The United States secretary of veterans affairs is the head of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the department concerned with veterans' benefits, health care, and national veterans' memorials and cemeteries. The secretary is a member of the Cabinet and second to last at seventeenth in the line of succession to the presidency (the position was last until the addition of the United States Department of Homeland Security in 2006Public Law 109-177 §.503). Until the appointment of David Shulkin in 2017, all appointees and acting appointees to the post were United States military veterans, but that is not a requirement to fill the position.
When the post of secretary is vacant, the deputy secretary. Accessed January 13, 2008. or any other person designated by the president serves as acting secretary until the president nominates and the United States Senate confirms a new secretary.
List of secretaries of veterans affairs Parties (2) (3) (7)
Status
SecretaryTerm of officePresident(s)PortraitNameState of residenceTook officeLeft officeTerm lengthIllinoisMarch 15, 1989September 26, 1992(1989–1993)CaliforniaSeptember 26, 1992January 20, 1993IllinoisJanuary 22, 1993July 13, 1997(1993–2001)ArkansasJuly 13, 1997January 2, 1998District of ColumbiaJanuary 2, 1998May 4, 1998May 4, 1998July 25, 2000ArkansasJuly 25, 2000January 20, 2001CaliforniaJanuary 23, 2001January 26, 2005(2001–2009)ColoradoJanuary 26, 2005October 1, 2007FloridaOctober 1, 2007December 20, 2007District of ColumbiaDecember 20, 2007January 20, 20097HawaiiJanuary 20, 2009May 30, 2014(2009–2017)AlabamaMay 30, 2014July 30, 2014OhioJuly 30, 2014January 20, 2017West VirginiaJanuary 20, 2017February 14, 2017(2017–2021)9PennsylvaniaFebruary 14, 2017March 28, 2018North CarolinaMarch 28, 2018May 29, 2018VirginiaMay 29, 2018July 30, 2018North CarolinaJuly 30, 2018January 20, 2021OhioJanuary 20, 2021February 9, 2021(2021–2025)MinnesotaFebruary 9, 2021January 20, 2025January 20, 2025February 5, 2025(2025–present)GeorgiaFebruary 5, 2025Incumbent
Anthony Principi served as Acting Secretary in his capacity as Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs September 26, 1992 – January 20, 1993.
Hershel W. Gober served as Acting Secretary in his capacity as Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs July 13, 1997 – January 2, 1998 and July 25, 2000 – January 20, 2001.
West served as Acting Secretary from January 2, 1998 to May 4, 1998.
Gordon H. Mansfield served as Acting Secretary in his capacity as Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs October 1 – December 20, 2007.UPI. Peake sworn in as VA secretary , December 20, 2007. Accessed December 21, 2007.
See also Administrator of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administration
References
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