About LDVA

Leadership

• 

  Jeff Landry

  Governor, State of Louisiana

  Jeff Landry’s love for our state, and his passion for helping others is defined by his Louisiana roots. Jeff grew up in the small town of St. Martinsville where his mother was a schoolteacher and his parents took him to church every day. Later, Jeff learned the value of hard work in the sugar cane fields and then proudly joined the National Guard, serving in Operation Desert Storm. After returning home, Jeff worked as a police officer and sheriff’s deputy, and later started a successful business and went to law school.

  As a public servant, both as a U.S. Congressman and the Attorney General of Louisiana, Jeff Landry has shown strength and courage fighting for common sense values and bringing people together to deliver solutions.

  On October 14, 2023 Jeff Landry was elected to become the 57th Governor of Louisiana in a historic primary victory. On January 8th, 2024, he assumed office.

  As Governor, he will not be afraid to make the changes necessary to turn Louisiana around, deliver results, and fight for working families.

  Jeff resides in Broussard, Louisiana with his wife, Sharon, and their son, JT.

• 

  Charlton J. Meginley, COL (USAF Retired)

  Secretary, LDVA

  Col. Charlton Meginley (Retired) served in the U.S. Air Force as a Judge Advocate on active duty for more than 20 years, completing his military career as an Appellate Military Judge on the Air Force's Court of Criminal Appeals at Joint Base Andrews, Md. Prior to his final assignment, Col. Meginley was the Staff Judge Advocate of the 62nd Airlift Wing, McChord Field, Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington where he oversaw legal operations for one of the most visible airlift wings in the Department of Defense.

  Col. Meginley also served as an Air Force defense counsel in three assignments, most recently as the Chief Senior Defense Counsel for the Air Force’s Central Circuit at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas. Overall, Col. Meginley served in 11 assignments at nine installations throughout the world, including a deployment to the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force at Balad Air Base in Iraq.

  Following his military retirement, Col. Meginley returned to Louisiana and joined then-Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin's staff as his General Counsel where he provided guidance and authority on Louisiana's Election and Commercial Codes.

  As Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Col. Meginley is responsible for overseeing the department’s $90 million budget and 850 employees statewide. LDVA operations cover five state Veterans homes, five state Veterans cemeteries, 74 Veterans service offices, 32 college and university campus student Veteran centers. Department programming includes the Military Family Assistance Fund, the Veterans Honor Medal Program and a host of outreach initiatives serving homeless, incarcerated and women Veterans as well as Gold Star mothers and families. Additionally, outreach works with Veteran service organizations and for- and non-profit groups with regard to Veteran employment and suicide prevention.

  Col. Meginley is married to his wife Therese, who served by his side during his entire career. Together, they have four daughters. Col. Meginley is originally from Alexandria, La., and is a proud graduate of Holy Savior Menard High School in Alexandria, the University of Louisiana at Monroe and the Louisiana State University Law Center.

• Dr. Jerome L. Buller, COL (USA Retired)

  Deputy Secretary, LDVA

  Dr. Buller is a Certified Physician Executive with over 25 years of experience in health care and over a decade in senior leadership roles in clinical, academic, and
  operational medicine. Dr. Buller is a retired U.S. Army Colonel and consummate professional who brings a strategic, global perspective to problem-solving in
  healthcare delivery, healthcare administration, medical staff leadership, medical education, population health, organizational communication, and medical R&D. He has led research and clinical organizations in the DoD and private sector and brings broad industry knowledge and a strong understanding of the military, Veteran, and federal healthcare systems.

  Before joining the LDVA, Dr. Buller was the Chief Medical Officer for Optum Serve, a United Health Group company focused on serving veterans and the DoD. There, he provided national leadership to ensure effective implementation, monitoring, and execution of clinical programs that improved patient and provider experience while consistently delivering superior clinical outcomes at a sustainable cost.

  Dr. Buller is a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist fellowship-trained in urogynecology and reconstructive pelvic surgery. He is a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and a Certified Physician Executive with the American Association for Physician Leadership. Dr. Buller holds a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School and a Master of Science in National Security and Resource Strategy from the National Defense. He is a native Louisianan and resides in Covington with his wife, Jennie.