Joe Czyzyk Elected U.S.VETS Chairman

LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Joe Czyzyk, Chairman and CEO of Los Angeles-based Mercury Air Group, has
been elected chairman of U.S.VETS, the nation’s largest nonprofit
serving homeless and at-risk veterans.

Czyzyk, 68, was born in Poland, the son of Holocaust survivors, and grew
up in Canada. At the age of 16, he moved to the United States with his
parents and soon became a citizen. A graduate of California State
University at Los Angeles, he volunteered for two tours of duty with the
U.S. Navy Mobile Construction Battalion (Seabees) in Vietnam. He is a
board member of the CEC/Seabee Historical Foundation, who built and
operate a museum commemorating the CEC/Seabees in Port Hueneme, CA.

“Our veterans who have so bravely fought for our freedom deserve someone
to fight for them,” said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. “As the new
chair of U.S.VETS, I am confident that Joe Czyzyk will do exactly that.
I look forward to our continued work together to take care of our
veterans who have sacrificed so much for us.”

Czyzyk, who was elected to the U.S.VETS board in 2012, serves on the
Board of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, where he was Chairman
in 2011, and also serves as Treasurer of the Homeland Security Advisory
Council (HSAC). He is a member of Governor Brown’s Military Council and
is Chairman of the Board of Visitors, Graduate School of Public Policy
at Pepperdine University.

“Having spent most of my personal and professional career in support of
our country’s military infrastructure and efforts, I now have the
opportunity to commit myself to improving the lives of those who have
bravely served our country,” Czyzyk said. “A homeless vet is a national
disgrace and U.S.VETS will continue to lead and grow in providing
housing and rehabilitation for our veterans.”

Czyzyk’s election was also praised by U.S. Congressman Ted Lieu, whose
district includes the West Los Angeles VA Campus.

“I wholeheartedly congratulate Joe Czyzyk on being named chair of
U.S.VETS,” Lieu said. “As a veteran of the United States Navy who has
worked tirelessly for decades on veterans issues, Joe is the perfect
person to lead U.S.VETS vital and urgent mission to address veterans
homelessness. We will not solve veterans homelessness in America unless
we solve it in Los Angeles County and I greatly look forward to working
with Joe on crucial issues such as revitalizing the campus of the West
Los Angeles V.A. so that it provides the best possible care, support and
housing for our community’s veteran heroes.”

Since its inception in 1993, U.S.VETS (www.usvetsinc.org)
has engaged over 118,000 veterans, provided residential services to
nearly 50,000 veterans and placed 12,000 veterans into jobs. It assists
veterans at 21 residential sites and nine service centers in 14 cities
across six states, the District of Columbia and the territory of Guam.

Contacts

U.S.VETS
Alexis Hauk, 213-294-1435
ahauk@usvetsinc.org