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{{Infobox US Cabinet
{{Short description|U.S. Cabinet position}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2018}}
| post = Secretary of Veterans Affairs
{{Infobox official post
| body = the United States of America
| flag = Flag of the United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs.svg{{!}}border
| post = United States Secretary
| body = Veterans Affairs
| flagsize = 130px
| flagcaption = Flag of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
| flag = Flag of the United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs.svg
| flagborder = yes
| insignia = US-DeptOfVeteransAffairs-Seal.svg
| flagsize = 130
| insigniasize = 120px
| flagcaption = Flag of the secretary
| insigniacaption = Seal of the Department of Veterans Affairs
| insignia = Seal of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.svg
| image = Robert_A._McDonald_Official_Portrait.jpg
| insigniasize = 120
| imagesize = 170px
| insigniacaption = Seal of the department
| incumbent = [[Robert A. McDonald|Robert McDonald]]
| image = File:Secretary McDonough, official photo (cropped).jpg
| incumbentsince = July 30, 2014
| incumbent = [[Denis McDonough]]
| department = [[United States Department of Veterans Affairs|U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs]]
| incumbentsince = February 9, 2021
| member_of = [[United States Cabinet|Cabinet]]
| department = [[United States Department of Veterans Affairs]]
| reports_to = The [[President of the United States|President]]
| style = Mr. Secretary (informal)<br>[[The Honourable#United States|The Honorable]] (formal)
| seat = [[Washington, D.C.]]
| appointer = The [[President of the United States|President]]
| member_of = [[United States Cabinet]]
| reports_to = [[President of the United States]]
| seat = [[Washington, D.C.]]
| appointer = The [[President of the United States]]
| appointer_qualified = with [[United States Senate|Senate]] [[advice and consent]]
| appointer_qualified = with [[United States Senate|Senate]] [[advice and consent]]
| termlength = No fixed term
| termlength = No fixed term
| constituting_instrument = {{UnitedStatesCode|38|303}}
| constituting_instrument = {{UnitedStatesCode|38|303}}
| formation = March 15, 1989
| formation = March 15, 1989
| first = [[Ed Derwinski]]
| first = [[Ed Derwinski]]
| succession = Sixteenth <br/><small>([[United States presidential line of succession|Presidential Line of Succession]])</small>
| succession = [[United States presidential line of succession|Seventeenth]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/3/19|title = 3 U.S. Code § 19 - Vacancy in offices of both President and Vice President; officers eligible to act}}</ref>
| deputy = [[Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs]]
| deputy = [[United States Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs]]
| salary = [[Executive Schedule|Executive Schedule, level 1]]
| salary = [[Executive Schedule|Executive Schedule, level I]]
| website = {{URL|http://www.va.gov/|www.VA.gov}}
| website = {{url|https://www.va.gov|VA.gov}}
}}
}}
The '''United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs''' is the head of the [[United States Department of Veterans Affairs|U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs]], the department concerned with veterans' benefits and related matters. The Secretary is a member of the [[United States Cabinet|Cabinet]] and second to last at Sixteenth in the [[United States presidential line of succession|line of succession]] to [[President of the United States|the presidency]] (the position was last until the addition of the [[United States Department of Homeland Security]] in 2006<ref>[http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_cong_public_laws&docid=f:publ177.109 Public Law 109-177]§.503</ref>). To date, all appointees and acting appointees to the post have been United States military veterans, but that is not a requirement to fill the position.
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 [[United States Cabinet|Cabinet]] and second to last at seventeenth<ref>{{Cite web |title=Order of presidential succession {{!}} USAGov |url=https://www.usa.gov/presidential-succession |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=www.usa.gov |language=en}}</ref> in the [[United States presidential line of succession|line of succession]] to [[President of the United States|the presidency]] (the position was last until the addition of the [[United States Department of Homeland Security]] in 2006<ref>[http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_cong_public_laws&docid=f:publ177.109 Public Law 109-177] §.503</ref>). 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 [[United States Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs]]<ref name="usc">{{usc2|38|304|Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs}}. Accessed 2008-01-13.</ref> or any other person designated by the President serves as Acting Secretary<ref name="usc"/> until the President nominates and the [[United States Senate]] confirms a new Secretary.
When the post of secretary is vacant, the [[United States Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs|deputy secretary]]<ref name="usc">{{usc2|38|304|Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs}}. Accessed January 13, 2008.</ref> or any other person designated by the president serves as acting secretary<ref name="usc"/> until the president nominates and the [[United States Senate]] confirms a new secretary.


