United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs

The United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs is the head of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the department in charge of taking care of the affairs of  war veterans. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and second to last at 17th in the line of succession to the presidency (the position was last until the United States Department of Homeland Security was added in 2006Public Law 109-177§.503). 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. 

When the position of Secretary is vacant, the United States Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Accessed 2008-01-13. or another person picked by the President serves as Acting Secretary until the President picks and the United States Senate confirms a new Secretary.

List of secretaries of veterans affairs
 Parties
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 Status

SecretaryTerm of officePresident(s)PortraitNameState of residenceTook officeLeft officeTerm length75pxIllinoisMarch 15, 1989September 26, 1992(1989–1993)75pxCaliforniaSeptember 26, 1992January 20, 199375pxIllinoisJanuary 22, 1993July 13, 1997(1993–2001)75pxArkansasJuly 13, 1997January 2, 199875pxDistrict of ColumbiaJanuary 2, 1998May 4, 1998May 4, 1998July 25, 200075pxArkansasJuly 25, 2000January 20, 200175pxCaliforniaJanuary 23, 2001January 26, 2005(2001–2009)75pxColoradoJanuary 26, 2005October 1, 200775pxFloridaOctober 1, 2007December 20, 200775pxDistrict of ColumbiaDecember 20, 2007January 20, 2009775pxHawaiiJanuary 20, 2009May 30, 2014(2009–2017)75pxAlabamaMay 30, 2014July 30, 201475pxOhioJuly 30, 2014January 20, 201775pxWest VirginiaJanuary 20, 2017February 14, 2017(2017–2021)975pxPennsylvaniaFebruary 14, 2017March 28, 201875pxNorth CarolinaMarch 28, 2018May 29, 201875pxVirginiaMay 29, 2018July 30, 201875pxNorth CarolinaJuly 30, 2018January 20, 202175pxOhioJanuary 20, 2021February 9, 2021(2021–2025)frameless|91x91pxMinnesotaFebruary 9, 2021January 20, 2025framelss|91x91pxJanuary 20, 2025February 5, 2025(2025–present) 91x91px Doug Collins Georgia February 5, 2025 Incumbent 

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

 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.

 West served as Acting Secretary from January 2, 1998 to May 4, 1998.

 Gordon H. Mansfield served as Acting Secretary in his capacity as Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs October 1 – December 20, 2007.UPI. Peake sworn in as VA secretary , December 20, 2007. Accessed December 21, 2007.

 Living former secretaries of veterans affairs 
As of September 2025, there are eight living former secretaries of education, the oldest being Jim Nicholson (served 2005-2009). The most recent death of a former secretary of state was that of Togo D. West Jr. (served 1998-2000) on March 8, 2018. 

 References 


Category:1989 establishments in the United States