Tester announces new State Veterans’ Liaison

Veteran Bruce Knutson will oversee senator’s veterans’ casework

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Senator Jon Tester today announced that a longtime Montana military leader will serve as his new State Veterans’ Liaison.

Bruce Knutson will oversee Tester’s extensive veterans’ casework.

Tester, Montana’s only member of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, has an entire staff dedicated to helping Montana veterans and their families with various benefits claims, paperwork and other issues they may have with the U.S. Veterans Administration and the Department of Defense.

Knutson is currently a senior enlisted leader for the Navy Operational Support Center in Helena.  He served in the U.S. Army, the Montana National Guard and the U.S. Navy Reserve for more than 20 years.

“Bruce is a hardworking public servant with the smarts and experience needed to get the job done,” Tester said.  “I’m proud of Bruce’s military service, and I’m proud he’s going to work for the more than 100,000 veterans who call Montana home.”

Knutson comes to Tester's office after working at the Montana Office of Public Instruction, where he served as Veteran Education Program Manager.  He has also worked for the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation and the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

Knutson will work in Tester’s Helena field office (208 North Montana Avenue).  Any veteran wishing to discuss casework with Knutson can reach him by calling (406) 449-5401 or toll-free at (866) 554-4403.

Knutson replaces Matthew McCombs as Tester’s State Veterans Liaison. McCombs was recently named a Presidential Management Fellow for the U.S. Forest Service.