[[Denis McDonough]] is currently serving as the 11th secretary of veterans affairs since February 9, 2021 under President [[Joe Biden]].
On December 8, 2008, U.S. President [[Barack Obama]] announced he would nominate retired U.S. Army general, [[Eric Shinseki]], to be the 7th Secretary of Veterans Affairs. He was unanimously confirmed by the [[United States Senate]] on January 20, 2009.<ref>http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hi6r-WMKkf2LwqPLQN0PhNMabNmgD95R59EG0</ref> General Shinseki resigned as Secretary of Veterans Affairs on May 30, 2014, making deputy secretary Sloan Gibson the acting secretary. On June 29, 2014, former [[Procter & Gamble]] CEO [[Robert A. McDonald]] was nominated by [[Barack Obama]] as the next secretary.


==List of Secretaries of Veterans Affairs==
==List of secretaries of veterans affairs==
; Parties
; Parties
{{legend2|#EEEEEE|[[Independent (politician)|No party]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend2|#EEEEEE|[[Independent (politician)|No party]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} (2)
{{legend2|{{Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color}}|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend2|{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} (3)
{{legend2|{{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}}|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}
{{legend2|{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} (6)

; Status
; Status
{{legend|#E6E6AA|Denotes [[acting (law)|acting]] Secretary|border=black}}
{{legend|#E6E6AA|[[Acting (law)|Acting]] Secretary of Veterans Affairs|border=black}}

