Rodney Loonsfoot

LANSING — A Baraga man has been named to an important state board by Governor Gretchen Whitmer. On Thursday, the Governor announced appointments to the following boards and commissions: Council on Climate Solutions; Natural Resources Trust Fund Board; Michigan Veterans’ Trust Fund Board of Trustees; Mental Health Diversion Council; Library of Michigan Board of Trustees; Autism Council; Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, Health, and Sports; Council on Future Mobility and Electrification; Michigan State Waterways Commission; State Construction Code Commission; State Fire Safety Board; Electronic Recording Commission; Michigan Committee on Juvenile Justice; and the State Council for Interstate Adult Offender Supervision.

Rodney Loonsfoot, of Baraga, was appointed to the Michigan Veterans’ Trust Fund Board of Trustees. Loonsfoot serves as a Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Tribal Council member and is a tribal veteran service officer for Keweenaw Bay Indian Community. He is a veteran who served in the Marine Corps and the Michigan National Guard and is a member of National American Indian Veterans, Inc. Loonsfoot is appointed to represent a congressionally chartered veterans’ organization, The National American Indian Veterans (NAIV), for a term commencing September 18, 2025, and expiring February 25, 2026. Loonsfoot succeeds Carol Hebert, who has resigned.

The Michigan Veterans Trust Fund was created in 1946 from $50 million in postwar reserve funds. In 1996, the Veterans Trust Fund was provided additional protection by being added to the State Constitution with voter approval of Proposal C. The Veterans Trust Fund was established to provide grants for the emergency needs of veterans. The Veterans Trust Fund, utilizing approximately $2 million in interest earnings from the trust, administers the Emergency Grant Program. Emergency Grants are available to honorably discharged war time service veterans and their dependents during times of unforeseen and short-term financial emergencies or hardships. Veterans Trust Fund grant policies and adjudication, county committee appointments and expenditure from trust earnings are governed by this board.

Loonsfoot was the only Upper Peninsula resident appointed in this latest round by the Governor.

His appointment is not subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.