Dr. Susan Black DSW
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Dr. Susan Black, DSW, is the national program director for suicide prevention for the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA). In this capacity, she focuses on VBA suicide prevention strategies, activities, and research. She is responsible for organizing suicide prevention efforts and supporting VBA and VA enterprise-wide suicide prevention efforts and initiatives.
Before her current position, she served as the chief of the U.S. Air National Guard (ANG) Psychological Health Branch, responsible for directing policy development, clinical operations, strategic planning, and program research and evaluation for the ANG Director of Psychological Health Program at 90 ANG Wings, assigned to 54 states and territories, serving 107,000 ANG members and their families.
Dr. Black is a retired U.S. Air Force mental health officer. She previously held various clinical and leadership positions, including chief of the Air Force Wounded Warrior Program, information manager for the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, and social work residency training director. She also deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Dr. Black received her Bachelor of Social Work from Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL, her Master of Social Work from Barry University, Miami Shores, FL, and her Doctor of Social Work from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and is a certified Master Addictions Counselor. She is a Board-Certified Diplomate in Clinical Social Work and holds credentials in the Academy of Certified Social Workers.
