From Your Commandant ...

From Your Commandant

Todd Jacobus, Commandant Watch: March Insights Video

1. The Promise of Spring

It’s Spring! What a wonderful time of year. April brings a fond farewell to the snow, welcoming warmer weather, more sunlight, and the first full month of baseball. It is a season of renewal, and at the Iowa Veterans Home (IVH), we are embracing that energy.

2. Update on the Steinback Family

Many of you are aware that the husband of our own Angela Steinback (LPN), Master Sergeant Joshua Steinback, was seriously wounded on March 1, 2026, near the Port of Shuaiba, Kuwait. After treatment in Germany, Josh and Angela are now at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland.

Angela shares that Josh is making progress every day, though he has a long road of recovery ahead. She expresses her deep gratitude to the IVH family for the prayers, messages, and to her co-workers for covering her shifts so she can be by his side. We continue to keep them in our thoughts.

3. Protecting the Heart of Our Mission

Our staff pours their heart and soul into our residents—assessing, treating, and advocating for them every day. Occasionally, they receive "unthoughtful" comments from family members regarding things completely beyond their control. To my team: I am sorry when this happens. Please know that these comments often come from a place of guilt or frustration.

I have seen where many of our residents lived before coming to IVH; I am certain that, in the vast majority of cases, they are in a much better, safer environment here. Thank you for choosing a profession where we serve those who served us. We carry on a tradition dating back over 138 years (50,525 days) to December 1, 1887.

4. Cultivating a Strong Team Culture

Employee satisfaction is vital to our mission. I am calling on our senior staff to invest extra energy into welcoming and integrating new teammates. No one at IVH should feel like they aren't "part of the team."

Additionally, we are focusing on internal communication. Every staff member should have the contact information for their supervisor and senior leaders saved and ready. We must be able to reach one another to stay aligned.

5. Transparency in Our Hiring Process

I respect the frustrations shared regarding our selection process. While no system is perfect, we operate in full compliance with the Iowa Code and administrative regulations. Our process mirrors other state agencies—from vacancy announcements to Department of Administrative Services (DAS) screening—ensuring we find the best-qualified candidates to serve our Veterans.

6. Honoring the Ultimate Sacrifice

As we work in Marshalltown, Camp Dodge, and Van Meter, we must pause to remember the Iowans and Americans affected by recent attacks on U.S. Forces in Palmyra, Syria, and the Port of Shuaiba, Kuwait. These Soldiers wrote a "blank check" to the American people, payable up to and including their lives. We honor:

• SSG William “Nate” Howard (Marshalltown, IA)
• SSG Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar (Grimes, IA)
• SFC Nicole Amor (White Bear Lake, MN)
• SGT Declan Coady (West Des Moines, IA)
• CPT Cody Khork (Winter Haven, FL)
• CW3 Robert Marzan (Sacramento, CA)
• MAJ Jeffrey O’Brien (Waukee, IA)
• MSG Noah Tietjens (Bellevue, NE)

7. Innovation vs. Hierarchy

Recently, a staff member asked me what happens to a "top-down, rules-based organization." It’s a fair question. While hierarchy provides stability in a crisis, it can stifle innovation if not balanced. At IVH, we are constantly evolving based on front-line innovation. From changing our nursing scheduling systems to fielding new medication carts and needle-free systems—these were your ideas.

I encourage any staff member—current or former—to use our internal channels for professional dialogue. I remain open to constructive conversations to help us better fulfill our mission.

8. Celebrating Excellence: March 2026 Award Winners

Congratulations to our superior performers this month! Thank you to everyone who took the time to nominate these deserving teammates.

• The Champion Award: John Johnson (Carpenter 2) John was nominated four times! His technical skill and commitment to resident happiness—from building a custom wheelchair lift solution to a "human slot machine" for activities—make him a cornerstone of our team’s morale.
• The Nursing Poppy Award: Kimberly Rodriguez (RTW, Ulery Building) Kimberly is recognized for her patience and gentle approach. As her nominator said, "She makes the residents feel like family."
• The Food Service Poppy Award: Hillary Lucas (Therapeutic Technician) Hillary is a leader in our Menu Suites software transition and an essential liaison between our residents' dietary needs and the kitchen.

The best is yet to come—Always. It is an honor to serve with each of you.

Todd Jacobus Commandant, Iowa Veterans Home