New Jersey is set to get its very first dedicated veteran advocate.
Democratic Gov. Mikie Sherrill nominated Michael Embrich, a U.S. Navy veteran who served in Iraq, to lead a newly created position within the Office of the Veteran Advocate. The New Jersey Legislature created the office in 2025 to serve as an independent voice for The Garden State’s veteran community.
Embrich served during both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, and is a former policy advisor to the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs. He served aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt and received the Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy Unit Commendation, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and other military awards and decorations.
“I am deeply honored to be nominated by Gov. Sherrill to serve as New Jersey’s first Veteran Advocate,” Embrich said in a statement. “Gov. Sherrill’s commitment to veterans is personal, and she has made supporting those who served a priority throughout her career.
“I look forward to serving as an independent and trusted voice for veterans and their families, working alongside Commissioner [Vincent] Solomeno and the Department of Veterans Affairs to strengthen services, promote accountability, and improve the lives of veterans across the Garden State.”
Functions of New Office
The new office will provide a place for veterans and their families to turn to in order to raise concerns.
It will also provide oversight of the state’s veterans’ homes and facilities, while also having the authority to inspect and investigate allegations of wrongdoing. It will operate independently of the state’s Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which is within its first year of operations and will also be involved in helping veterans receive benefits and represent them at the state and federal level.
There are over 338,000 veterans in New Jersey, according to data from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Sherrill signed a Fiscal Year 2027 budget that included $11 million dedicated to housing veterans and the advocate role.
Sherrill, also a Navy veteran, said that her state’s “veterans deserve a strong, independent voice focused entirely on their well-being and on ensuring government delivers the care, services, and support they have earned.
“Michael has spent his career fighting for veterans and military families at every level of government,” she said. “His experience, integrity and deep commitment to service make him the right person to become New Jersey’s first Veteran Advocate.”
Embrich, who is also a former policy advisor to the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs, will now face confirmation by the state Senate.
Other States With Veteran Advocates
Sherrill and New Jersey are following the example of other states in the U.S., though
In 2013, New Hampshire created the Veterans’ Ombudsman to provide executive oversight over the New Hampshire Veterans Home and other state-run veteran institutions.
In 2022, Massachusetts established the Office of the Veteran Advocate after a string of failures at state-run veterans’ homes during the coronavirus pandemic.
“Veterans deserve services that are responsive, transparent, and worthy of the sacrifices they made for our country,” Vincent Solomeno said in a statement. “Michael brings a veteran’s perspective, decades of public-service experience, and a clear record of advocating for veterans and their families.”
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