RELEASE: Branstad, Reynolds name COL (Retired) Timon Oujiri as Iowa Veterans Home Commandant

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

Governor Terry E. Branstad « Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, May 4, 2017

CONTACT: Governor’s Office 515-281-5211

 

Branstad, Reynolds name COL (Retired) Timon Oujiri as Iowa Veterans Home Commandant

 

(DES MOINES) – Today, Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds named COL (Retired) Timon Oujiri as the new Iowa Veterans Home (IVH) Commandant.  Oujiri’s appointment comes after Gen. Jodi Tymeson began her employment on May 1 as the Director of the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs.  Oujiri begins his new role as IVH Commandant on Monday, May 22.

 

Tímon Oujiri was commissioned in May 1980 from the ROTC program at Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, KS.  He began 31 years of active duty Service in Mannheim, Germany as an executive officer for the 48th Postal Detachment.  He then transferred to the 7th Signal Brigade as the assistant to the director of personnel. He held staff positions at battalion, brigade, Office of the Chief Army Reserve and Headquarters Department of the Army.  Oujiri was one of the first two selected for Congressional Fellowships for the United States Army Reserve.  He served on the staff of the Honorable Todd Tiahrt, United States House of Representatives, 4th Congressional District of Kansas.  He served in the Pentagon in the Office of Congressional Legislative Liaison, working with both the United States Senate and House of Representatives.

 

Timon served in assignments in both the regular United States Army and the United States Army Reserve on active duty for 31 years.  He retired December 2004 from active service.  He was asked to return to active duty in January 2005 to join the Army Staff in Washington, DC.  He served as the Senior Board member at the Army Review Boards Agency.  In his capacity as a board member, he sat on a number of Determination Boards for Soldiers and Veterans including the Army Clemency & Parole Board.

 

Upon fully retiring from the United States Army, Oujiri was employed with the Federal Bureau of Investigation within the Terrorist Screening Center in Washington, DC.  He accepted his current position with Hy-Vee, Inc. in January 2016 as the Military Recruiting Operations Director overseeing the nationwide efforts recruiting veterans for Hy-Vee.

 

He is a graduate of the United States Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS. His decorations include the Legion of Merit (2 awards), Meritorious Service Medal (7 awards), Army Commendation Medal (2 awards), Army Achievement Medal (2 awards), National Defense Service Medai (2 awards), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Ten Year Hour Glass, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon, Army Superior Unit Award, and the Army Staff identification Badge.

 

Timon has volunteered with a number of organizations to include honoring our veterans for their service to our country with Honor Flight where he is a guardian and tour guide with over 2500 hours. He has over 700 hours with the USO and was named the 2013 Volunteer of the Year for the Military Bowl in Washington, DC. He is proud to be a life member of both the American Legion and the VFW.

 

Timon Oujiri was born in Cedar Rapids.  He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance from Pittsburg State University and a Master of Science Degree in Systems Management from the University of Southern California. He resides in Cumming, IA with his wife Sandy of almost 37 years and their three cats.

 

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