Mary-dith “Mary” Tuitt, at right, has joined the staff at The Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center to lead its Veteran’s Center. A former jet mechanic, Tuitt, who lives in Dorchester, served on active duty in the US Navy for 14 years.

A native of Montserrat, she moved to Boston at a young age with her three brothers and attended Boston public schools, graduating from Boston Technical High School in 1985.

Later, she served as chief of staff to former state Rep. Gloria Fox and then as a liaison for former City Councillor Charles Yancey and was herself a candidate for city council and state representative in 2011 and 2013, respectively.

“Harvard Street is very fortunate to have someone of Mary-dith’s caliber leading our Veterans Center effort,” said Charles Murphy, interim president and CEO at Harvard Street. “As a veteran herself, she knows first-hand how to approach the issues that veterans and their family members face and will be well positioned to get them the help they need.”

Said Tuitt of her new position: “I hope to outreach to my veteran sisters and brothers in the neighborhoods and throughout the region and offer them a one-stop center of resource and assistance, as well as critical health care options. The Vet Center is open to all veterans, military attached, and dependents.”