Tanya Bradsher, a combat veteran of Iraq, was appointed deputy secretary of the VA.

Tanya Bradsher, a combat veteran of Iraq, has been appointed as the deputy secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), making her the highest-ranking woman in VA history, the first woman to hold this position, and a woman of color. The Senate chose Bradsher for this role, recognizing her extensive experience and dedication to serving her country and fellow veterans.

Having spent 20 years in the United States Army, Bradsher retired as a lieutenant colonel before taking on her current position as the VA's chief of staff in March 2021. During her tenure, Bradsher has played a crucial role in guiding the VA through a historic expansion of care and benefits for veterans. This includes expanding access to care for women veterans, assisting veterans throughout the pandemic by providing over 332 million healthcare appointments, and setting records for processing veteran benefits in 2021 and 2022.

Under Bradsher's leadership, the VA has consistently outperformed non-VA hospitals in terms of health outcomes. The department has also provided critical support to veterans, such as free medical care for those in suicidal crisis, expanded caregiver assistance, and successfully housing over 38,000 formerly homeless veterans in 2022, with plans to continue this achievement in 2023.

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough expressed confidence in Bradsher's ability to fight for veterans and their families, stating that she will continue to deliver more care and benefits to veterans than ever before. With Bradsher's appointment as deputy secretary, the VA is poised to further its mission of supporting and honoring those who have served their country.

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According to a press release, Tanya Bradsher, an Army veteran, was chosen by the Senate to be the deputy secretary of the VA. The Department of Veterans Affairs will continue to provide more care and benefits to more Veterans than at any time in the country's history under the direction of Deputy Secretary Bradsher's leadership. Fourth-generation Veteran and combat veteran of Iraq, Deputy Secretary Bradsher spent 20 years in the United States Army before retiring as a lieutenant colonel. He has been the VA's chief of staff since March 2021. She is currently the highest-ranking woman in VA history, a woman of color, and the first woman to hold the position of deputy secretary.

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Since March 2021, the now-Deputy Secretary Bradsher has served as the VA's chief of staff and has assisted in guiding VA through a historic expansion of Veteran care and benefits. In that time, VA expanded access to care for women Veterans, the cohort of Veterans at VA that is growing at the fastest rate; assisted Veterans through the pandemic by providing more than 332 million health care appointments; set all-time records for Veteran benefits processed in 2021 and 2022; and is on track to set another record in 2023. Additionally, VA consistently outperformed non-VA hospitals in terms of health outcomes.

Among other things, it provided free medical care to Veterans in suicidal crisis at any VA or non-VA facility, expanded caregiver assistance to Veterans of all eras, exceeded its target of housing more than 38,000 formerly homeless Veterans in 2022 and is on track to do so again in 2023.

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Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough said: “At VA, it’s our job to fight like hell for Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors —and I know that Tanya Bradsher will do that every day as deputy secretary. Tanya is an incredible leader who has dedicated her life to fighting for this country and her fellow Veterans — and under her leadership, I’m confident that VA will continue delivering more care and more benefits to more Veterans than ever before.”

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