Assistant secretary veterans affairs
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Prior to joining the CIA, Gallina was vice president of federal key accounts at IBM. He will be in charge of addressing cybersecurity initiatives in the department.
Ryan Cote’s Career Background
Cote previously served as the CIO of the Department of Transportation for two years. Chris Syrek, who previously served as deputy chief of staff during the first Trump administration, will now serve as chief of staff.
Through a newly-issued request for information, venture capital firms are invited to comment on the proposed contract vehicle that would allow companies within an approved portfolio to compete for task orders supporting FDA missions, the agency said on Dec. 19. She began her federal career as a cryptologic officer in the
The Food and Drug Administration is exploring a new federal contracting structure that aims to provide venture capital-backed startups with a more direct pathway to compete for agency work related to public health innovation.
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Juliane Gallina, a two-time Wash100 Award winner, has joined the Arlington, Va.-based Lavrock Ventures as a partner after 12 years at the CIA in two tours.
Mark “MRE” Engelbaum
Mark “MRE” Engelbaum was appointed by President Donald J. Trump to serve as the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Administration on February 13, 2025.
In this role, Mr. Engelbaum leads the development and oversight of human capital strategies, policies, and practices.
Lynda Davis will return to her former role as chief officer with VA’s Veterans Experience Office. Mr. Engelbaum is a U.S. Army Veteran.
CAREER CHRONOLOGY:
2025 – Present Assistant Secretary, Human Resources and Administration, Washington, DC
2020 – 2024 Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Force Management Integration, Arlington, VA
2017 – 2020 Director, Civilian Force Management, HAF, Arlington, VA
2015 – 2017 Deputy Director, Military Force Management, HAF, Arlington, VA
2013 – 2015 Deputy Director, Manpower, Personnel and Services, Langley, VA
EDUCATION:
2021 Vanguard Senior Executive Leadership Program, Potomac, MD
2018 Advanced Senior Leader Development Seminar, Arlie Center, Warrenton, Virginia
2017 APEX: Senior Executive Joint Orientation Program, Washington, DC
2016 Leading for Results, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
2015 Air Force Senior Leader Orientation Course, Joint Base Andrews, MD
1999 Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
1994 Master of Arts, National Security Affairs, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA
1993 Defense Foreign Language Institute, Monterey, CA
1993 Combined Arms and Services Staff School, Fort Leavenworth, KS
1985 Bachelor of Science, United States Military Academy, West Point, NY
Ryan Cote Nominated as VA Assistant Secretary, CIO
President Donald Trump nominated Ryan Cote as the Department of Veterans Affairs’ assistant secretary of information and technology and chief information officer.
He was also the CIO executive partner of Gartner and the CIO and vice president of IT at Surge Staffing. She led initiatives that improved customer experience and launched the White House VA Hotline.
Karen Brazell has been named senior advisor to the secretary after serving in various roles within VA's Office of Enterprise Integration and Acquisition.
Gen. Jason Voorheis, program executive officer for fighters and advanced aircraft. Federal healthcare agencies are navigating major shifts in technology,
VA appoints new leadership team under acting Secretary Todd Hunter
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has announced several appointments of political appointees from the Trump administration.
He is currently the global CIO of a private firm. Curt Cashour will also serve as a senior advisor; he was previously press secretary and deputy assistant secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs at VA.
Lavin Gartland is appointed senior advisor to the secretary and VA White House liaison. According to the report, the Mission Design Series, or MDS, designation reflects the service branch’s commitment to rapidly deliver new capabilities to warfighters.
During her previous tenure as chair of the Board of Veterans Appeals, Mason implemented strategies that increased decision output by 95% and reduced legacy appeals by 80%. He also took on various leadership roles at other technology firms, including Northrop Grumman, HP and IBM.
The U.S.
Air Force has designated Northrop Grumman’s semi-autonomous prototype aircraft, Project Talon, as YFQ-48A as part of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, DVIDS reported. Mr. Engelbaum also served as the Director of Civilian Force Management, Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower, Personnel and Services, Headquarters, U.S. Air Force (HAF), as well as various plans and programming positions including programming, strategy, transformation, doctrine, nuclear policy, strategic plans, arms control and counterproliferation.
Gallina is a veteran intelligence and national security professional.