RICHMOND, Va. –
Retired Col. Everton E. Nevers has been selected to succeed retired Brig. Gen. Walter L. Mercer as the chief operations officer for the Virginia Department of Military Affairs, according to an announcement made Oct. 13, 2023, by Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia.
"Mr. Never’s remarkable skills and extensive experience make him the ideal candidate to carry forward the legacy of excellence that Mr. Mercer established within our organization," Ring said in the announcement. "Mr. Mercer is retiring as the chief operations officer at the end of December after serving in this capacity for the last eight years. His contributions to DMA and his unwavering dedication leave an indelible mark on our team, and we thank him for his remarkable service."
Ring said Mercer's career has been "marked by excellence, encompassing not only his more than eight years as the COO for DMA, but also an impressive 12-year tenure as an educator with Hanover County Public Schools."
He also recognized Mercer's more than 36 years as a "distinguished member of the United States Army and Virginia Army National Guard. His commitment and leadership have played an instrumental role in shaping the success of thousands of uniformed service members and civilians."
Ring expressed "heartfelt gratitude" to Mercer for his decades of service.
Nevers retired as a colonel from the Virginia National Guard in 2022 with more than 30 years of experience serving in a variety of positions culminating as the G4 deputy chief of staff for Logistics. He assumes his new role Oct. 25.
Read more about the Department of Military Affairs at https://ngpa.us/25482.