{| class="wikitable" style="clear:right; text-align:center"
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
! No.
! Portrait
! Name
! State of Residence
! Took Office
! Left Office
! colspan="2"|[[President of the United States|President(s)]]
|-
|-
!rowspan=2 |{{abbr|No.|Number}}
! style="background: {{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}};" | {{color|white|1}}
!colspan=3 |Secretary
| [[Image:Ed derwinski.jpg|75px]]
!colspan=3 |Term of office
| [[Ed Derwinski]]
!colspan=2 rowspan=2 |[[President of the United States|President(s)]]
| [[Illinois]]
| March 15, 1989
| September 26, 1992
| rowspan="2" style="background: {{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}};" |
| rowspan="2"| [[George H. W. Bush]]
|-
|-
!class=unsortable |Portrait
! style="background: #E6E6AA;" | {{color|black|–}}
!Name
| bgcolor=#E6E6AA |[[Image:Anthony Principi.jpg|75px]]
!State of residence
| bgcolor=#E6E6AA |[[Anthony Principi]]{{ref label|1|1|1}}<br><small>(acting)</small>
!Took office
| bgcolor=#E6E6AA |[[California]]
!Left office
| bgcolor=#E6E6AA |September 26, 1992
!Term length
| bgcolor=#E6E6AA |January 20, 1993
|-
|-
! style="background: {{Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color}};" | {{color|white|2}}
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|1}}
| [[Image:Jesse brown va.jpg|75px]]
|[[File:Ed derwinski.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Ed|Derwinski}}
| [[Jesse Brown]]
| [[Illinois]]
|[[Illinois]]
|March 15, 1989
| January 22, 1993
|September 26, 1992
| July 1, 1997
|{{ayd|March 15, 1989|September 26, 1992}}
| rowspan="5" style="background: {{Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color}};" |
|rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
| rowspan="5"| [[Bill Clinton]]
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|George H. W.|Bush}}<br>(1989–1993)
|- style="background:#E6E6AA;"
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|–}}
|[[File:Anthony Principi.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Anthony|Principi}}{{ref label|1|1|1}}<br>{{small|Acting}}
|[[California]]
|September 26, 1992
|January 20, 1993
|{{ayd|September 26, 1992|January 20, 1993}}
|-
|-
! style="background: #E6E6AA;" | {{color|black|–}}
!style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|2}}
| bgcolor=#E6E6AA |[[Image:Gober sm.jpg|75px]]
|[[Image:Jesse brown va.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Jesse|Brown}}
| bgcolor=#E6E6AA |[[Hershel W. Gober]]{{ref label|2|2|2}}<br><small>(acting)</small>
|[[Illinois]]
| bgcolor=#E6E6AA |[[Arkansas]]
|January 22, 1993
| bgcolor=#E6E6AA |July 1, 1997
|July 13, 1997
| bgcolor=#E6E6AA |January 2, 1998
|{{ayd|January 22, 1993|July 13, 1997}}
|rowspan=5 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=5 |{{sortname|Bill|Clinton}}<br>(1993–2001)
|- style="background:#E6E6AA;"
!style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|–}}
|[[File:Gober sm.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Hershel W.|Gober}}{{ref label|2|2|2}}<br>{{small|Acting}}
|[[Arkansas]]
|July 13, 1997
|January 2, 1998
|{{ayd|July 13, 1997|January 2, 1998}}
|-
|-
!rowspan="2" style="background: {{Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color}};" | {{color|white|3}}
!rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|3}}
|rowspan="2"|[[Image:TogoDWest.jpg|75px]]
|rowspan=2|[[File:TogoDWest.jpg|75px]]
|rowspan="2"|[[Togo D. West, Jr.]]
|rowspan=2|{{sortname|Togo D.|West Jr.}}
|rowspan="2"|[[District of Columbia]]
|rowspan=2|[[District of Columbia]]
|bgcolor=#E6E6AA |January 2, 1998{{ref label|3|3|3}}
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |January 2, 1998{{ref label|3|3|3}}
|bgcolor=#E6E6AA |May 5, 1998
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |May 4, 1998
|style="background:#e6e6aa;" |{{ayd|January 2, 1998|May 4, 1998}}
