VFW HOPES NEW NOMINEE IS A STRONG VETERANS’ ADVOCATE

WASHINGTON (Oct. 30, 2007) – The national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is hoping the president’s nominee for secretary of Veterans Affairs will prove to be as strong a veterans’ advocate as his past record of accomplishments indicates.

“Doctor James Peake is a combat-wounded veteran, a board certified surgeon, the former top doctor in the Army, and was the chief operating officer of a large international humanitarian relief organization and in private industry,” said the VFW’s George Lisicki, of Carteret, N.J.  “We hope he will bring that same level of passion and drive into the VA, because he certainly has the prerequisite credentials and organizational skills to lead the second largest federal department.”

The VFW national commander said Peake will walk into tremendous challenges on day one, foremost being an assurance that veterans of past and present will receive quality healthcare and timely benefits in an era of uncontrollable claims backlogs and an unknown annual budget. 

Lisicki said the doctor will inherit a VA that is damaged, but not beyond anything that can’t be fixed with good leadership and sound management practices.  “We look forward to working with him and Deputy Secretary Gordon Mansfield to ensure the VA continues its mission of caring for those who have borne the battle,” he said.

The doctor is a retired Army lieutenant general who began his military service as an infantry officer in Vietnam, where he received the Silver Star and two Bronze Stars with “V” device for heroism under fire, and two Purple Hearts for wounds sustained in combat.  He is a board certified medical doctor in general and thoracic surgery, and he served as the 40th Surgeon General of the Army.  After his military retirement, he became the executive vice president and chief operating officer of Project Hope, and is now the chief medical director and COO of QTC Management, a medical examination and electronic record service.

“With decades of service in the medical field, Doctor Peake is a good choice for secretary,” said Lisicki, who is also a Vietnam combat veteran.  “His reputation as someone who's not afraid to roll up the sleeves and get into the trenches with his troops is a leader the VA needs right now.  I urge the Senate to expedite his confirmation.”