CLEARFIELD – The Clearfield County Commissioners appointed Betina Nicklas as the director of Veteran Affairs at Tuesday’s regular meeting. Nicklas will begin her duties Feb. 1.
The commissioners and the Veterans Advisory Committee screened approximately 25 applications and interviewed seven applicants, all of whom are veterans and whom possessed many qualifications.
Commissioner Chairperson John A. Sobel said the board and veterans advisory committee were “astonished” by the pool of talent. However, they were particularly impressed by Nicklas’ “very unique qualifications,” including her ongoing service in the Army National Guard, which includes a deployment to Iraq in 2009.
Nicklas is also a graduate of Tiffin University with a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice, and she’s a member of the American Legion Post 6. In addition to her education, work experience and military background, Nicklas hails from a military family.
In fact, Nicklas’ husband has served in the U.S. Marine Corps, including two deployments in Iraq. Her father not only served in the U.S. Marine Corps, including two tours in Vietnam, but also in the Pennsylvania National Guard.
“I’m looking forward to utilizing my professional and military service experience to provide a high quality service to the veterans of Clearfield County and their families,” Nicklas stated in a press release issued by the board of commissioners Tuesday.
“Because of my ongoing military service and the fact that both my husband and father are veterans, I understand the needs of Clearfield County’s veterans and look forward to working on their behalf and being their advocate.”
After settling into her director position, Nicklas intends to establish a close working relationship with the Veterans Advisory Committee. She will schedule visits with veterans clubs and organizations throughout the county and looks forward to meeting with veterans and their families at her office located at the Clearfield County Administrative Offices.
“She understands the needs of the newer veterans as well as the older veterans. We’re very, very pleased and believe we’ll have a long, successful relationship with Betina,” Sobel said.
Commissioner Joan Robinson-McMillen said the commissioners and the veterans advisory committee had a “very tough decision,” but she believed it was the “right decision.” She said Nicklas would bring a fresh face to the Veterans Affairs office and brings fresh ideas for community outreach.
“It was our goal to have the very best for our Veterans Affairs office,” Robinson-McMillen said. “And, our veterans and their families deserve the very best, because they’ve given us all the freedoms that set this country apart from all the others.”
Nicklas was raised in Clearfield and is the daughter of Dave and Bernadine “Bunni” Rebar. She’s married to Lawrence Nicklas, a native of Woodland. She graduated from the Clearfield Area High School before attending Tiffin University. She currently serves in the Army National Guard and is assigned as a motor transport operator and carries a paralegal specialist military occupational skill.
Nicklas worked for a law office in Jacksonville, NC that specializes in military law. While serving for the North Carolina National Guard, she was promoted to the rank of sergeant and worked in their supply office as a logistics technician.
Nicklas’ husband, Lawrence served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was stationed at Camp Lejeune, NC and deployed to Iraq twice. His military occupational skills were small arms repairer technician, Marine Corps integrated maintenance management technician and small arms firearm instructor.
Lawrence Nicklas was a member of the Marine Corps’ shooting team. He currently works for SAIC as a small arms technician and ammunition supervisor for a CENSECFOR learning site at Camp Lejeune.
Nicklas’ father, Dave Rebar served in the U.S. Marine Corps and retired from the Pennsylvania National Guard. While serving with the Marine Corps, he was stationed at Camp Lejeune and completed two tours in Vietnam.
Rebar returned home to Pennsylvania after his enlistment with the Marine Corps and joined the National Guard, where he served for 19 years and retired with 23 years of military service.
Rebar is currently the vice president of the Clearfield American Legion Post 6. He’s retired from the county as a corrections officer and resides in Clearfield with his wife.
The commissioners thanked the Veterans Advisory Committee for accepting an active role in the application and interview process. Sobel said the committee’s duties are only beginning and likely will increase with the hiring of the new director.
“We’re excited to have Betina fill this position. She’s going to be very involved with the committee,” McCracken said. “. . . It’s all moving forward, and it’s all going to be good from here.”