Veterans Affairs Deputy Secretary Set To Step Down

Donald Remy, the Veterans Affairs Deputy Secretary, has announced that he will resign from his post on April 1, 2022. Remy, who has led a series of initiatives since being confirmed in July 2021, did not give a reason for his departure. In a statement, he expressed optimism about the improvements made at the department, including the expansion of telehealth services, progress on the health records project, and new benefits for military toxic exposure injuries.

The Remarks

“There is no greater mission than serving our nation’s veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors,” Remy said in a statement. “It has been the honor of a lifetime to do that here at VA.”

“I am confident that VA is on the path to delivering a modern electronic health record that is usable, reliable, and enhances veteran outcomes,” he wrote. “I will be celebrating you as you make these goals a reality for VA and for those we serve.”

The Replacement

Remy’s departure continues a trend of openings among the department’s top leadership posts, with all five of its most senior offices having been unfilled by Senate-confirmed officials since December 2016. Guy Kiyokawa, the VA’s assistant secretary for enterprise integration, will serve as acting deputy secretary after Remy’s departure. VA officials are currently searching for potential candidates to permanently replace Remy.

According to Military Times:

Last week, Dr. Terry Adirim — director of VA’s Electronic Health Record Modernization Integration Office — stepped down from that role to “pursue other opportunities” outside the department, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the records work.

In a statement, VA Secretary Denis McDonough called Remy “a great leader, a true friend, and a steadfast public servant who has fought like hell every day for our nation’s veterans.”

He also praised Kiyokawa as the right person to help oversee Remy’s work while a replacement candidate is found.

Kiyokawa, a former Army Medical Service Corps officer, now handles issues of strategic planning, performance, and risk management within the department.

Matthew Reynolds