Overview
The Commission of Veterans Affairs is made up of three members.

Harlan Borton, Commissioner
Harlan served in the United States Army from November 1967 through November 1969. He took basic training at Ft. Bliss, Texas and was stationed at Ft. Riley, Kansas until his papers came through accepting him as a volunteer to go to Vietnam. He was a Sergeant with the 1st Air Cavalry Division at Bien Hoa, Vietnam. Harlan then served four years in the inactive reserves.

Harlan has received the following awards:

• Army Commendation Medal
• National Defense Service Medal
• Vietnam Service Medal
• Vietnam Campaign Medal

Experience
Harlan started working at the McCallsburg Co-op, now the Heart of Iowa Co-op, when he was 15 years old, and is now retired after 43 years. Harlan was on the founding board of the Propane Education Foundation of Iowa. While on the board he served as Treasurer and Vice President. Harlan has served on the NESCO School Board, McCallsburg and Zearing. He also served twelve years on the City Council of McCallsburg.

Harlan has served on the Story County Commission of Veterans Affairs since October of 1988. He has been a member of the American Legion Samuel Reid Post 334 of McCallsburg since 1969. Harlan has served as Adjutant, Vice Commander, Sergeant at Arms, and Commander. Harlan is a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans and the American Legion and is a member of the Forty and Eight.

Chad Cook, Commissioner
Chad has over 24 years of military service, including wartime service in Afghanistan. Chad served in the United States Naval Reserve for six years (November 1985 - June 1992), served eighteen years in the Iowa Army National Guard (June 1992 - January 2010), and is currently serving in the Army Retired Reserve.

Chad's enlisted experience was in supply and logistics. His assignments as a commissioned officer include Medical Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, Battalion and Task Force Logistics Officer, Task Force Support Operations Officer, Company Commander, and Instructor.

His awards include:

Afghanistan Campaign Med, with Service Star Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Hour Glass and M Device Army Achievement Medal Army Commendation Medal, with oak leaf cluster Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, with four oak leaf clusters Army Service ribbon Combat Medical Badge Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Humanitarian Service Medal

Iowa Commendation Medal Iowa Leadership Ribbon with Torch Iowa Meritorious Medal Iowa Service Ribbon Meritorious Service Medal National Defense Service Medal, with Service Star NATO Service Ribbon Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal Overseas Service Ribbon

Chad was raised in McCallsburg and Zearing and is a graduate of NESCO high school. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Studies Education from Dakota Wesleyan University and a Master of Arts degree in History from Northwest Missouri State University. He has over 35 post-graduate hours in Education.

Experience
Chad had been an educator since 1991. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Military Science at Iowa State University. Prior to this position, he taught and coached in the Gilbert School District for ten years. He is a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, National Guard Association of the United States, Iowa National Guard Officers Association, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Military Officers Association of America, and Reserve Officer Association of the United States.

Jennifer Rehbein, Commissioner
Jennifer served in the United States Navy from 1997-2000 and 2001-2004 as an Aviation Electrician's Mate and Aviation Machinist's Mate and held the rank of Petty Officer 2nd class. Jennifer deployed to Japan and Diego Garcia in support of anti-submarine missions. Operation Iraqi Freedom began during her third deployment.

Jennifer's awards include:

• Battle E
• Global War on Terror Service Medal
• Good Conduct Medal
• Meritorious Unit Commendation
• National Defense Service Medal
• Navy Sea Service Ribbon
• Navy Unit Commendation Medal

Jennifer was born and raised in Ames and moved back to Ames following her military service. She works at the Iowa Department of Transportation as a mechanic. Jennifer earned her bachelor's degree in Human Services from Kaplan University in 2011.

Jennifer is a member of the American Legion and a lifelong member of the American Legion Auxiliary.