|-
|-
| May 5, 1998
|May 4, 1998
| July 25, 2000
|July 25, 2000
|{{ayd|May 4, 1998|July 25, 2000}}
|- style="background:#E6E6AA;"
!style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|–}}
|[[File:Gober sm.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Hershel W.|Gober}}{{ref label|2|2|2}}<br>{{small|Acting}}
|[[Arkansas]]
|July 25, 2000
|January 20, 2001
|{{ayd|July 25, 2000|January 20, 2001}}
|-
|-
! style="background: #E6E6AA;" | {{color|black|–}}
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|4}}
| bgcolor=#E6E6AA |[[Image:Gober sm.jpg|75px]]
|[[File:Anthony Principi.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Anthony|Principi}}
| bgcolor=#E6E6AA |[[Hershel W. Gober]]{{ref label|2|2|2}}<br><small>(acting)</small>
|[[California]]
| bgcolor=#E6E6AA |[[Arkansas]]
|January 23, 2001
| bgcolor=#E6E6AA |July 25, 2000
| bgcolor=#E6E6AA |January 20, 2001
|January 26, 2005
|{{ayd|January 23, 2001|January 26, 2005}}
|rowspan=4 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=4 |{{sortname|George W.|Bush}}<br>(2001–2009)
|-
|-
! style="background: {{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}};" | {{color|white|4}}
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|5}}
| [[Image:Anthony Principi.jpg|75px]]
|[[File:JimNicholson.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Jim|Nicholson|dab=Secretary of Veterans Affairs}}
| [[Anthony Principi]]
| [[California]]
|[[Colorado]]
| January 23, 2001
|January 26, 2005
|October 1, 2007
| January 26, 2005
|{{ayd|January 26, 2005|October 1, 2007}}
| rowspan="4" style="background: {{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}};" |
|- style="background:#E6E6AA;"
| rowspan="4"| [[George W. Bush]]
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|–}}
|[[File:Gordon H. Mansfield.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Gordon H.|Mansfield}}{{ref label|4|4|4}}<br>{{small|Acting}}
|[[Florida]]
|October 1, 2007
|December 20, 2007
|{{ayd|October 1, 2007|December 20, 2007}}
|-
|-
! style="background: {{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}};" | {{color|white|5}}
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|6}}
| [[Image:JimNicholson.jpg|75px]]
|[[File:PeakeJames.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|James|Peake}}
| [[Jim Nicholson (Secretary of Veterans Affairs)|Jim Nicholson]],<br><small>''[[Colonel (United States)|Colonel]], USA (Ret.)''
|[[District of Columbia]]
| [[Colorado]]
|December 20, 2007
| January 26, 2005
|January 20, 2009
| October 1, 2007
|{{ayd|December 20, 2007|January 20, 2009}}
|-
|-
! style="background: #E6E6AA;" | {{color|black|–}}
!style="background: {{Party shading/None}};" |7
|[[File:Eric Shinseki official Veterans Affairs portrait.jpg|75px]]
| bgcolor=#E6E6AA |[[Image:Gordon H. Mansfield.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Eric|Shinseki}}
| bgcolor=#E6E6AA |[[Gordon H. Mansfield]]{{ref label|4|4|4}}<br><small>(acting)</small>
|[[Hawaii]]
| bgcolor=#E6E6AA |[[Florida]]
|January 20, 2009
| bgcolor=#E6E6AA |October 1, 2007
|May 30, 2014
| bgcolor=#E6E6AA |December 20, 2007
|{{ayd|January 20, 2009|May 30, 2014}}
|rowspan=3 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=3 |{{sortname|Barack|Obama}}<br>(2009–2017)
|- style="background:#e6e6aa;"
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|–}}
|[[File:Sloan Gibson.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Sloan D.|Gibson}}<br>{{small|Acting}}
|[[Alabama]]
|May 30, 2014
|July 30, 2014
|{{ayd|May 30, 2014|July 30, 2014}}
|-
|-
! style="background: {{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}};" | {{color|white|6}}
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|8}}
| [[Image:PeakeJames.jpg|75px]]
|[[File:Robert A. McDonald Official Portrait.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Bob|McDonald|dab=businessman}}
