President Bush Designates Patrick W. Dunne ...
Washington, DC - April 2, 2008
Patrick W. Dunne was designated by President Bush to serve as the Department of Veterans Affairs acting under secretary for benefits. Mr. Dunne is a retired Navy rear admiral and since August 2006, he has served as the Department of Veterans Affairs Assistant Secretary for Policy and Planning. Mr. Dunne replaces retired Navy Vice Admiral Daniel L. Cooper, who announced recently that he would be leaving the VA on April 1, 2008 after six years managing the Department’s benefits programs.
A search commission, led by VA’s Deputy Secretary Gordon H. Mansfield, is in the process of identifying candidates for Cooper’s permanent replacement. Under federal law, the search commission must recommend at least three candidates to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, who forwards the list to the President along with any recommendations by the Secretary.
Patrick W. Dunne was designated by President Bush to serve as the Department of Veterans Affairs acting under secretary for benefits. Mr. Dunne is a retired Navy rear admiral and since August 2006, he has served as the Department of Veterans Affairs Assistant Secretary for Policy and Planning. Mr. Dunne replaces retired Navy Vice Admiral Daniel L. Cooper, who announced recently that he would be leaving the VA on April 1, 2008 after six years managing the Department’s benefits programs.
A search commission, led by VA’s Deputy Secretary Gordon H. Mansfield, is in the process of identifying candidates for Cooper’s permanent replacement. Under federal law, the search commission must recommend at least three candidates to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, who forwards the list to the President along with any recommendations by the Secretary.
NAVAPD WELCOMES NEW BOARD MEMBER
WASHINGTON, DC
The Executive Board of NAVAPD is pleased to announce the addition of a new member to its ranks. Deborah J. Whitman, D.M.D., M.S.Ed., has joined the Board in the position of Director, Dental Affairs.
Dr. Whitman joined the Boston VAMC in 2004. She is a staff prosthodontist and a Clinical Assistant Professor at the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, Boston University. Prior to joining the VA, Dr. Whitman had military, academic and private practice experience. During active duty, she received specialty training in prosthodontics at the Naval Dental Clinic in Bethesda, MD. Her next duty assignment was as the department head of prosthodontics at the Branch Dental Clinic, New London, CT. Upon completing active duty, Dr. Whitman was appointed to the faculty of Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and was the staff prosthodontist at Harvard University Health Services.
Dr. Whitman is delighted to be ... Continue to Full Story
The Executive Board of NAVAPD is pleased to announce the addition of a new member to its ranks. Deborah J. Whitman, D.M.D., M.S.Ed., has joined the Board in the position of Director, Dental Affairs.
Dr. Whitman joined the Boston VAMC in 2004. She is a staff prosthodontist and a Clinical Assistant Professor at the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, Boston University. Prior to joining the VA, Dr. Whitman had military, academic and private practice experience. During active duty, she received specialty training in prosthodontics at the Naval Dental Clinic in Bethesda, MD. Her next duty assignment was as the department head of prosthodontics at the Branch Dental Clinic, New London, CT. Upon completing active duty, Dr. Whitman was appointed to the faculty of Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and was the staff prosthodontist at Harvard University Health Services.
Dr. Whitman is delighted to be ... Continue to Full Story
U. S. SENATE PASSES BUDGET RESOLUTION RE:VA
WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 14, 2008
The Budget Resolution for Fiscal Year 2009 passed the U.S. Senate early this morning. It included an authorization for another historic increase for the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Budget Resolution includes $3.2 billion above the Administration's request for veterans' programs as Congress works to draft the Fiscal Year 2009 VA appropriations bill.
The Budget Resolution for Fiscal Year 2009 passed the U.S. Senate early this morning. It included an authorization for another historic increase for the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Budget Resolution includes $3.2 billion above the Administration's request for veterans' programs as Congress works to draft the Fiscal Year 2009 VA appropriations bill.
VA Creating Advisory Panel on Rural Health
Washington, DC
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake announced via a press release dated February 20, 2008, the creation of a special “Rural Health National Advisory Committee” to advise him and the senior leaders of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) about health care issues affecting veterans in rural areas. The panel’s first meeting is tentatively scheduled for this summer. To see the full text of the press release go to http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressre ... fm?id=1453
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake announced via a press release dated February 20, 2008, the creation of a special “Rural Health National Advisory Committee” to advise him and the senior leaders of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) about health care issues affecting veterans in rural areas. The panel’s first meeting is tentatively scheduled for this summer. To see the full text of the press release go to http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressre ... fm?id=1453
Review of Veterans' Disability Compensation...
WASHINGTON, D.C.
U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, held an oversight hearing on February 5, 2008 entitled: "Review of Veterans' Disability Compensation - Rehabilitating Veterans." The Committee began a thorough look at VA's rehabilitation system, the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) Service, in the context of the larger veterans' disability compensation system of The Department of Veterans Affairs’ Veterans Benefits Administration.
Several prior reviews of this program have been completed in the past. In 2004, a VA Task Force, the VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Task Force, chaired by The Honorable Dorcas R. Hardy former Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, conducted a comprehensive study of the VR&E program and issued a report with more than 100 recommendations for improvements. Among the recommendations were that limited data and analysis hindered effective management of the program, there was need for a more aggressive and integrated approach to serving veterans with serious employment handicaps, and the program needed to be more focused on employment outcomes. The Task Force also recommended the program be available to all veterans as they transition from military to civilian employment and new careers with priority of services to veterans who have the most serious disabilities that impact quality of life and future employment. For the complete report of the 2004 Task Force entitled: The Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program for the 21st Century Veteran see http://www1.va.gov/op3/docs/VRE_Report.pdf
In 2007, the President's Commission on Care for America's Returning Wounded Warriors known as the Dole-Shalala Commission and the Veterans’ Disability Benefits Commission also looked at the VR&E program and made recommendations that echoed those of the 2004 Task Force. For the complete report from these commissions see:
http://www.pccww.gov/
http://www.vetscommission.org/pdf/Final ... ressed.pdf ... Continue to Full Story
U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, held an oversight hearing on February 5, 2008 entitled: "Review of Veterans' Disability Compensation - Rehabilitating Veterans." The Committee began a thorough look at VA's rehabilitation system, the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) Service, in the context of the larger veterans' disability compensation system of The Department of Veterans Affairs’ Veterans Benefits Administration.
Several prior reviews of this program have been completed in the past. In 2004, a VA Task Force, the VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Task Force, chaired by The Honorable Dorcas R. Hardy former Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, conducted a comprehensive study of the VR&E program and issued a report with more than 100 recommendations for improvements. Among the recommendations were that limited data and analysis hindered effective management of the program, there was need for a more aggressive and integrated approach to serving veterans with serious employment handicaps, and the program needed to be more focused on employment outcomes. The Task Force also recommended the program be available to all veterans as they transition from military to civilian employment and new careers with priority of services to veterans who have the most serious disabilities that impact quality of life and future employment. For the complete report of the 2004 Task Force entitled: The Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program for the 21st Century Veteran see http://www1.va.gov/op3/docs/VRE_Report.pdf
In 2007, the President's Commission on Care for America's Returning Wounded Warriors known as the Dole-Shalala Commission and the Veterans’ Disability Benefits Commission also looked at the VR&E program and made recommendations that echoed those of the 2004 Task Force. For the complete report from these commissions see:
http://www.pccww.gov/
http://www.vetscommission.org/pdf/Final ... ressed.pdf ... Continue to Full Story
by sspagnolo | Monday, April 7, 2008 at 12:52 PM
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