Ciscomani Honors Local Heroes at Fifth Veteran Servant Leader Awards, Meets with Veterans Advisory Council

Sierra Vista, AZ - Representative Juan Ciscomani spent time with local veterans this week, holding his fifth Veteran Servant Leader Award Ceremony in Sierra Vista and meeting with his Veterans Advisory Council to provide a legislative update and discuss the unique needs of veterans in Arizona's 6th Congressional District.

"It was an honor to host my fifth Veteran Servant Leader Award Ceremony overall and first in Sierra Vista to recognize 19 incredible veterans for their remarkable leadership, dedication, and continued service, and to award an outstanding civilian who has dedicated years to supporting our local veterans," said Rep. Juan Ciscomani. "The service of these veterans did not end when their time in uniform did. They continued to serve, lead, and make a lasting impact in our communities, and I am proud to recognize their contributions and the role they play in moving Southern Arizona forward. I was also grateful to meet with the Veterans Advisory Council this week to provide them with an update on how I am fighting for our veterans in Congress, and to hear firsthand the needs of our local veteran population. As I prepare to head back to Washington, I look forward to continuing to advocate for the men and women who have sacrificed so much for our country and community."

The congressman's fifth Veteran Servant Leader Awards, and first to be held in Sierra Vista, honored 17 local veterans who served in the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force for their continued service and leadership in their communities after leaving the Armed Forces.

The Veteran Servant Leader Award recognizes veterans for their remarkable contributions to their communities and their continued impact in moving Southern Arizona forward. Each honoree received a Veteran Servant Leader Award certificate and a challenge coin from Representative Ciscomani. Additionally, recipients who served in the Vietnam War received a Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pin in honor of their service.

Ciscomani also honored the first recipient of his Veteran Advocate Award, which recognizes civilians for their commitment to supporting and advocating for veterans throughout Southern Arizona.

Following the main Veteran Servant Leader Award ceremony, the congressman recognized two additional veterans who had each been nominated for the award two times but were unable to attend the event. He surprised Dr. Aaron Hannequin and Dr. Victoria Holtz at their Sierra Vista business, Doc's Watering Hole, to honor both individuals with the Veteran Servant Leader Award and thank them for their tremendous service to our nation and community. With these two veterans being honored, the congressman's Veteran Servant Leader Awards this week recognized a total of 19 veterans.

Sierra Vista Mayor Clea McCaa applauded Ciscomani's continued leadership and commitment to delivering for local veterans.

"Veterans in Sierra Vista and throughout Cochise County are at the very heart of our communities," said Mayor McCaa. "They play a major role in making this corner of Arizona a great place to live, work, raise a family and do business. I truly appreciate Representative Ciscomani's leadership in moving the needle for our veterans - from delivering better access to the services they have earned to expanding education and workforce opportunities. He is a champion for our veterans, and it is great to see him making that extra effort to recognize and celebrate their service."

The congressman's fifth Veteran Servant Leader Awards recognized 20 distinguished honorees:

• Mike Rutherford, Civilian, Veteran Advocate Award
• Brad Cottrell, U.S. Army
• Tom Gross, U.S. Army
• Dr. Randy Groth, U.S. Army
• Dale Hadfield, U.S. Army
• Dr. Aaron Hennequin, U.S. Army
• Dr. Victoria Holtz, U.S. Army
• Daryl Kling, U.S. Army
• Ray Larez, U.S. Navy, Vietnam Veteran
• Mayor Clea McCaa II, U.S. Army
• Nolan Robert, U.S. Army
• Dr. James Perey, U.S. Army
• Rodney Preuss, U.S. Army, Vietnam Veteran
• David Reno, U.S. Navy
• Ron Roberts, U.S. Army, Vietnam Veteran
• Wesley Sorce-Zirnheld, U.S. Air Force
• Eric Sudhoff, U.S. Navy
• Jericho Valle, U.S. Army
• Robert Wheeler, U.S. Marine Corps, Vietnam Veteran
• Oliver White, U.S. Air Force, Vietnam Veteran

Congressman Ciscomani has held four previous Veteran Servant Leader Awards, in October 2024, April 2025, November 2025, and most recently in May of this year.

In addition to honoring local veterans, the congressman also met with his Veterans Advisory Council this week to discuss the work he is doing in Congress to support and advocate for veterans in Southern Arizona, and to hear firsthand the priorities and needs of the local veteran population.

Ciscomani represents nearly 80,000 veterans in Arizona's 6th Congressional District and serves on the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Through congressional casework, Ciscomani and his team have returned more than $9 million to local veterans across the district. These funds were owed to veteran constituents but had become stuck in the bureaucracy of federal agencies, including the Department of Veterans Affairs, the IRS, and the Social Security Administration. Ciscomani has worked to cut through red tape, ensuring veterans receive the benefits they have earned.

In the 119th Congress, Ciscomani has introduced three pieces of veterans-focused legislation aimed at improving access to benefits, education, and support for veterans and their families.

The Rural Veterans' Improved Access to Benefits Act of 2025 (H.R. 3951) expands the types of licensed healthcare professionals who can conduct VA disability examinations and extends that authority through 2031. The legislation reduces travel burdens for rural veterans who lack easy access to VA facilities and passed the U.S. House of Representatives last year.

The VETS Opportunity Act (H.R. 1458) would expand educational benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill to include both in-person and partially online, or hybrid, skilled-trade training programs, helping veterans pursue education and training in high-demand vocational careers.

The Prioritizing Veterans Survivors Act (H.R. 1228) would strengthen the Department of Veterans Affairs' Office of Survivor Assistance, which operates within the Office of the VA Secretary and advocates for veterans' surviving family members, seeking to ensure that survivors have a strong advocate within the VA.

As a member of both the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the House Appropriations Committee, Representative Ciscomani has a unique opportunity to advocate for veterans through legislation, federal funding, and congressional oversight. His work is directly informed by conversations with veterans across Southern Arizona, helping to ensure their priorities and ideas have a voice in Washington.

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