November 18, 2013

New Director City of Houston Office of Veterans Affairs

Mayor Annise Parker and the City of Houston Office of Veterans Affairs (COHOVA) announce the selection of Carl Salazar as the new COHOVA Director. Mr. Salazar is committed to ensuring that Houston remains a leader in providing assistance to transitioning service members and their families by helping veterans gain employment, supporting their mental health needs and ending veteran homelessness.

Mr. Salazar replaces E.A. "Buddy" Grantham who served as COHOVA Director since the office's inception and worked hard to help position Houston as the best city in the nation for veterans and their families. Mr. Grantham is now Assistant Director of the City of Houston Fleet Management Department.

Mr. Salazar is a Navy veteran who enlisted in 1984 and was accepted into the Naval Academy the following year receiving his commission as an Ensign in 1989. He served on two combat ships, including aboard the USS Ford during its deployment in the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm. He comes from a strong military family, with uncles who served in World War II and Korea, a brother who served in the Navy and other family members who are veterans of the Army, Air Force and National Guard.

In 1995, Mr. Salazar left the Navy to attend the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago. Upon receiving his Master of Business Administration degree, he worked in the steel industry for 13 years. He moved to Houston in 2008, and started a non-profit, Expedition Balance that serves veterans. He regularly volunteers at the Veterans Administration Medical Center, teaching yoga and meditation to veterans. Along with his non-profit and volunteer service, he also worked for Accenture, a management consulting firm.

Mr. Salazar's email is carl.salazar@houstontx.gov and his phone 832.393.0992. For more information about the services provided by COHOVA, visit https://www.houstontx.gov/vetaffairs/.