The deputy secretary of veterans affairs, in the United States government, is the chief operating officer of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, responsible for a nationwide system of health care services, benefits programs, and national cemeteries for America's veterans and their dependents. The deputy secretary is the second-highest-ranking officer in the department and succeeds the secretary in the event of his resignation, death, or otherwise inability to fulfill his duties.
The deputy secretary is appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate.. Accessed September 24, 2007. The position was created with the creation of the Department of Veterans Affairs in October 1988.
List of deputy secretaries of veterans affairs Portrait Name Term of office President(s) served under Start End 1 Anthony Joseph Principi March 17, 1989 September 26, 1992 George H. W. Bush 2 Hershel Wayne Gober February 4, 1993US Department of Veterans Affairs. The Honorable Hershel W. Gober . July 2000. Accessed January 15, 2008. "He had served as Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs since being sworn in by President Clinton on February 4, 1993." August 10, 2000US Department of Veterans Affairs. Ned Powell Named Acting VA Deputy Secretary. August 9, 2000. Accessed January 15, 2008. "President Clinton has appointed Edward A. (Ned) Powell, Jr., as the Acting Deputy Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)." Bill Clinton – Edward A. "Ned" Powell, Jr. (acting) August 10, 2000 January 20, 2001Cahoon. Ben. Department of Veterans Affairs. WorldStatesmen.org. Accessed January 15, 2008. 3 Leo S. Mackay, Jr. May 24, 2001US Department of Veterans Affairs. . January 2002. Accessed January 16, 2008. "Leo S. Mackay Jr., PhD, was nominated to be Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs on April 30, 2001, and was confirmed by the Senate on May 24." September 30, 2003US Department of Veterans Affairs. Dr. Leo Mackay Steps Down as VA Deputy Secretary November 15, 2003. Accessed January 16, 2008. "Dr. Leo S. Mackay Jr. announced his resignation today as the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), effective September 30." George W. Bush 4 Gordon H. Mansfield January 22, 2004US Department of Veterans Affairs. VA Official Biography The Honorable Gordon H. Mansfield. November 2006. Accessed January 16, 2008. "Mr. Mansfield was nominated to serve as Deputy Secretary by President George W. Bush on November 3, 2003, and confirmed by the Senate on January 22, 2004." January 20, 2009 5 W. Scott Gould April 9, 2009 May 17, 2013 Barack Obama 6 Sloan D. Gibson February 11, 2014 January 20, 2017 – Gina Farrisee (acting) January 20, 2017 February 25, 2017 Donald Trump – Scott Blackburn (acting) February 26, 2017 August 9, 2017 7 Thomas G. Bowman August 10, 2017 June 15, 2018 8 James Byrne August 28, 2018 September 16, 2019 September 16, 2019 February 3, 2020 – Pamela J. Powers (acting) April 2, 2020 January 20, 2021 – Carolyn Clancy (acting) January 20, 2021 July 19, 2021Joe Biden 9 Donald Remy July 19, 2021 April 1, 2023 – Guy Kiyokawa (acting) April 1, 2023 September 19, 202310Tanya J. BradsherSeptember 20, 2023January 20, 202511Paul LawrenceMarch 29, 2025IncumbentDonald Trump
References Acted as Secretary during their tenure. See the list of secretaries for dates.