Mayor’s Office of Veterans Affairs

Meet the Director

Julian Purdy

Director

Office on Veteran Affairs

CONNECT

Julian Purdy is proud to serve as the Director of the Mayor's Office on Veterans Affairs.

Purdy served in the Biden-Harris Administration as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Policy in the Veterans' Employment and Training Service at the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). In this role, he managed two offices that oversaw policy, congressional engagement, strategic outreach, external communications, and research. Purdy played a pivotal role in developing the agency's budget and yearly performance metrics, providing programmatic oversight, and launching multiple initiatives within the agency.

Before his appointment to DOL, Purdy served as a Professional Staff Member on the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives Veterans’ Affairs Committee. On the Veterans' Affairs Committee, Purdy was responsible for conceptualizing, drafting, and analyzing legislation related to military transition, employment, education, vocational training, home loans, and homelessness. He also served on the Hill in the Office of Rep. Adam Smith, as a fellow in the U.S. House of Representatives Green & Gold Congressional Aide Program, and he completed an internship with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. 

Julian is a veteran of the Army Reserves, a graduate of Bethune-Cookman University, and a current MBA student at Howard University.

History

The Office of Veterans Affairs was created as an entity under the Executive Office of the Mayor in October 2001. The office was established to provide veteran benefits, assistance, information, outreach, effective advocacy, claims processing assistance and service provider coordination to veterans and their families so that they can access their entitled resources and benefits. The office also develops, coordinates and attends veteran commemorative events that recognize the military service and sacrifice of District of Columbia veterans.