State Veterans Agency Gets New Chief
SACRAMENTO — Gov. George Deukmejian on Tuesday appointed Jesse G. Ugalde, a highly decorated hero whose military career spanned World War II and Vietnam, as director of the state Department of Veterans Affairs.
Ugalde, 63, of San Diego, a retired Army colonel and former Green Beret, succeeded Andres Mendez, whom Deukmejian fired Dec. 6 a few hours after Mendez was fined $10,000 for various political offenses, including pocketing contributions he raised for the governor’s 1982 campaign.
As director of veterans affairs, whose primary task is to administer the multimillion-dollar farm and home loan program for California veterans, Ugalde, a Republican, will be paid $65,100 a year. The appointment is subject to Senate confirmation.
The governor’s office said that as a young lieutenant serving in Sicily, Ugalde received a battlefield promotion to captain from Gen. George S. Patton following a hard-fought battle against the Germans.
During his 33 years in the Army, he was awarded two Silver Stars for heroism, three Purple Hearts, two Legions of Merit, four Bronze Stars and four Air Medals. He served in the Korean War and in Vietnam.
Currently, Ugalde is a partner in a private security patrol company.
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