Tom Lyons, MassHousing manager of community services for the last nine years, has been appointed to the nationally run Department of Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans.

Lyons, of Wakefield, was appointed to the committee by Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. As a committee member, Lyons will provide advice on issues related to the needs of homeless veterans and assess the effectiveness of VA policies and programs for homeless veterans, according to a statement.

"I am honored to be appointed by Secretary Eric Shinseki to this very important committee to end homelessness among our nation’s veterans," said Lyons. "I believe my 30 years experience within the veterans’ community at the local and state levels will bring a different and unique perspective to help end this epidemic of homelessness and return the dignity and respect that these men and women have earned through their selfless service to America."

Lyons, a Marine Corps veteran of the Vietnam War, has co-chaired the commonwealth’s Governor’s Veterans Advisory Council Subcommittee on Veterans Housing, and he was appointed by Gov. Deval Patrick to serve on the board of directors for the Chelsea Soldiers Home. He recently was honored by the University of Massachusetts at Boston with the Robert H. Quinn Award for Outstanding Community Leadership for his work on behalf of veterans and their families, according to a statement.

Lyons also spent 10 years as Boston’s deputy commissioner for veterans and seven years as executive director of the New England Shelter for Homeless Veterans before joining MassHousing. He is a founding member of the committee that created the South Boston Vietnam Veterans Memorial in 1981, and he is the founder and president of the Boston Semper Fidelis Society, which every November hosts the nation’s largest annual Marine Corps Birthday luncheon and assists with charitable efforts for veterans and their families.