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WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Mary M. Kolar is the Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs. She serves as the chief advocate for over 340,000 veterans in Wisconsin and their families. As Secretary, she is responsible for the leadership and management of the WDVA, including strategic and longrange planning initiatives that align with the department’s vision.
Secretary Kolar served 28 years on active duty in the U.S. Navy retiring as a Captain (O6). She holds master’s degrees in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College and Adult Education from the University of Rhode Island. She also earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
A commitment to our nation runs through Secretary Kolar’s family, with her grandfather, father and four brothers all serving in the military. She and her husband, Scott, also a Navy veteran, reside in Madison, Wisconsin. They have two children; Matthew currently serves in the Navy, and Jamie is a firefighter.
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Updated: 20 October 2022