Bradley Starnes

Ward County’s Veterans Service director resigned Friday under circumstances that have been turned over to law enforcement for investigation, according to Ward County State’s Attorney Roza Larson.

The Ward County Commission held a special meeting Monday regarding the undisclosed circumstances surrounding the resignation of Bradley Starnes. Following an executive session, the commission reconvened to approve advertising for a new director and to name Brock Gilstad, county veterans service officer, as interim director.

At the commission’s directive, its personnel committee will be discussing future staffing levels in the office.

The Starnes investigation was turned over to the Ward County Sheriff’s Office.

Starnes joined the Ward County Veterans Service Office as director in June 2020. According to his biography at the time of his hiring, he had worked as office manager at the Minot Vet Center for almost four years and earned a finance degree from Minot State University. A native of Minnesota, he had enlisted in the Air Force, which brought him to Minot Air Force Base. He was a staff sergeant at Minot AFB when medically separated in December 2008.