Native Americans have one of the highest records of military service per capita of any ethnic group. In fact, 25 percent of able-bodied adult Native Americans enlist in the armed forces, compared to just 3 percent of the general population.
Yet, less than 50 percent of eligible Native American Veterans apply for benefits they have earned. The WDVA continues to work in partnership with the Governmental and Tribal agencies along with the Tribal Veterans Service Offices throughout the state to promote awareness of the many local, state and federal Veterans benefits.
Tribal Liaison
Melissa Doud is the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs Tribal Liaison and a proud member of the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians in northern Wisconsin. A 20-year U.S. Army veteran, she served at various duty stations worldwide, including a tour in Iraq.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Phoenix and has worked with the U.S. Army, Chippewa Valley Bank, LDF Business Development Corporation, and the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council (GLITC). Since 2020, Melissa has also served as the Program Director for the Wisconsin Native American Tobacco Network (WNATN) at GLITC, where she has built a strong network of WNATN representatives across Wisconsin Tribes through advocacy and engagement.
An active advocate for Native veterans, Melissa regularly connects with Tribal veterans at cultural events and community gatherings. She is a mother of five, a grandmother of two, and enjoys dancing at powwows, practicing her culture, hunting, fishing, hiking, traveling, and sewing.
Contact Melissa at
melissa.doud1@dva.wisconsin.gov or at 715-492-1595
