President Bush has tapped a physician and retired General as the new head of the Veterans Administration. It appears the nomination is a good one, as the candidate has done a lot in the way of Vet affairs, and has worked to streamline processes. I am sure the Dems will try to smear him:President Bush on Tuesday announced the nomination of retired Lt. Gen. James Peake to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Retired Gen. James Peake was the Army's surgeon general before retiring in 2004.
Peake would be "the first physician and the first general" to serve as secretary of the department, Bush said at a news conference.
"As medical officer and combat vet wounded in action, Dr. Peake understands the view from both sides of the hospital bed -- the doctors and the patients," Bush said.
The 66-year-old medical doctor would succeed Jim Nicholson, who stepped down from the post more than three months ago. Since then, the department has been led by acting Secretary Gordon Mansfield.
"He will apply his decades of expertise in combat medicine and health care management to improve the veterans health system," Bush said.
As secretary, Peake's job would be to serve as the federal government's primary advocate for veteran and direct the Department of Veterans Affairs, the federal government's second-largest Cabinet department, which runs a nationwide system of health-care services, benefits programs and national cemeteries for the country's veterans and their dependents.
The president said Peake's first task, if confirmed, would be to implement the recommendations of a commission lead by former Department of Health and Human Services Secretary and former Sen. Bob Dole.
The panel was created after problems at the Walter Reed Medical Center came to light last year.
The Veterans Affairs had a budget of more than $69 billion for fiscal year 2005 and employs approximately 230,000 people.
More on General Peake from the President's remarks:
Dr. Peake grew up in a home where service to country was a way of life. His father started out as an enlisted man in the Army, and became an officer who spent most of his 30-year career in the Medical Service Corps. Doctor Peake's mom was an Army nurse. His brother was a naval aviator. And as a young man of 18, he set upon his own lifetime of service when he arrived at the United States Military Academy.
After graduating from West Point in 1966, Second Lieutenant James Peake was sent to Vietnam with the 101st Airborne. There he served as a platoon leader, he led men in combat, and earned several medals for his courage -- including the Silver Star. One of those who knows him best describes his leadership this way: "End of a chow-line officer -- everyone else first."
In Vietnam, he also earned two Purple Hearts. While in the hospital recovering from his second wound, he learned that he had been accepted to medical school. And after completing his medical studies at Cornell University, he devoted his career as an Army doctor to improving care for our wounded servicemen and women. Long before the global war on terror began, Dr. Peake was changing the way we deliver medical care to our troops. As a result of his reforms, many who once might have died on the battlefield -- now they come home to be productive and having fulfilling lives.
As a medical officer and combat vet who was wounded in action, Dr. Peake understands the view from both sides of the hospital bed -- the doctor's, and the patient's. He brought that understanding to many jobs. These jobs include command surgeon in the Army hospitals, commanding general of the largest medical training facility in the world, and Army Surgeon General -- where he commanded more than 50,000 medical personnel, oversaw 16 hospitals across the world, and managed an operating budget of nearly $5 billion.
Since leaving the Army, he has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Project Hope. There he helped one Navy hospital ship respond to the victims of the Asian tsunami and another that was sent to care for those hit by Hurricane Katrina. Most recently, he has served as Chief Medical Director and Chief Operating Officer with QTC Management, which provides military veterans with timely medical examinations, as well as electronic medical record services.
I can hear the confirmation hearings now....
Sen. John Kerry: Did you earn those Purple Hearts by self wounding like me or did you earn them the old fashioned, if you are dumb you end up doing duty in Vietnam way?
Sen. Kennedy: So, um, how do you feel about the safety of Lincoln automobiles in trasnporting veterans near water?
Sen. Clinton: I am sorry, I was too busy getting a text from Hoo Flung Poo, a Chinese "waiter" who gave 2000 to my campaign...what are we talking about?
Sen. Reid: Do you agree that soldiers should be studied for brain damage if they support this war which is already lost?
Sen. Durbin: Why do you train US soldiers to be like the Khmer Rogue?
Sen. Kerry: Tell me, General Peake, did you throw your Purple Hearts over the fence like I did, then didn't, then did?
