City of Detroit names Kwesi Betserai as first ever Veteran Affairs Manager

• First Veteran Affairs Manager in City of Detroit history

Mayor Mike Duggan and Council Members Mary Waters and Scott Benson authorized by resolution on an executive-level Veterans Affairs division, to be housed under the City’s Civil Rights, Inclusion & Opportunity Department.

This office will work to connect Detroit’s veterans and military personnel to the benefits and resources they need and have earned while serving their country. “Our first order of business was to hire a Veterans Affairs Manager to spearhead strategies to inform our communities about the resources available to them,” said Anthony Zander, Director of Civil Rights, Inclusion & Opportunity. “These resources can include connecting citizens with benefits, enhancing access to services such as jobs, housing, education, health care, digital equity and more,” added Zander.

In late February, Zander hired Kwesi Betserai, as the Veterans Affairs Manager - the city's first Veterans Affairs leader. Betserai is a veteran with over 28 years of military service. He’s an advocate for veterans, their spouses and dependents. His military experience includes tours in Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. He has served in various roles at Company, Battalion and Brigade levels.  His military branches include Military Police, Field Artillery and Logistics.  Previous roles include serving as a Military Transition Team leader, Commander, Civil Affairs Officer, Logistician and Anti-Terrorism Officer serving in the Middle East.

In his previous role with the Wayne County Veterans Services Division, Betserai served as the Director responsible for providing services to approximately 84,500 veterans in Wayne County. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Memphis, and a master’s in business administration from American Military University. Betserai is also an avid runner, a member of Black Men Run Detroit, 100 Black Men of Greater Detroit and the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

“My primary focus during my first few months in CRIO is to listen,” said Betserai. “I am a data guy, so I’m driven by the numbers that tell me who and where our veterans are, what they need and how I can connect them with our services. My office will set up a series of “meet & greet” events and town hall-style sessions so that we can draft a strategic plan to serve this dynamic, yet underserved community,” Betserai added.

The Veteran’s Affairs division is part of the Civil Rights, Inclusion & Opportunity Department (CRIO). Other divisions within CRIO are Civil Rights, Incentives Compliance, Construction Outreach, Communications & Engagement, Policy & Data, Detroit Business Opportunity Program, Language Access Program and the Office of Disability Affairs and the Office of Cannabis Affairs.