Peter Gravett's Blog

Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. appointed Peter James Gravett to his Cabinet as Secretary of the California Department of Veterans Affairs on April 29, 2011.

Gravett is a retired Major General with more than 40 years of military service in the U.S. Army and the California National Guard, including 35 in which he was a commissioned officer in the National Guard with service in numerous countries, including Central Europe, Western Europe, Asia and Central America. Before retiring from the Guard, he served as Commanding General of the 40th Infantry Division from 1999 to 2002, becoming the first African-American National Guard division commander in the 225-year history of the National Guard in the United States. Throughout his career, Gravett has been presented with more than 20 awards and decorations including the Distinguished Service Medal and the Legion of Merit.

While serving in the National Guard, Gravett simultaneously served more than 22 years with the Los Angeles Police Department. He was awarded LAPD’s highest award, the Medal of Valor.

Upon retiring from the military, Gravett served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Gravett and Associates, a homeland security consulting firm, and as a principal with Traiden Global Solutions, an emergency preparedness consulting firm.