New Leader Pledges to Look to the Future
WASHINGTON – In a ceremony today Dr. James B. Peake, a combat veteran of the Vietnam War and former Army Surgeon General, was sworn in by President George W. Bush as the nation’s sixth Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
“Dr. Peake takes office at a critical moment in the history of this Department,” said President Bush. “Our nation is at war – and many new veterans are leaving the battlefield and entering the VA system. This system provides our veterans with the finest care – but the bureaucracy can be difficult to navigate.”
Secretary Peake stressed his commitment to easing the transition of our current generation of returning, combat experienced men and women and of “the opportunity to look to the future of this newest generation of combat veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan – getting it right for them and for their families.”
Peake, who retired in 2004 as a three-star general, is a board-certified thoracic surgeon. His commands included the U.S. Army Medical Command, headquartered at Ft. Sam Houston, Texas; Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, Wash.; the 44th Medical Brigade at Fort Bragg, N.C.; and the 18th Medical Command in Seoul, South Korea.
Secretary Peake told those assembled, “You need to know that I believe deeply in the mission; and that I believe in you. I know quite a number of you already. I’ve seen the ethic, the caring, the compassion, and the technical skills.”
A native of St. Louis and graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Peake attended medical school after serving in Vietnam, where he earned the Silver Star and Purple Heart.
As Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Peake assumes leadership of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the second largest cabinet department, with about 250,000 employees and a budget last year exceeding $82 billion.
More than 5.5 million veterans are expected to receive care this year in VA’s 153 hospitals and 900 clinics. VA also provides disability compensation and pensions to 3.5 million veterans and family members, and operates 125 national cemeteries.
Below are VA Secretary James B. Peake’s swearing in ceremony remarks.
Mr. President, Vice President Cheney, Secretary Mansfield, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen of the VA — and of, really, the United States — I cannot tell you just how proud I am to be back in service to this country and, most particularly, in this role serving those who have defended her.
Janice, thank you. We’ve been in lots of ceremonies over the 31 years, and none quite like this, I must admit. (Laughter.) But each time, I recognize just how lucky I am to have you.
Mr. President, I know how strongly you feel about doing right by our veterans. Your visit here at our headquarters today speaks volumes to that. I am deeply appreciative of your confidence and I pledge to you, sir, that I will do my very best to live up to that confidence.
As part of the process of confirmation, in addition to the hearing, there were a series of written questions from the Senate. One of them was: If given the chance, what would you say to all of the people of the VA? So they’ve sort of prepped me for today for you. What I told them then is what I tell you now: first, just how privileged I feel to be joining this team. I know of your commitment to veterans. I know that many of you have dedicated your lives to taking care of veterans, and that many of you are veterans yourselves.
I know many of the advances — for example, leading in health care innovation — that have been because of you. You touch lives all across this great nation, from enabling veterans to have a home, sometimes a special home; to getting an education; to having rehabilitation that enables a productive and proud citizen. Secretary Chao, I look forward to working with you, particularly in that regard. You need to know that I deeply believe in this mission, and that I believe in you.
I know quite a number of you already, and I have had emails from across the field of people that I have known over the many years. I’ve seen the ethic, I’ve seen the caring and the compassion and the technical skills, and I truly appreciate the quality of the leadership team, Gordon, that you’ve assembled.
I want you to get to know me. You’ve heard my background: 38 years in the military, with a chance to do lots of different things. But I also have had a rather long association with the VA: 10 years on the Special Medical Advisory Group for the VHA; this last year working with the VBA, and even experience with the VA cemetery when I was commanding general at Fort Sam Houston. I’m not a total newcomer.
With this great team in place, I aim to hit the ground running. And as I review the history, I cannot think of a recent time with more focus on our veterans or more in-depth looks coming together to allow us to chart a course forward, and the opportunity that provides to look to the future with this newest generation of combat veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, simultaneously honoring our nation’s commitment to that generation of World War II and Korean veterans, and addressing the needs of the men and women of the Vietnam era, my generation, who are now finding more and more needs of our services.
The Dole-Shalala report that the President commissioned has given us a powerful blueprint to move forward. Already in partnership with DOD, recommendations are being implemented to better serve our wounded warriors. I do look forward to working closely with Congress and with our veterans’ service organizations and our military service organizations — and many, I am delighted to see, are represented here today — to make meaningful progress where legislation is needed.
Secretary Gates, General Cody, Dr. Casscells, thank you for coming today. Our partnership in this quest is really important to move forward. I don’t want “seamlessness” to be a buzzword — I want it to be our way of doing business. I know we can do that together.
Admiral Allen, Commandant of the Coast Guard, is here today, and we not only take care of your veterans, but your presence highlights the VA’s role in readiness and homeland security, and I appreciate you being here.
Finally, I told the Senate that I would commit to each of you in the VA my dedication to the mission, to you, and to creating the environment for your success as together, we serve the needs of veterans. Well, I do that now with all of my heart and all of my energy. We have a special mission, and I am delighted to be on this VA team. I’ll see you on the high ground.
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