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Washington, D.C. —On December 14, the Senate confirmed Dr. James Peake, Lieutenant General (Retired), United States Army Medical Corps, as the new Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). 

House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Steve Buyer (R-Ind.) was pleased by Senate’s decision to confirm Peake for the position. 

“Secretary Peake brings a wealth of experience to his new role and I look forward to working with him to honor our nation’s commitment to veterans,” Buyer said.  

During his tenure as Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel, Buyer developed a favorable working relationship with Peake. In October, when President Bush nominated Peake for the VA’s top position, Buyer praised the nomination and described Peake as ‘exceedingly well qualified.’  

Peake graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1966, and was awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart for his service in as a platoon leader with the 101st Airborne Division. He received his medical degree from Cornell University in 1972. From 2000 to 2004, Peake was surgeon general of the U.S. Army. From 2004 to 2006, he was executive vice president and chief operating officer of Project HOPE, a nonprofit international health foundation. In his latest role prior to confirmation as VA Secretary, Peake served as chief medical director and chief operating officer of QTC Management, a firm that provides disability medical evaluations for disability-based benefit and insurance programs.

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