New York Legionnaire picked to lead state's veterans division

From her time as a student veteran at Mercy College, to positions as the director of Military & Veteran Affairs and adjunct professor at Concordia College, and commissioner of the Mount Vernon Veteran Service Agency, New York Legionnaire Viviana DeCohen has received acclaim and awards for her efforts in creating programs that assist her fellow veterans.

Those efforts drew the attention of many, including former New York Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul. So, when Hochul took over as governor and last fall was looking for a director of the New York State Division of Veterans' Services, her office made a call to DeCohen. And on Nov. 9, the offer became official, and DeCohen accepted.

“I got the phone call from her chief of staff – ‘the governor wants you to come in. Won’t you come in?’” DeCohen said. “I almost couldn’t believe it. And I got in there, and it felt overwhelming. But at the same time, it just feels so right.  

A member of American Legion Post 1038 in Valhalla, N.Y., DeCohen served in the U.S. Marines from 1983-1987. She earned a bachelor’s degree in behavioral science and a master’s degree in health service management from Mercy College, where she earned the nickname “Mama V” while establishing a veteran’s center and two programs – “Operation Buddy Up” and “Operation Push” – that give struggling students the assistance they need to earn their undergraduate and graduate degrees.

DeCohen has gone on to multiple leadership positions in both the education and government sectors, while also serving as associate pastor at Mount Vernon Heights Congregational Church.

At Concordia College, DeCohen started an On-Campus Resource Program to ensure student veterans have access to food, shelter, clothing and more. And in Mount Vernon, one of her programs was Kristyn’s Closet, which is filled with shoes, clothes, food and Girl Scout cookies available to veterans in need.

DeCohen said she first met Hochul – and realized her strong support for veterans –during an event at Concordia College. Hochul attended two events at the college “and then she started tracking what I was doing,” DeCohen said. “Things were progressing very quickly (at Concordia College), and … what the college had expected for the next three to five years, we did it inside of 10 months.”

That led to DeCohen taking over as the commissioner of the Mount Vernon Veteran Service Agency; when she did so, she received a letter of congratulations from Hochul.

DeCohen returned the gesture, sending a similar note to Hochul when she took over as New York governor. Included in the note was a thank you for Hochul’s support for the state’s veterans. A few months later, DeCohen was offered her new position.

In announcing the appointment of DeCohen and Dr. Chinazo O. Cunningham as Commissioner, Office of Addiction Services and Supports, Hochul said, "We are building a top tier team to lead state agencies and deliver high quality services for New Yorkers. Dr. Cunningham and Rev. DeCohen are outstanding leaders who will lift these agencies to new heights … These are experienced, talented individuals, and I look forward to working with them."

Now, her focus is assisting the veterans of her state, many of which she said still are dealing with the impact of the pandemic.

“Right now, because of COVID, the biggest (issue is) still, unfortunately, food insecurity. And it’s not just veterans,” DeCohen said. “I had walking into my office when I was at Mount Vernon active duty who said ‘I’m an active-duty recruiter with an extended family in a very large home, with a mortgage and taxes, and everyone else in my house lost their job, except for me. By any chance do you have baby formula?’

“And diapers. We had lines and lines of cars with diapers being donated at the diaper bank. And we were giving out diapers, and we were turning people away … people who said ‘we ran through our savings. We went through our 401(k). Their baby is wearing a towel or a pillowcase because there’s no more money for diapers. COVID has created a real emergency, and not just for our veterans, but for active duty and for people at large.”

DeCohen said despite leaving the military in 1987, she was never asked to join The American Legion. “I’ve always been asked to be a speaker (at events) at so many posts,” she said. “(Post 1038) was the first time. I met (Post 1038 Commander John) Creskey. I shook his hand. He introduced me to his wife. And I knew that whatever he was involved in, I wanted to be there. And ever since then, whenever veterans approach me, I ask them, ‘Are you a member of The American Legion?’ That’s the first thing that I do.

“People don’t realize that for the veteran the service never ends. The love of country, family and then community. Many veterans discount what they’re doing in the community because service is second nature to them.”

DeCohen said organizations like The American Legion are vital in her state agency carrying out its mission. “It’s impossible without the partners,” she said. “The American Legion and our partners there – and I have to shine a light on our American Legion Auxiliary and what they do – those partnerships are critical. The American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary, they have brought the light when there has been darkness for so long and in so many people’s eyes. It’s a partnership that I’m looking forward to blossoming across the state.”