Minela “Nella” Tarpley
Veteran Service Officer (VSO)
Minela “Nella” Tarpley was born and raised in Bosnia and emigrated to Des Moines, Iowa with her family in 2000 at the age of 14. She joined the United States Air Force in 2007 and was stationed at Scott AFB where she met her husband.
After discharge she pursued higher education at Bradley University with a degree in social work. After graduation, to be closer to family, they decided to go back to Des Moines, IA in 2014. They welcomed a son in 2015. In 2016 she started a new career as a veterans service officer in Dallas county. In 2023 her husband’s career took her back to Illinois and she started her new path with the Veterans Assistance Commission in March 2025.
She enjoys helping veterans and their families learn about and take advantage of all the benefits available to them. She, her husband and their 2 kids enjoy spending time biking and exploring all the parks and forest preserves.
