VETERANS SERVICES

The VSO team is here to serve and is dedicated to helping veterans and family members in many areas of need.

Call to see how we can help! 

James Dignan enlisted into the US Navy as an undesignated airman in June 1993. He promoted through the enlisted ranks up to Aviation Boatswains Mate Chief (Fuels) and studied business administration at Excelsior College, New York. He commissioned as a Naval Officer under the Limited Duty Officer program, Aviation Deck (6310 designator), April 2010. James attained his final rank of Lieutenant Commander, USN and retired from military service in September of 2022.

As ships company James served 19 years on six different Atlantic and Pacific Fleet carriers; USSJOHN F. KENNEDY (CV 67), USS NIMITZ (CVN 68), USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN 72), USSGEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73) and USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN 76) in various capacities. His most recent ships company tour was onboard the USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN 69) where heserved as the Aircraft Handling Officer (ACHO) during two back to back combat deployments.

Ashore, James served at NAS Keflavik Iceland as passenger service and air terminal manager, NATTC Pensacola as a class A, C, and O school Instructor / Curriculum Manager, and at NS Rota Spainas the Air Operations Department Head ashore.

James has been married to Sarah Campbell Dignan of Crossville, since 1995. They have four children of which two are boys: Tyler, active-duty US Navy, and Ian, UT Knox Graduate and active-duty USAF. Their two girls are: Bree, UT Knox Graduate – Educator and Alix, a TCAT Crossville Cosmetology Graduate, Licensed Cosmetologist, and Small Business Owner.

Hired in September 2012, Wendy Johnston brought her wealth of medical and administrative knowledge to help the community’s veterans. She has been in public relations and communications since 1995. She started as a switchboard operator at Cumberland Medical Center. She continued in this capacity while she worked at the Crossville Medical Group being a receptionist and a medical records clerk from 2004 to 2010. In 2011, Wendy was instrumental in organizing the Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Reunion and Parade. She was one of the principals who helped to bring The Traveling Wall to Cumberland County as part of the ceremonies. She continues to use her administrative and public relations knowledge to help veterans today.

In 2017, she received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Daughters of the American Revolution for her work helping veterans.  In 2015 she was trained by the Tennessee Department of Veterans Services as a Veteran Service Officer and granted accreditation as a VSO by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs!