VAntage Point
Valentines, caregivers and the Veterans they love
Then, now and forever
Meet Cathy and John Thomas, a couple residing in New Hampshire whose love story started as a budding romance 26 years ago. Cathy is now John’s caregiver and a mentor in the Caregiver Peer Support Mentoring Program.
Cathy shares her whirlwind story of how she met and married John, and how the Peer Support Mentoring Program helps them both.
The Right Place at the Right Time
When Cathy was 22 years old, she took a trip to Germany to visit a friend. Little did she know, she’d meet Army soldier John Thomas and become his wife six months later. Cathy says their love story started when they were both in the right place at the right time.
Biden Names New Acting VA Secretary, Some Permanent Staff
Dat Tran has been serving as principal deputy assistant secretary for the VA Office of Enterprise Integration. (Photo: Dept. of Veterans Affairs)
20 Jan 2021
Dat Tran, one of the Department of Veterans Affairs top experts in strategic planning and information technology, has been named acting head of the department as Denis McDonough, President Joe Biden s nominee for VA secretary, waits for confirmation from the U.S. Senate.
Tran currently serves as principal deputy assistant secretary for the VA Office of Enterprise Integration, where he advises VA leaders on performance, policy research, data analytics and transportation.
By NIKKI WENTLING | STARS AND STRIPES Published: January 20, 2021 WASHINGTON President Joe Biden s administration on Wednesday announced new leaders of the Department of Veterans Affairs the country’s second-largest federal agency. Of the nine new leaders named, four are rejoining the VA after leaving in recent years for other positions. The announcement, which was made minutes after Biden was sworn into office, follows his nomination of Denis McDonough as VA secretary. McDonough’s confirmation hearing is scheduled for Jan. 27. It was still uncertain Wednesday afternoon who Biden would appoint to lead the department in the time before McDonough’s confirmation. A VA news release Wednesday the first authored by the new administration said there would be more leadership announcements “in the near future.”
Biden names temporary VA leadership as his secretary nominee awaits Senate debate January 20 President-elect Joe Biden, right, and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, left, look on as former Obama White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough delivers remarks after being introduced as Biden’s nominee to head the Department of Veterans Affairs at the Queen Theater on Dec. 11, 2020, in Wilmington, Del. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Veterans Affairs’ data and technology expert will serve as acting secretary for the entire department as the Senate considers the nomination of Denis McDonough to serve in the permanent Cabinet post. Officials from the new administration of President Joe Biden announced Wednesday that Dat Tran, principal deputy assistant secretary for VA’s Office of Enterprise Integration, will serve as acting secretary until McDonough’s confirmation process concludes.