Tuesday, State Auditor Stacey Pickering announced to his staff that he would be resigning soon to take a position with the Mississippi Veterans Affairs Board as its Executive Director. Having become more active in military service in recent years, this position was one that came to have real meaning to Pickering.
Pickering explains the opportunity and reflects on his time as State Auditor in an interview earlier today.
The Veterans Affairs Board is tasked with caring for Mississippi Veterans and their dependents through superior service, care, and assistance. They provide assistance in finding homes, benefits that Mississippi veterans are entitled to, and veterans events that that provide community support.
Pickering is in his third term in office as State Auditor since his election to the post in 2007. A native of Jones County, he received a Bachelor of Arts from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. He went on to receive a masters degree in marriage and family counseling from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
He served as a state Senator for District 42 in 2003 until his run for State Auditor in ’07. He serves as a chaplain in the Mississippi Air National Guard of the 186th Air Refueling Wing.
Pickering is expected to transition to his new position around the week of July 15.
Governor Bryant will be able to appoint Pickering’s replacement to serve out the balance of his term, which ends in 2019.