Peter James Gravett, Secretary of the California Department of Veteran Affairs

Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr., appointed Peter James Gravett to his Cabinet as Secretary of the California Department of Veterans Affairs on April 29, 2011.

Gravett is a retired Major General with more than 40 years of military service in the U.S. Army and the California National Guard, including 35 in which he was a commissioned officer in the service in numberous countries, including Central Europe, Western Europe, Asia and Central America. Before retiring from 1999 to 2002, becoming the first African-American National Guard division commander in the 225-year history of the U.S. National Guard.

Throughout his career, Gravett has been presented with more than 20 awards and decorations including the Distinguished Service Medal and the Legion of Merit.
While serving in the National Guard, Gravett simultaneously served more than 22 years with the Los Angeles Police Departemnt. He was awarded LAPD's highest award, the Medal of Valor, for saving the life of a teenage boy who was being severly beaten by a mob outside a sporting event at the L.A. Coliseum.

After leaving the police department, Gravett served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Gravett and Assoicates, a homeland security consulting firm, and as a principal with Traiden Global Solutions, an emergency preparedness consulting firm. (CCCVS12)