| [[James Peake|James B. Peake]], <br><small>''Lt.Gen., USA (Ret.)''
|[[Ohio]]
|[[District of Columbia]]
|July 30, 2014
| December 20, 2007
| January 20, 2009
|January 20, 2017
|{{ayd|July 30, 2014|January 20, 2017}}
|-
|-
! style="background: {{Party shading/None}};" | 7
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|–}}
| [[File:Eric Shinseki official Veterans Affairs portrait.jpg|75px]]
|style="background:#E6E6AA;" |[[File:Robert Snyder.jpg|75px]]
|style="background:#E6E6AA;" |{{sortname|Robert|Snyder|dab=civil servant}}<br>{{small|Acting}}
| [[Eric Shinseki]],<br><small>''[[General (United States)|General]], USA (Ret.)''
|style="background:#E6E6AA;" |[[West Virginia]]
| [[Hawaii]]
| January 20, 2009
|style="background:#E6E6AA;" |January 20, 2017
|style="background:#E6E6AA;" |February 14, 2017
| May 30, 2014
| style="background: {{Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color}};" |
|style="background:#E6E6AA;" |{{ayd|January 20, 2017|February 14, 2017}}
|rowspan=5 style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |
| rowspan="3"|[[Barack Obama]]
|rowspan=5 |{{sortname|Donald|Trump}}<br>(2017–2021)
|-
|-
! style="background: #E6E6AA;" | {{color|black|–}}
!style="background: {{Party shading/None}};" |9
|[[File:David Shulkin official photo (cropped).jpg|75px]]
| bgcolor=#E6E6AA |[[Image:Sloan_Gibson.jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|David|Shulkin}}
| bgcolor=#E6E6AA |[[Sloan D. Gibson]]<br><small>(acting)</small>
|[[Pennsylvania]]
| bgcolor=#E6E6AA |[[Alabama]]
|February 14, 2017
| bgcolor=#E6E6AA |May 30, 2014
|March 28, 2018
| bgcolor=#E6E6AA |July 30, 2014
|{{ayd|February 14, 2017|March 28, 2018}}
| style="background: {{Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color}}" |
|- style="background:#E6E6AA;"
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|–}}
|[[File:Robert L. Wilkie acting SECVA official photo (cropped).jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Robert|Wilkie}}<br>{{small|Acting}}
|[[North Carolina]]
|March 28, 2018
|May 29, 2018
|{{ayd|March 28, 2018|May 29, 2018}}
|- style="background:#E6E6AA;"
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|–}}
|[[File:Peter O'Rourke official photo (cropped).jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Peter|O'Rourke|dab=U.S. government official}}<br>{{small|Acting}}
|[[Virginia]]
|May 29, 2018
|July 30, 2018
|{{ayd|May 29, 2018|July 30, 2018}}
|-
|-
! style="background: {{Republican Party (United States)/meta/color}};" | {{color|white|8}}
!style="background: {{party color|Republican Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|10}}
| [[File:Robert_A._McDonald_Official_Portrait.jpg|75px]]
|[[File:Robert Wilkie official portrait (cropped).jpg|75px]]
|{{sortname|Robert|Wilkie}}
| [[Robert A. McDonald|Robert McDonald]]''
| [[Ohio]]
|[[North Carolina]]
| July 30, 2014
|July 30, 2018
|January 20, 2021
| present
|{{ayd|July 30, 2018|January 20, 2021}}
| style="background: {{Democratic Party (United States)/meta/color}};" |
|-
!style="background: {{Party shading/None}};" |{{color|black|–}}
|style="background:#E6E6AA;" |[[File:Acting US Secretary of VA Dat P Tran (cropped).jpg|75px]]
|style="background:#E6E6AA;" |{{sortname|Dat|Tran}}<br>{{small|Acting}}
|style="background:#E6E6AA;" |
[[Ohio]]
|style="background:#E6E6AA;" |January 20, 2021
|style="background:#E6E6AA;" |February 9, 2021
|style="background:#E6E6AA;" |{{ayd|January 20, 2021|February 9, 2021}}
|rowspan=2 style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |
|rowspan=2 |{{sortname|Joe|Biden}}<br>(2021–''2025'')
|-
!style="background: {{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}};" |{{color|white|11}}
|[[File:Secretary McDonough, official photo (cropped).jpg|frameless|91x91px]]
|{{sortname|Denis|McDonough}}
|[[Minnesota]]
|February 9, 2021
|Incumbent
|{{ayd|February 9, 2021}}
|}
|}


