Swinging doors at VA

The leader of the Department of Veterans Affairs health care system unexpectedly resigned effective Oct. 7 leaving three top VA positions unfilled by permanent undersecretaries. Dr. Poonam Alaigh, the acting undersecretary for health since May, sent a message to VA employees last week informing them of the resignation, due to family reasons. Alaigh will be replaced by Dr. Carolyn Clancy, who will take the position in an interim capacity. Clancy has been with the VA for more than 10 years and will oversee a health system of more than 160 medical centers and 1,000 clinics that serves some nine million veterans. The chiefs of two other VA sectors - benefits and cemeteries - are also temporarily filled. President Trump nominated Randy Reeves as the VA undersecretary for memorial affairs on Sept. 1. Reeves is executive director of the Mississippi Veterans Affairs Board. He was questioned by the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee last week and must be confirmed by the full Senate before taking the post. (Source: Stars and Stripes 10/06/17) Reeves served as past president of the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs. He served in the Navy, retiring with the rank of commander. Prior to his Navy stint, Reeves was an enlisted airman in the Air Force.