Robert Wilkie Confirmed as VA Secretary

On Monday, July 23, the U.S. Senate voted 86 to 9 to confirm President Donald Trump’s nominee Robert Wilkie as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Mr. Wilkie has previously served his country in several capacities, most recently as the Acting Secretary of the VA, to which he was appointed to by the President in March of this year.

Mr. Wilkie has been an officer in the Air Force Reserve since 1997, previously worked on Capitol Hill, and has served at the Pentagon under two previous presidents. From 2005 to 2009, he served in President George W. Bush’s administration as an Assistant Secretary of Defense.

Military service is in Mr. Wilkie’s family, as his father was a combat veteran wounded in action.

ASA congratulates Secretary Wilkie on his confirmation and looks forward to working with him and the Department on issues vital to the practice of anesthesiology and patient safety.