{{note label|1|1|1}} [[Anthony Principi]] served as acting secretary in his capacity as [[United States Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs|Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs]] September 26, 1992—January 20, 1993.
{{note label|1|1|1}} [[Anthony Principi]] served as Acting Secretary in his capacity as [[United States Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs|Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs]] September 26, 1992 – January 20, 1993.


{{note label|2|2|2}} [[Hershel W. Gober]] served as acting secretary in his capacity as [[United States Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs|Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs]] July 1, 1997—January 2, 1998 and July 25, 2000—January 20, 2001.<ref name="vagober">{{cite press release
{{note label|2|2|2}} [[Hershel W. Gober]] served as Acting Secretary in his capacity as [[United States Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs|Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs]] July 13, 1997 – January 2, 1998 and July 25, 2000 – January 20, 2001.<ref name="vagober">{{cite press release |title=Gober Takes Over Top Spot at VA |publisher=Department of Veterans Affairs |date=July 25, 2000 |url=http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=203 |access-date=September 29, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090713131352/http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=203 |archive-date=July 13, 2009 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all}}</ref>
| title = Gober Takes Over Top Spot at VA
| publisher = ''Department of Veterans Affairs''
| date = 2000-07-25
| url = http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=203
| accessdate = 2009-09-29 }}</ref>


{{note label|3|3|3}} West served as acting Secretary from January 2, 1998<ref name="WH">{{cite press release |title=President Clinton Names Togo D. West, Jr. As Acting Secretary Of The Department Of Veterans' Affairs |publisher=White House |date= 1997-12-02 |url=http://clinton6.nara.gov/1997/12/1997-12-02-togo-west-named-acting-secretary-at-veterans-affairs.html |language= |accessdate=2009-09-09 }}</ref> to May 5, 1998.<ref name="vawest">{{cite web
{{note label|3|3|3}} West served as Acting Secretary from January 2, 1998<ref name="WH">{{cite press release |title=President Clinton Names Togo D. West Jr. As Acting Secretary Of The Department Of Veterans' Affairs |publisher=White House |date=December 2, 1997 |url=http://clinton6.nara.gov/1997/12/1997-12-02-togo-west-named-acting-secretary-at-veterans-affairs.html |access-date=September 9, 2009 |archive-date=October 5, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061005221525/http://clinton6.nara.gov/1997/12/1997-12-02-togo-west-named-acting-secretary-at-veterans-affairs.html |url-status=dead}}</ref> to May 4, 1998.<ref name="vawest">{{cite web |author=Staff |title=The Honorable Togo D. West Jr. |publisher=[[United States Department of Veterans Affairs]] |date=May 1999 |url=http://www.va.gov/biographies/west.htm |access-date=September 9, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000304153405/http://www.va.gov/biographies/west.htm |archive-date=March 4, 2000}}</ref>
|author = Staff
| title = The Honorable Togo D. West, Jr.
| publisher = ''Department of Veterans Affairs''
| date = May 1999
| url = http://www.va.gov/biographies/west.htm
| accessdate = 2009-09-09
| archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20000304153405/http://www.va.gov/biographies/west.htm
| archivedate = 2000-03-04 }}</ref>


{{note label|4|4|4}} [[Gordon H. Mansfield]] served as acting secretary in his capacity as [[United States Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs|Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs]] October 1—December 20, 2007.<ref>UPI. [http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Top_News/2007/12/20/peake_sworn_in_as_va_secretary/3728/ Peake sworn in as VA secretary], Dec 20, 2007. Accessed 21 Dec 2007.</ref>
{{note label|4|4|4}} [[Gordon H. Mansfield]] served as Acting Secretary in his capacity as [[United States Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs|Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs]] October 1 – December 20, 2007.<ref>UPI. [http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Top_News/2007/12/20/peake_sworn_in_as_va_secretary/3728/ Peake sworn in as VA secretary] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080204184536/http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Top_News/2007/12/20/peake_sworn_in_as_va_secretary/3728/ |date=February 4, 2008}}, December 20, 2007. Accessed December 21, 2007.</ref>


==See also==
==Living former Secretaries of Veterans Affairs==
*[[Administrator of Veterans Affairs]]
* [[Togo D. West, Jr.|Togo Dennis West, Jr.]]
*[[Veterans Health Administration]]
* [[Anthony Principi|Anthony Joseph Principi]]
* [[Jim Nicholson (U.S. politician)|Robert James Nicholson]]
* [[James Peake]]
* [[Eric Shinseki]]


== See also ==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
*[[Administrator of Veterans Affairs (United States)]]
* [[United States Department of Veterans Affairs]]
* [[Veterans Health Administration]]


== External links ==
==Notes and references==
* {{Official website}}
{{reflist}}


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[[Category:Cabinet of the United States|Veterans Affairs]]
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[[Category:United States Department of Veterans Affairs|Secretary]]
[[Category:United States Department of Veterans Affairs|Secretary]]
[[Category:Cabinet of the United States|Veterans Affairs]]
[[Category:United States secretaries of veterans affairs|United States Secretaries of Veterans Affairs]]
[[Category:United States Secretaries of Veterans Affairs| ]]

Latest revision as of 05:37, 22 December 2024

United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Seal of the department
Flag of the secretary
since February 9, 2021
United States Department of Veterans Affairs
StyleMr. Secretary (informal)
The Honorable (formal)
Member ofUnited States Cabinet
Reports toPresident of the United States
SeatWashington, D.C.
AppointerThe President of the United States
with Senate advice and consent
Term lengthNo fixed term
Constituting instrument38 U.S.C. § 303
FormationMarch 15, 1989
First holderEd Derwinski
SuccessionSeventeenth[1]
DeputyUnited States Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs
SalaryExecutive Schedule, level I
WebsiteVA.gov

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[2] in the line of succession to the presidency (the position was last until the addition of the United States Department of Homeland Security in 2006[3]). 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[4] or any other person designated by the president serves as acting secretary[4] until the president nominates and the United States Senate confirms a new secretary.

Denis McDonough is currently serving as the 11th secretary of veterans affairs since February 9, 2021 under President Joe Biden.

