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COL. DON 'DK' BERRY
U.S. AIR FORCE, RETIRED
Sherwood, Arkansas
COL. DON 'DK' BERRY COL. DON 'DK' BERRY

HE IS LEADING LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS IN ARKANSAS ON BEHALF OF CURRENT AND FORMER SERVICEMEMBERS.

By Kristin Davis
Photo by Caroline M. Holt

Following his 30-year Air Force career, Berry has continued to serve by leading state agency and legislative action campaigns in support of servicemembers, veterans, and their families as the legislative liaison for the Arkansas Council of Chapters and director of government affairs for the Arkansas Veterans Coalition. 

LATEST EFFORTS
When Berry moved from Texas to Arkansas in 2012, a MOAA Military State Report Card showed room for improvement in his new home state. He began working on a number of initiatives, including helping to secure a state tax exemption on active duty military compensation in 2014 and uniformed services retirement pay in 2017. He then crafted legislation resulting in Arkansas becoming the national leader for smoothing military child school transitions. One key change is that children from military families can enroll in virtual coursework ahead of their arrival in a new school to meet graduation requirements that differ from their prior state. Also in part thanks to Berry's efforts, spouses holding an occupational license from another state are automatically granted an Arkansas license.  

HOW HIS SERVICE SUPPORTS MOAA'S MISSION
Berry's work is helping to make Arkansas a more veteran- and military-friendly place to live.  

'We came back to Arkansas because our kids came back here. But I wanted to make sure others choose Arkansas for its service family-friendliness.'

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This material originally appeared in Military Officer, a magazine available to all MOAA PREMIUM and LIFE members.

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