IAM International President Brian Bryant announced on March 12 the appointment of Richard Evans as Assistant Director of the IAM Retirees and Membership Assistance Department, effective March 1, 2026.
Evans, who previously served as the IAM Veterans Services Coordinator, will help lead programs that support retired members and assist families facing hardship. He will also continue to build the union’s veterans services initiative. Bryant said, “As Assistant Director of the IAM Retirees and Membership Assistance Department, Evans will help lead the IAM’s programs that support retired members, assist IAM families facing hardship, and continue building the IAM’s nationally-recognized veterans services initiative. His appointment reflects our union’s strong commitment to provide veterans and retirees with the advocacy, resources, and respect they deserve.”
Jody Bennet, Resident General Vice President of IAM, said that Evans brings a strong drive to all union matters affecting veteran members. “We are proud to say that in the IAM Union, we have one of the highest percentages of military veterans in the labor movement,” Bennet said. “Rich was a member and veteran who worked alongside fellow veterans and stepped up to help them with their claims after being exposed to the difficulties veterans face when trying to receive benefits. He brings a strong drive to everything in our union that could possibly affect veteran members, and he ensures that veterans remain a priority for us.”
Evans is a U.S. Navy veteran known for his work helping other veterans navigate the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs benefits system. James Little, Director of Retirees and Membership Assistance at IAM, said: “He has become known and respected across the IAM for his achievements in advocating on behalf of IAM veterans and their families. I look forward to expanding and strengthening the resources and capabilities of all of our membership assistance programs with Rich in this role.”
As a VA-accredited claims agent for IAM, Evans secured more than $5 million in back pay for affiliated veterans. He was instrumental in making IAM the first labor union recognized by the VA as an official Veterans Service Organization.
Evans’ advocacy began after he personally navigated a denied VA claim while working at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland. After successfully appealing his own claim, he started assisting other members with their applications and appeals.
In his previous role as Veterans Services Coordinator, Evans helped many apply for disability compensation, education benefits, employment resources, home loans, life insurance, pensions, health care coverage, and burial benefits through VA programs.
