Darlyn Escalante has been appointed as director of the County of Santa Clara Office of Veterans Services. The appointment took effect Jan. 8.
Escalante has been with the County Veterans Services Office since 2019, where she started as a veterans services representative and was most recently a program manager. In her new role, Escalante oversees veteran support services provided by 16 staff members who assist more than 64,000 veterans and their dependents. She will also represent the county with the California Department of Veterans Affairs and the State and National Associations of County Veterans Service Offices.
“Darlyn has the experience and the leadership to lead this department whose sole mission is to connect veterans with the benefits they’ve earned,” County Social Services Agency Director Daniel Little said. “Her innovation and energy have already led to stronger connections with county departments and other veteran service organizations throughout the area. I look forward to seeing her, and her team, continue to work with these groups to build a stronger coalition so no veteran in the county goes unserved.”
In July, Escalante organized the first-ever County of Santa Clara Stand Down. The event coordinated hundreds of local agencies to provide services to more than 800 Bay Area veterans. She has also initiated a training program for the County Veteran Service Representatives to process VA claim submissions, which allows the office to maintain state and national accreditation. The training program has since been adopted by other Veterans Services Offices in California.
There are several objectives that Escalante has outlined to start her tenure as director. She plans to leverage partnerships with other veteran organizations to increase outreach, especially in South Santa Clara County, so they can provide more services and connect more veterans to the benefits they’ve earned. Escalante also wants to engage current active-duty military personnel as they transition out of service so they have a timely connection to local services.
“I’ve dedicated my career to serving this nation and my fellow veterans and am grateful I have the opportunity to lead this office,” Escalante said. “I have firsthand knowledge of the challenges that veterans face in this community, and I am dedicated to leading this team. We will continue to make a positive impact on the lives of veterans, which I believe is a lifelong commitment. We will continue to serve those who served for us.”
Escalante enters the role with 19 years of experience. She is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force as a logistics manager. She was a suicide prevention social worker and a medical support specialist for the VA Medical Centers in Palo Alto and La Jolla. She received a bachelor’s degree in public health from National University.
Veterans who need access to benefits can reach the office at 408.918.4980 or by getting more information about services at veterans.sccgov.org/home.