List of secretaries of veterans affairs

[edit]
Parties

  No party (2)   Democratic (3)   Republican (6)

Status
  Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs
No. Secretary Term of office President(s)
Portrait Name State of residence Took office Left office Term length
1 Ed Derwinski Illinois March 15, 1989 September 26, 1992 3 years, 195 days George H. W. Bush
(1989–1993)
– Anthony Principi[1]
Acting 		California September 26, 1992 January 20, 1993 116 days
2 Jesse Brown Illinois January 22, 1993 July 13, 1997 4 years, 172 days Bill Clinton
(1993–2001)
– Hershel W. Gober[2]
Acting 		Arkansas July 13, 1997 January 2, 1998 173 days
3 Togo D. West Jr. District of Columbia January 2, 1998[3] May 4, 1998 122 days
May 4, 1998 July 25, 2000 2 years, 82 days
– Hershel W. Gober[2]
Acting 		Arkansas July 25, 2000 January 20, 2001 179 days
4 Anthony Principi California January 23, 2001 January 26, 2005 4 years, 3 days George W. Bush
(2001–2009)
5 Jim Nicholson Colorado January 26, 2005 October 1, 2007 2 years, 248 days
– Gordon H. Mansfield[4]
Acting 		Florida October 1, 2007 December 20, 2007 80 days
6 James Peake District of Columbia December 20, 2007 January 20, 2009 1 year, 31 days
7 Eric Shinseki Hawaii January 20, 2009 May 30, 2014 5 years, 130 days Barack Obama
(2009–2017)
– Sloan D. Gibson
Acting 		Alabama May 30, 2014 July 30, 2014 61 days
8 Bob McDonald Ohio July 30, 2014 January 20, 2017 2 years, 174 days
– Robert Snyder
Acting 		West Virginia January 20, 2017 February 14, 2017 25 days Donald Trump
(2017–2021)
9 David Shulkin Pennsylvania February 14, 2017 March 28, 2018 1 year, 42 days
– Robert Wilkie
Acting 		North Carolina March 28, 2018 May 29, 2018 62 days
– Peter O'Rourke
Acting 		Virginia May 29, 2018 July 30, 2018 62 days
10 Robert Wilkie North Carolina July 30, 2018 January 20, 2021 2 years, 174 days
– Dat Tran
Acting

Ohio

January 20, 2021 February 9, 2021 20 days Joe Biden
(2021–2025)
11 Denis McDonough Minnesota February 9, 2021 Incumbent 3 years, 317 days

1 Anthony Principi served as Acting Secretary in his capacity as Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs September 26, 1992 – January 20, 1993.

2 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.[5]

3 West served as Acting Secretary from January 2, 1998[6] to May 4, 1998.[7]

4 Gordon H. Mansfield served as Acting Secretary in his capacity as Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs October 1 – December 20, 2007.[8]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "3 U.S. Code § 19 - Vacancy in offices of both President and Vice President; officers eligible to act".
  2. ^ "Order of presidential succession | USAGov". www.usa.gov. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
  3. ^ Public Law 109-177 §.503
  4. ^ a b 38 U.S.C. § 304: Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Accessed January 13, 2008.
  5. ^ "Gober Takes Over Top Spot at VA" (Press release). Department of Veterans Affairs. July 25, 2000. Archived from the original on July 13, 2009. Retrieved September 29, 2009.
  6. ^ "President Clinton Names Togo D. West Jr. As Acting Secretary Of The Department Of Veterans' Affairs" (Press release). White House. December 2, 1997. Archived from the original on October 5, 2006. Retrieved September 9, 2009.
  7. ^ Staff (May 1999). "The Honorable Togo D. West Jr". United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Archived from the original on March 4, 2000. Retrieved September 9, 2009.
  8. ^ UPI. Peake sworn in as VA secretary Archived February 4, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, December 20, 2007. Accessed December 21, 2007.
[edit]
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas Secretary of Education Order of precedence of the United States
as Secretary of Veterans Affairs 		Succeeded byas Secretary of Homeland Security
U.S. presidential line of succession
Preceded by 17th in line Succeeded by
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