SAUGUS –– Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree is pleased to announce the hiring of SueAnn Cheung as the Town of Saugus’ first full-time and first female Veterans’ Service Officer (VSO).
This new position reflects the Town’s ongoing commitment to providing comprehensive support and services to Saugus veterans, active-duty service members, reservists, and military families.
A U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served our country and rose to the rank of sergeant, Cheung brings more than two decades of military, human services, and veterans’ advocacy experience. She currently works as an outreach coordinator for the Executive Office of Veterans Services’ Statewide Advocacy for Veterans Empowerment (SAVE) team, where she provides peer support to veterans and ensures that veterans receive essential resources and benefits.
In 2017, Cheung founded the Boston Veterans Group and continues to serve as the veterans’ events coordinator for THE Boston Veterans Group, with responsibilities that include locating resources for veterans and distributing helpful information to veterans through outreach and social media.
Beyond her military service, Cheung has dedicated much of her professional career to community service and human-support programs, focusing on individuals living with brain injuries, traumatic conditions, and complex behavioral challenges. In leadership and supervisory roles, she managed residential and rehabilitation programs, supported families, oversaw compliance with state standards, and guided teams delivering care to vulnerable populations. This lifelong dedication to service and advocacy naturally extends to her new role supporting Saugus veterans and their families.
Cheung holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Suffolk University. Her professional certifications include Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) Certified Instructor, Qualified Brain Injury Support Supervisor (QBISP-S), Proactive Approaches to Behavioral Challenges (PABC), Positive Behavior Supports (PBS), Trauma-Informed Care, QPR Suicide Prevention, Medication Administration Program (MAP), CPR/First Aid, and others.
As the Saugus VSO, Cheung will:
- Administer the Chapter 115 benefits program for eligible Saugus veterans and their dependents, including processing applications, auditing payments, and generating reports.
- Assist veterans in applying for federal and state benefits such as disability, pensions, Aid and Attendance, VA health-care programs, and DD 214 upgrades.
- Serve as the Town’s primary resource for veterans’ services, connecting veterans and their families with counseling, health care, housing assistance, and social service programs. She will also help families with burial benefits and grave markers.
- Collaborate with other Town departments and community partners to maintain veterans’ memorials and organize events and outreach initiatives.
- Represent the Veterans’ Services Office at Veterans Advisory Board meetings, coordinate budgets for the department, and work closely with the Executive Office of Veterans Services (EOVS) and regional VSOs.
- Maintain the confidentiality of veterans’ records, manage departmental staff and projects, and participate in continuing education and accreditation.
Crabtree said he believes Cheung offers the skills and experience to excel in the role of Veterans’ Service Officer.
“SueAnn brings an exceptional blend of service, leadership, and compassion to the Veterans’ Services Office,” Crabtree said. “Her distinguished military background, combined with her extensive work supporting veterans and managing human services programs, makes her uniquely qualified to serve as our full-time Veterans’ Service Officer. We are proud to welcome her to this vital role, and we are confident she will have a positive impact on the lives of Saugus veterans and their families.”
Cheung said she is excited to get started to help address the issues that matter most to Saugus veterans and military families.
“As a veteran, I understand how important it is to have someone who can guide you through the benefits process and advocate on your behalf,” Cheung said. “I am honored to join the Town of Saugus and look forward to serving our veterans, active-duty service members, reservists, and their families to ensure they receive the recognition and support they deserve.”
Bringing on a full-time VSO builds on a long record of Town initiatives, supported by the Board of Selectmen, Finance Committee, and Town Meeting, to honor and assist veterans.
Recent projects include: a major painting project and structural improvements to the Marine Cpl. Scott J. Procopio/Capt. William G. Shoemaker American Legion Post 210, launching the veterans’ mobile food market held on the third Wednesday of each month at the Saugus Senior Center, the doubling of the real estate property tax exemption for disabled veterans and eligible seniors, repointing the bricks at the Saugus Veterans War Monument, and relocating the Veterans Services Office to a more visible location on the first floor at Town Hall.
“These projects reflect our ongoing commitment to veterans and their families,” Crabtree said. “SueAnn’s appointment builds upon this foundation and ensures Saugus continues to deliver the care, respect, and advocacy our veterans deserve.”
Selectman Corinne Riley said Cheung is a welcome addition to the Veterans’ Services Office.
“I know how important it is for our veterans to receive the services and benefits they have earned and deserve,” Riley said. “I am proud and excited to welcome SueAnn as our first female Veterans’ Service Officer. This is a historic appointment for Saugus, and I am confident she will make a meaningful, positive impact in our community. I am also grateful that this full-time role has been filled, and I look forward to continuing to work together as a team to support our veterans, military service members, and their families. I wish her every success as she begins this important position.”
Residents seeking assistance or information about veterans’ benefits and programs are encouraged to contact the Saugus Veterans’ Services Office at (781) 231-4010 or visit saugus-ma.gov/veterans-services-office. The Saugus Veterans’ Service Office is also staffed by a clerk, who can be reached at (781) 231-4196.
