James Byrne, general counsel at the Department of Veterans Affairs, has been senate-confirmed to serve as VA’s deputy secretary, Military Times reported Wednesday. He has been functioning as deputy secretary on an acting basis since August 2018. President Trump nominated Byrne for the full-time position in April.
Byrne works with VA secretary and 2019 Wash100 Award recipient Robert Wilkie to oversee a 370,000-employee workforce across VA medical facilities as acting deputy secretary. His work as general counsel supports legal efforts for the department’s decision making and policy.
The public servant also contributed over two decades of government work, having formerly functioned as an international narcotics prosecutor at the Department of Justice and as a U.S. Marine Corps infantry officer.
