Philadelphia City Council President Kenyatta Johnson (Second District) has hired Gregory Wright as the Director of the Philadelphia Office of Veterans Affairs. Wright started his new position on April 21.
“Philadelphia is home to tens of thousands of veterans and has one of the largest veteran populations in Pennsylvania, so the issues impacting veterans and their families are very important to City Council,” said Johnson, whose father served in the U.S. Army. “My team and I wanted to take the time to find the right person to be the new Director of the Philadelphia Office of Veterans Affairs, and I am happy that Gregory Wright has agreed to lead the office.”
“The hardworking staff in the Veterans Affairs Office continues every day to educate, advocate, and provide high-quality customer service to veterans and their families regarding a wide range of veterans’ benefits, entitlements, and services,” Johnson continued.
Wright, born and raised in North Philadelphia but currently living in Fox Chase, is a proud graduate of Girard College, where he developed a strong foundation in leadership and community service. He graduated from Peirce College with a degree in Criminal Justice and later earned his MBA from Eastern University.
His career includes law enforcement, military service, and human resources. He served for 14 years in the Pennsylvania National Guard as a Staff Sergeant E-6. His service included a deployment to the Middle East during the COVID-19 pandemic, where he earned several honors, including the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Overseas Service Ribbon, and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal.
“It is my honor to serve as the Director for the Philadelphia Office of Veterans Affairs, where I look forward to working tirelessly to enhance services, resources, and outreach for local veterans as well as servicing the spouses and families of these veterans who have served this great country,” Wright said. “I will use my leadership experience in both the military and civilian sectors to serve and educate City Council of the importance of empowering veterans. Council President Kenyatta Johnson is committed to ensured visibility of this office and accessibility of vital services, which I appreciate.”
The Director helps veterans and their families to navigate a wide range of veterans’ benefits, entitlements, and services, and serves as an advocate for them.
The Director also works with the City of Philadelphia’s nine-member Veterans Advisory Commission in setting and effectuating an advocacy agenda for veterans in the community.
According to City Council Resolution Number 190629, approved by the City Council in September 2019, the Office of Veterans Affairs was established as a permanent office under the direction of the City Council. Under the legislation creating the office, the permanent Director must be a veteran, which Wright is.
The Director position has been vacant since 2021, and the position was not filled by the time former Council President Darrell L. Clarke left office in December 2023. Johnson was elected Council President in January 2024.
Since 2021, the four-person office has been managed by Wanda Pate, a former constituent services specialist who was hired by Clarke in 2012. She will remain with the office, and the hiring of Wright makes it now a five-person office.
Since Council President Johnson came into office, four employees, including the Director, have been hired to bring new energy and experience into the office. The office now has three men and two women. Three of the staffers are U.S. Army veterans (two men and one woman). All staff works at the discretion of the City Council President.
In 2024, the office provided services to more than 13,000 veterans, including help with benefit claims, property tax exemptions, burials, and housing for homeless veterans.
The Office of Veterans Affairs can be reached at 215-686-3256 and is open during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.
