective and insight about the challenges each of us face in fulfilling our respective roles," Ivey said. "I appreciate Commissioner Davis's record of service as Commissioner, and I appreciate him doing the right thing for our state and the future of the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs. As I have said before, we have important work to continue doing, and I want to see nothing get in the way of us remaining focused on the thing that truly matters here – improving veterans' care."
Brandon Miller, an ADVA spokesman, told 1819 News “Today, Commissioner Kent Davis had a very cordial and informative meeting with Governor Ivey and her senior staff."
"This matter has been resolved to the mutual benefit of all parties and we are all looking forward to the dedication of the Command Sgt. Maj. Bennie G. Adkins State Veterans Home in Enterprise on Friday," Miller said.
Wayne Reynolds, a State Board of Education member and Alabama State president of the Vietnam Veterans of America, told 1819 News, "I understand that Admiral Davis has resigned and I know Admiral Davis well enough to know that he puts the veterans above himself."
"We military people always say service above self. If he resigned, he resigned in order to better the quality of services all veterans get from the Department of Veterans Affairs and I wish him the best and he is in my prayers and thoughts," Reynolds said.
As a result of Davis' resignation, Ivey canceled the special meeting of the State Board of Veterans Affairs set for Tuesday afternoon to consider Davis' removal. Lewis said the governor will work with her fellow members of the State Board of Veterans Affairs to make appropriate preparations for filling the position of commissioner when it becomes vacant at the end of this year.
Ivey asked for Davis' resignation on Thursday effective September 30 and removed John Kilpatrick from the Alabama State Board of Veterans Affairs. In the resignation request, Ivey said the agency mishandled an ARPA grant program. Davis had previously declined to resign and said in a statement on Friday, "I respectfully disagree with the inaccurate claims made against the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs."
Davis filed an ethics complaint against Alabama Department of Mental Health (ADMH) commissioner Kim Boswell in August for allegedly preventing ADVA from obtaining $7 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. The Alabama Ethics Commission later dismissed the complaint.
Davis, who retired from the Navy with the rank of Rear Admiral, has served as ADVA commissioner since 2019.
Multiple Alabama veterans organizations opposed Davis' removal.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email caleb.taylor@1819News.com.
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