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 has been instrumental in supporting veteran members within the union. “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 others navigate complex U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits systems. As a VA-accredited claims agent for IAM, he secured more than $5 million in back pay for affiliated veterans. 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.”
Evans also played a key role in making IAM the first labor union recognized by the VA as an official Veterans Service Organization (VSO), which expanded its ability to advocate for veterans nationwide.
His experience began when he appealed his own denied VA claim while working at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland. After resolving his case successfully, he started assisting other members with their claims—a mission that grew into his leadership role today.
