VA announces new director of the Office of Transition and Economic Development

 WASHINGTON — Today the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced the appointment of Cheryl J. Rawls to serve as the executive director of the Office of Transition and Economic Development (OTED).

“Cheryl Rawls has a 20-year track record as an effective VA leader with extensive knowledge of VA’s benefits, services and programs,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. “This Army Veteran is a proven collaborator and manager.”

Since July 2016, Rawls has served as executive director for VA’s Pension and Fiduciary Service.  Earlier, she was on the front line of creating change and building trust with Veterans as the regional office director in Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Little Rock, Arkansas; and Huntington, West Virginia.

As OTED’s executive director, Rawls serves as a primary consultant and advisor to VA senior leaders regarding highly visible, complex and enduring issues concerning the delivery and application of benefits and services that impact transition and employment-related initiatives for service members, Veterans, survivors and dependents.

OTED coordinates and strengthens partnerships between corporate, military, public and private sector and Veterans Service Organizations.

This includes supporting a seamless transition from military service to civilian life by linking benefits, services and tools that support the transition. The responsibilities extend to advancing economic empowerment and independence of all active duty service members, national guard or reserve personnel and Veterans and their families through increasing early access to VA benefits and programs where applicable.

VA’s Transition Assistance Program, administered at more than 300 installations worldwide, supports the military-to-civilian transition for service members, and has oversight of the Educational and Vocational Counseling Program (Chapter 36).

For information about the Office of Transition and Economic Development or VA’s Transition Assistance Program or TAP, visit https://www.benefits.va.gov/BENEFITS/oted.asp or https://www.benefits.va.gov/tap/tap-index.asp.

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Reporters and media outlets with questions or comments should contact the Office of Media Relations at vapublicaffairs@va.gov

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