George Velez DHA, MBA, FACHE

In this role, Dr. Velez is responsible for overseeing the delivery of healthcare to more
than 56,000 Veterans throughout eight locations in northwest Arkansas,
southwest Missouri, and eastern Oklahoma. The health care system includes the
main Medical Center in Fayetteville and seven community‐based outpatient clinics
in Fort Smith, Harrison, and Ozark, Arkansas; Branson, Springfield, and Joplin, Missouri; and Jay, Oklahoma. 

A level 1C facility providing complex general medical, dental, and surgical services for qualifying Veterans in the Tri‐state area. The Fayetteville facility was recently awarded for the second consecutive year a 5‐Star Hospital‐Compare overall Hospital Quality Star Rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. 

Prior to this post, Dr. Velez served as the Deputy Director at the VA Caribbean Health Care System in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Primary responsibilities for this role included providing overall leadership and direction for resource management, facilities/environmental management, and program management functions. 

A retired, 20‐year, combat Veteran with service in the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Air National Guard, Dr. Velez 

participated in Operations Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom. He led multiple, worldwide deployments to include humanitarian aid missions. Recognized as the 1999 Air National Guard Healthcare Administrator of the Year with the Theodore C. Marrs Award. Dr. Velez is also the recipient of the National Defense Service Medal and U.S. Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, Second Oak Leaf Cluster. Dr. Velez is a fellow of the American College of 

Healthcare Executives (ACHE), 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. He is Vice Present for the Arkansas Chapter of the ACHE. Dr. Velez continues to be a collaborating scientist at Harvard 

University, participating in front‐line research activities.