Mr. Michael B. Crouse Sr. was appointed as the first Director of the Fort Harrison VA Regional Benefits Office on February 3, 2019. In this position he provides executive oversight, leadership, and direction to approximately 100 employees. He is responsible for administering a wide array of benefits in the areas of Compensation and Veteran Readiness and Employment to approximately 93,000 Veterans and their families throughout Montana, with annual monetary benefits exceeding $318 million.
Prior to this appointment Mr. Crouse served as the Assistant Director over the Salt Lake City, Utah and Fort Harrison, Montana Regional Offices (RO). Mr. Crouse also served as the Special Missions Program Officer (SMPO) and Veteran Service Manager at the Seattle VA Regional Office. His past positions also include Assistant Veterans Service Center Manager, Lincoln, Nebraska, and positions as Supervisory Veterans Service Representative, Decision Review Officer, Rating Veterans Service Representative, and Veterans Service Representative.
Mr. David Wirtz was selected for the position of Veteran Readiness and Employment Officer (VREO) in November 2018. Mr. Wirtz leads a staff of 7 employees in the delivery of a wide range of retraining and employment services to Service-Connected Disabled Veterans within the state of Montana. He is a 7-year Veteran of the U.S. Army, Active Duty and served two deployments in Iraq. Mr. Wirtz graduated from Carroll College in 2010 with his undergraduate degree and then obtained his Masters’ in Rehabilitation Counseling from Utah State University in 2012.
Ms. Koryn Van Eimeren was selected for this position in July 2004. She manages day-to-day operations of the Veterans Service Center, supervising the processing of benefits for Montana Veterans. She oversees more than 85 claims processors who process about $27.8 million in monthly benefits to Montana Veterans and family members.
Mr. Dennis Ecord was selected for the position of Chief, Support Services Division in April 2020. Mr. Ecord oversees a staff of 6 employees who provide finance operations, mail operations, facility maintenance as well as acquisitions and contract management. Dennis is a 30-year Veteran of the United States Army and Army Reserve. Dennis has a Bachelor of Science Degree from Montana State University (87) and a Master’s in Business Administration, Project Management from Grantham University (13).