George Velez DHA, MBA, FACHE

In this role, Dr. Velez is responsible for overseeing the delivery of healthcare to over 56,000 Veterans throughout eight locations in northwest Arkansas, southwest Missouri and eastern Oklahoma. Facilities include the Fayetteville VA Medical Center (VAMC) and seven community-based outpatient clinics in Fort Smith, Harrison, and Ozark, Arkansas; Branson, Springfield, and Joplin, Missouri; and Jay, Oklahoma. The Fayetteville VAMC is a 1C VHA facility providing complex general medical, dental and surgical services for qualifying Veterans in the Tri-State area.

Prior to this appointment, Dr. Velez held was the Deputy Director at the VA Caribbean Healthcare System (VACHS) in San Juan, PR. VACHS is a 1A VHA Facility, among the highest complexity facilities within VA. Primary responsibilities for this role included providing overall leadership and direction for resource management, facilities/environmental management, and program management functions.

Dr. Velez is a retired 20-year U.S. Air Force Combat Veteran, with service in the Air Force-Active Duty and in the Air National Guard where he served in various roles. During his Air Force service, he participated in Operations Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom. He also led multiple worldwide deployments to include humanitarian aid missions. Dr. Velez received the Theodore C. Marrs Award which recognized him as the Air National Guard Healthcare Administrator of the Year. He also is the recipient of the National Defense Service Medal and United States Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, Second Oak Leaf Cluster.

Dr. Velez is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, Senior Executive Fellow of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Fellow of the American Academy of Medical Administrators and a Senior Fellow of the Partnership for Public Service. Dr. Velez graduated from the Community College of the Air Force with an associate degree in Allied Health Science. He graduated from the Ohio State University and completed an undergraduate degree in English. He obtained an MBA in Healthcare Administration from Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, Ohio, and a Doctor of Health Administration from Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. He is a Collaborating Scientist at Harvard University participating in front-line research activities and previously adjunct faculty with the Doctor of Health Administration Program at Franklin University in Columbus, Ohio; and an adjunct faculty with the Master’s Degree Program in Health Administration at Central Michigan University.