Kane County Veterans Advocate Honored with National Award

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​Kane County Veterans Assistance Commission (VAC) Service Officer Nate Johnson has been recognized with the Christopher Hinton President’s Award from the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers (NACVSO).    

The award is among NACVSO’s most prestigious honors, celebrating those who go above and beyond the ordinary, inspiring colleagues and leaving a lasting positive impact on the veteran community nationwide.        

Johnson, a U.S. Army veteran who served eight years—including five years on active duty with a deployment to Iraq and three years in the Army Reserves—has worked with the Kane County VAC for more than nine years. In his role, he helps local veterans navigate complex benefit systems and advocates to ensure they receive the services they’ve rightfully earned.

“My passion is helping veterans secure and obtain benefits that they have rightfully earned,” Johnson said. “Our goal at the VAC is to be the central point of contact for any veteran issues in Kane County and we take pride in advocating for these individuals.”

Kane County VAC Superintendent Jake Zimmerman praised Johnson’s commitment to veterans and the significance of the national recognition.

"This award is a reflection not just of his work over the past year, but of his consistent, long-term commitment to serving those who served," said Ziimmerman.

Zimmerman said the award was based on the input of over 2,000 members of the NACVSO. But also noted that the recognition is bittersweet, as Johnson will be leaving Kane County to become the Superintendent of the McHenry County Veterans Assistance Commission starting in November.

Johnson was humble in receiving the award, describing it as a team honor rather than an individual achievement. He summarized his work in Kane County by saying that the goal of the Veterans Assistance Commission, always, is to ensure that no veteran suffers and that no veteran is ever alone.

Learn more about the Kane County Veterans Assistance Commission by going  to https://www.kanecountyil.gov/pages/veterans.aspx