Kevin P. Costa, M.A., has over 30 years’ experience in the substance abuse and vocational field. He has been involved with the CARF process for over 20 years and is currently an active CARF surveyor in the Behavioral Health and Employment and Community fields.

Mr. Costa earned his B.A. in Business Administration from Columbia College and a Master’s degree in Urban Education Community Counseling from Norfolk State University.

He is a Retired Navy Chief Petty Officer (E-7). During his military career he was awarded Master Training Specialist (MST), a designation achieved by only 5% of enlisted Navy. He also worked as a Curriculum Development Specialist, designing, developing, and instructing courses on a wide range of subjects. In addition, Kevin was a Prevention Specialist for Substance Abuse Programs and served as a Career Counselor within his department.

In 1994, Kevin joined the Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMC) as an Addiction Therapist. There, he designed and facilitated classes to help Veterans learn coping skills, conducted individual and group therapy, and coordinated clinical activities with treatment teams. He also led Family Education classes to support family members in understanding addiction.

In 2006, Kevin transitioned into the Vocational Rehabilitation field, where he worked extensively with Veterans diagnosed with Severe Mental Illness (SMI). He successfully placed many into employment settings, became Program Director, and later a National Facilitator, training over 450 new employment specialists nationwide.

Mr. Costa recently retired after 22 years of service with the VA.

Personally, Kevin loves to travel and learn about new cultures. His recent travels include Japan, India, Dubai, Italy, France, Spain, and Ecuador.