| Veterans
News Flash 
Nicholson
to Leave VA and
Return to the Private Sector
Under his Leadership, VA Makes Strides in Health
Care and
IT Modernization
 WASHINGTON July 17,
2007
Secretary
of Veterans Affairs, Jim Nicholson announced
today he has tendered his resignation to President
George W. Bush, effective no later than October
1, 2007.
Under Nicholson’s
leadership, the Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA) continued its evolution as a leader in health
care innovations, medical research, education
services, home loan and other benefits to veterans. He
transformed the VA health care system to meet
the unique medical requirements of the returning
combatants from Iraq and Afghanistan.
In his letter of resignation,
Nicholson praised and thanked the President for
the honor of serving him and our Nation’s
veterans in this key post at such a “critical
time in our nation’s global war on terror.”
“The VA is a
dynamic organization dedicated to serving our
nation’s finest citizens – our veterans,” Nicholson
said. “It has been an honor
and privilege to lead the VA during this historic
time for our men and women who have worn the
uniform. We have accomplished so much
and the VA is always striving to improve our
services to veterans.”
Nicholson said he
wants to return to the private sector. “This
coming February, I turn 70 years old, and I feel
it is time for me to get back into business,
while I still can.” He said
he has no definite plans at this time.
He also addressed
an assembled group of Washington VA employees
and those watching around the country on VA’s
closed-circuit television. In his
message to employees, Nicholson told them how
privileged he felt to have worked with them in
fulfilling our nation’s promises and obligations
to its veterans.
“VA has come
a long way in meeting the growing needs and expectations
of our veterans and you deserve the credit,” Nicholson
said.
Nicholson, a Vietnam
Veteran, was sworn in as Secretary of Veterans
Affairs on February 1, 2005.
During Secretary Nicholson’s
tenure at the Department of Veterans Affairs:
- Directed each of
our veterans of the global war on terror who
come to the VA for any kind of care to be carefully
screened for brain damage (TBI) and post traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD).
- Hired 100 new Outreach
Coordinators to provide services to returning
OIF/OEF veterans. The new coordinators
are located in Vet Centers throughout the country
especially near our military processing stations.
- Created a new Advisory
Committee on OIF/OEF Veterans and their families
to advise him on ways to improve programs serving
OIF/OEF veterans.
- Directed the Veterans
Benefits Administration to give priority to
Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring
Freedom (OIF/OEF) veterans in its compensation
and pension claim system.
- Launched a major
information technology transformation in the
VA with the way it uses and safeguards personal
and health information of veterans.
- Created a new Office
of Operations, Security, and Preparedness to
deal with emergency planning and security.
- Initiated the overhaul
of the VA’s vast contracting and acquisitions
systems.
- Created a blue
ribbon Genomic Research Advisory Committee
to use the VA’s expansive medical data
holdings to advance the science of predictive
medicine.
- Commenced a major
campaign to reduce the high rate of diabetes
in veterans.
- Launched a national
effort in the Veterans Health Administration
to eradicate staph infections in VA hospitals.
- Approved 82 new
Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC) to
bring VA top notch care closer to the veterans
who have earned it.
- Created a new multi-campus
Nursing Academy through partnership with
the nursing schools throughout the country
to help address a shortage of nurses within
the VA and nationwide.
- Directed the hiring
of suicide prevention counselors at each of
VA’s 153 facilities to strengthen one
of the nation’s largest mental health
programs. He also established a
24-hour national suicide prevention hotline
that will be operational by the end of July
2007.
- Hired 100 new Patient
Care Advocates to help severely injured veterans
and their families manage VA’s system
for health care and financial benefits.
- Led the President’s
recent Task Force on Returning Global War on
Terror Heroes to improve the delivery
of federal services and benefits to Global
War on Terror service members and veterans.
“This is a very
big Government agency that, among many other
things, sees over 1 million patients a week in
its health care system, and is doing a world
class job,” Nicholson said. “The
American people can feel proud about the way
we are treating our veterans. The
President and the Congress have been very supportive
and for that I am grateful as well.”
Nicholson thanked
the President, “he has given me terrific
opportunities to serve my country and under his
strong and supportive leadership, it has been
a real privilege.”
Nicholson left the
private business world over 10 years, where he
ran a successful residential development and
construction company. He was elected
Chairman of the Republican National Committee
in January 1997. Immediately prior
to becoming Secretary, he served as the U.S.
Ambassador to the Holy See.
SOURCE:
US Department of Veterans Affair
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