March 12, 2025 – El Paso County is pleased to announce Vernon Stewart as the Executive Director of the newly established Department of Community Resources. This department integrates Environmental Services, Justice Services, and Veteran Services into a unified structure aimed at enhancing collaboration, efficiency, and the delivery of critical services to residents.
“I am honored to step into this role and lead a department dedicated to improving the lives of El Paso County residents,” said Stewart. “I look forward to building stronger connections between our teams and the community, ensuring our resources and services are impactful, efficient, and responsive to the evolving needs of those we serve.”
Stewart previously served as the executive director for the El Paso County Department of Communications and, most recently, as interim director for the Division of Veterans Services. His extensive background in public service includes leadership roles in communications for the Mayor of Pensacola, Florida, and at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Mississippi and Missouri before joining El Paso County.
In addition to his professional accomplishments, Stewart is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, underscoring his profound commitment to public service. His leadership will help promote the county’s core values of service-focused, accountable, transparent, collaborative, and trustworthy governance, further enhancing the support and resources available to El Paso County residents.
El Paso County looks forward to Stewart’s positive impact in his new role and the Department of Community Resources’ success in effectively serving the community.
The newly created El Paso County Department of Community Resources will be comprised of three existing divisions, centralizing community resources:
Environmental Services
The El Paso County Division of Environmental Services monitors the natural health of El Paso County through environmental compliance, including household hazardous waste and recycling programs, and natural resources programs, including the management of conservation easements and noxious weed management.
Justice Services
The El Paso County Division of Justice Services supports and improves the functions of the criminal legal system through alternative sentencing and providing innovative, cost-effective services such as the pretrial services program and the facilitation of useful public service for community service sentences.
Veterans Services
The El Paso County Division of Veterans Services is a premier resource for Veterans seeking assistance with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs benefits claims. All Veterans Service Officers (VSOs) in the division are Veterans themselves, fully accredited, and provide comprehensive, lifelong support to their clients. Services include filing compensation claims, assisting surviving family members with claims and burial benefits, and assisting active-duty service members file claims via the Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) program.
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