Jim Darwin currently serves as Senior Advisor for Veteran Affairs to the Office of Veterans Services at the Health & Human Services Commission of Texas where he coordinates across state agencies and nonprofits the delivery of state benefits to Texas veterans. He oversees the Texas Veterans APP that allows a veteran or family member to access their benefits via a smart phone. Additionally, he serves on the Department of Information Resources Veteran Portal Advisory Council with other state agencies and interfaces with several veteran groups throughout Texas on the Texas Veterans Portal. He is a member of the North Texas VA Healthcare System Advisory Council and an advisor to the VA Center of Excellence in Waco.
Previous to this position, Mr. Darwin served as the Federal Government and Veteran Liaison to Texas Land Commissioners Jerry Patterson and George P. Bush. As the Federal Liaison, Jim worked with the Texas Congressional Delegation and the Texas Legislature on a number of fronts regarding federal policy that would impact the Texas School Lands and veteran policy on the Texas Veterans Land Board. Mr. Darwin also served as the Associate Deputy Commissioner of the Texas Veterans Land Board (VLB), where he oversaw the day to day operations to include the Land, Housing and Home Improvement loan programs, the construction of two of the eight Texas Veteran nursing homes and the construction of two of the four Texas Veteran cemeteries.
In additional to his state duties, Mr. Darwin owns Flintrock Resources Management, Inc. an Exploration & Production oil & gas company. Flintrock is a member of the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers as well as the Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners (TIPRO) Association. He serves on the tax valuation committee of the TAEP that does important work for E&P companies in Texas regarding their mineral valuations with the Texas Comptroller and the Texas Association of Counties.
Mr. Darwin enlisted in the United States Marine Corps serving first in the air wing and later received a commission and served in Marine Reconnaissance Units as platoon commander, company executive officer, operations officer and battalion intelligence officer. He left active duty in 1988. He volunteered for active duty in August of 1990 for Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Captain Darwin continued to serve in Marine Corps Reserve units until he retired in 1998.
He has a degree in Political Science with a double minor in Russian and Economics from the University of Texas in Arlington where he studied abroad in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe during the early 80’s.
He currently serves on the ESPN Armed Forces Bowl Game executive board, he serves as Chairman of the Austin Veterans Parade Foundation which host the Austin Veterans Day parade and works with various veteran groups throughout the state helping them serve Texas Veterans.
He is currently a member of VFW Post 4443 and American Legion Post 76.