OSA Staff Biographies
ANN H. DUFF
Assistant Director, Office of Survivor Assistance, Pension and Fiduciary Service
Pension and Fiduciary Service is aligned within the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) and its mission to honor the sacrifices of the Nation's Veterans by innovatively delivering accurate and timely pension, fiduciary, and survivor-related benefits and services. Pension and Fiduciary Programs continue to experience significant growth, thus necessitating a separate service to serve VA's most vulnerable population.
OSA was established by the Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act of 2008, P.L. 110- 389, Title II, Section 222. OSA serves as the principal advisor to the Secretary on all policies, programs, legislative issues and other initiatives affecting surviving family members of deceased Service members and Veterans. OSA serves as a resource regarding all benefits and services furnished by the Department to survivors of deceased Veterans. Additionally, the office builds and maintains collaborative partnerships with local, state, tribal and federal agencies, as well as Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs), faith-based and community organizations and other stakeholder groups to increase awareness of benefits and services available to surviving family members; advocates for the needs of survivors in VA’s policy and programmatic decisions; and makes appropriate referrals to VA administrations and staff offices to ensure survivors receive eligible benefits and services.
Ms. Duff is a graduate of the University of Maine and Western Governor's University where she earned degrees in Political Science (BA) and Instructional Systems Design (M, Ed). A recently retired Rear Admiral, she is a certified Strategic Human Resources Professional and has completed certificate programs in Business, Planning, Strategic HR Management, Strategic Communications and National and International Security from Naval War College, Cornell University, Harvard University and the University of Virgina. A self-proclaimed Army brat, Ann served for over 35 years in both the US Air Force and the US Navy. She is currently married to a retired Coast Guardsman, and has three children.
