Public Information

Name

WRIGHT, WANDA ARLENE

Class

2023

Biography

Born in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1963, Wanda Wright began her military career at the US Air Force Academy in 1981. Following her commissioning in 1985, her first assignment was Deputy Budget Officer, Tactical Air Command in South Carolina. In 1990, Wanda transitioned to the Arizona Air National Guard, retiring in 2011 as Director of Staff. From 2015 to 2023, she was appointed by former Governor Doug Ducey to lead the Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services. Wanda’s accomplishments included building two Veteran Homes in Flagstaff and Yuma, building two cemeteries at Camp Navajo and Marana and expanding one in Sierra Vista. Even more remarkable were Wanda Wright’s innovations in programs for Veterans: the Be Connected Program focusing on reducing suicide; Women Veteran Expo events statewide; and Veteran Toolkits to assist veteran jobseekers, to just name a few.