Maloney Hires Former Army Combat Medic For Wounded Warrior Fellowship

NEWBURGH, NY – Representative Sean Patrick Maloney, D-Cold Spring, announced the hiring of former Army Combat Medic Khristian Silvis to serve as a Wounded Warrior Fellow in his Newburgh office. Silvis will join two other combat veterans on Rep. Maloney’s staff and focus on assisting Hudson Valley veterans cut through red tape at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

“Veterans have unique skills and experience that make them a great addition to any team — but they’re especially helpful in this line of work because they’ve been there,” said Rep. Maloney. “Vets know the challenges, they know the bureaucracy and they have each other’s backs — Khristian will be a great addition to our team and I look forward to working with her and our Hudson Valley veterans community.”

Silvis said she is excited and honored for the opportunity to Maloney's staff and being able to directly help fellow veterans, especially those within the local community. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

“This is the kind of continued service I've been wanting to do since I left the military,” she said.

Maloney currently employs two combat veterans, including a full-time veterans advocate who is charged with serving as a central point-of-contact for veterans and military families who need assistance with receiving their earned benefits.

Since taking office in 2013, Rep. Maloney has secured over $3 million for local veterans. In 2013, Rep. Maloney welcomed another local veteran into his office through the Wounded Warrior Fellowship Program.

Congress established the Wounded Warrior Fellowship in 2008 to allow injured and disabled veterans to gain work experience and help expand their opportunities as they transition to full-time civilian employment. The Congressional Office of the Chief Administrative Officer manages the fellowship program. The program is limited to veterans who have served on active duty since Sept. 11, 2001, with less than 20 years of service and have a minimum 30 percent disability rating from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Photo caption: Khristian Silvis photographed while serving in Afghanistan. Photo credit: Submitted.