Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi directs the federal government ’s

second largest department, responsible for a nationwide system of health care

services, benefits programs, and national cemeteries for America ’s veterans and

dependents.  With a budget of $64 billion for fiscal year 2004,VA employs

approximately 230,000 people at hundreds of VA medical centers, clinics, benefits

offices, and national cemeteries throughout the country.

Mr. Principi was nominated by President George W. Bush on December 29,2000,

and was confirmed by the Senate on January 23,2001.

A combat-decorated Vietnam veteran, Mr. Principi has worked on national policy

issues and has held several executive-level positions in federal government

throughout his career.

Mr. Principi served as Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs, VA ’s second-highest

executive position, from March 17,1989,to September 26,1992,when he was

named Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs by President George Bush.  He served

in that position until January 1993.Following that appointment, he served as

Republican chief counsel and staff director of the Senate Committee on Armed

Services.

From 1984 to 1988,he served as Republican chief counsel and staff director of the

Senate Committee on Veterans ’ Affairs, following three years as counsel to the

chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Mr. Principi was chairman of the Commission on Service members and Veterans

Transition Assistance established by Congress in 1996.

Mr. Principi is a 1967 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., and first saw active duty aboard the destroyer USS Joseph P. Kennedy.  He later

commanded a River Patrol Unit in Vietnam ’s Mekong Delta.

Prior to his nomination as Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Mr. Principi was president

of QTC Medical Services, Inc.  During the past decade, he was senior vice

president at Lockheed Martin IMS, and a partner in the San Diego law firm of

Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps.

Mr. Principi earned his law degree from Seton Hall University in 1975 and was

assigned to the Navy ’s Judge Advocate General Corps in San Diego, Calif.  In

1980,he was transferred to Washington as a legislative counsel for the Department

of the Navy.