(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray announced that she has filled two key staff positions in her state offices. Kim Brown, Command Master Chief (MCPO) 13th District of the U.S. Coast Guard is now Senator Murray’s Senior Constituent Services Representative for Veterans and Military Casework. In addition, Rita Beal has been hired as Senator Murray’s Northwest Washington Director.
"I am pleased to have Kim and Rita joining my staff," Murray stated. "My office is experiencing a great increase in the amount of casework involving veterans and military issues. Having these two veterans on board will allow my staff to provide even better service for our brave men and women who have served their country and now need help accessing the health care, employment training, and transitional assistance that they have earned."
"Senator Murray set me on the path of government service with the ‘Year of the Woman’ election to Congress in 1992," said Beal. "As a veteran and wife of an OIF veteran, I couldn’t be more excited to join her team and use my first-hand experience to work towards an even better quality of life for our troops and military families."
"For the past seven years I have had the opportunity to serve and help members of the Coast Guard," said Brown. "I am excited to now have the chance to help Senator Murray provide assistance to veterans and members of all the military services."
Senator Murray has used her positions on the Senate Budget, Appropriations, Veterans’ Affairs and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committees (HELP) to advocate for connecting our nation’s veterans with employment opportunities. She has held veteran employment roundtables in Washington state to bring veterans, workforce development agencies and business leaders to the table to determine ways to help veterans find suitable employment.
"Our veterans are among the most dedicated and capable potential employees in the country, and many have extensive specialized training. Unfortunately among 20-24 year olds, unemployment for veterans is double that of non-veterans, and three times the national average. In addition, veterans of all ages still face significant hurdles in finding employment. This is simply unacceptable," Murray said.
Master Chief Kim Brown enlisted in the Coast Guard in July 1974. In addition, he is a graduate of class 63 of the Navy Senior Enlisted Academy. In 1995 he was transferred to Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Puget Sound, and was selected as Command Master Chief of the 13th Coast Guard District in 2000. He has been responsible for providing assistance to members of the Coast Guard for the past seven years. Kim’s depth of experience made him the ideal candidate to join Senator Murray’s team, filling the vital role of working on behalf of the men and women who served their country in the armed services.
Rita Beal is originally from upstate New York and graduated from the University of North Carolina. She enlisted in the Army and was stationed at Fort Bragg with the 525th Military Intelligence Brigade. She was medically discharged due to injury to both of her legs. Her husband was transferred to Fort Lewis, and she joined him in Washington state. During her husband’s 1 year deployment to Iraq with the 25th Infantry Brigade she completed her MBA and gave birth to their 3rd child. Most recently Rita worked for Naval Station Everett as a civilian lead for their community outreach efforts.
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