VA Appoints Ashlynne Haycock to Veterans’ Advisory Committee on Education
TAPS Manager for Education Support Services Among 12 New Appointees to Serve Alongside Chairman Sen. Jim Webb
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Dec. 6, 2017
ARLINGTON, Va. -– The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently announced the appointment of 12 new members to its Veterans’ Advisory Committee on Education, including Ashlynne Haycock, the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) manager for education support services.
Haycock will serve on the committee, which advises the Secretary on existing VA education benefit programs and services, as well as new programs and services.
“This committee is an extraordinary and diverse group of professionals who will bring their experiences and expertise for the good of our education programs,” said VA Secretary Dr. David J. Shulkin,
Haycock is also the surviving daughter of Army Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey Haycock who died while training to deploy in 2002 and Air Force Senior Airman Nichole Haycock, who died by suicide in 2011. She was one of the first recipients of the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John Fry Scholarship.
“It is an incredible honor to be appointed to a committee so dedicated to supporting veterans accessing higher education, and to make sure that surviving families continue to play a role in the discussion,” Haycock said.
In her role as manager of education support services at TAPS, Ashlynne has worked to assist more than 2,500 surviving children and spouses in accessing a free college education, securing more than $170 million in survivor education benefits on their behalf. Additionally, she was instrumental in aiding the coalition of military service organizations that advocated for the passage of the G.I. Bill over the summer.
ABOUT TAPS
The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) is the national organization providing compassionate care for the families of America’s fallen military heroes and has offered support to more than 70,000 surviving family members of our fallen military and their caregivers since 1994. TAPS provides peer-based emotional support, grief and trauma resources, grief seminars and retreats for adults, Good Grief Camps for children, case work assistance, connections to community-based care, online and in-person support groups and a 24/7 resource and information helpline for all who have been affected by a death in the Armed Forces. Services are provided free of charge. For more information go to www.taps.org or call the toll-free TAPS resource and information helpline at 1.800.959.TAPS (8277).