(October 5, 2006) – Embarking upon an historic new effort, former VA Administrator and Veterans Coalition President Harry N. Walters today announced the names of nine nationally recognized experts on veterans’ issues to serve on the new Commission on the Future for America’s Veterans. The Commission is charged with developing a long range strategic vision and series of recommendations on “how best to provide future generations of America’s veterans with the benefits and services they have earned,” said Walters.

“In twenty years, the ‘Greatest Generation’ veterans will have died and been replaced by a very different population of older Vietnam veterans, veterans of the Persian Gulf War, the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, veterans of peacetime periods, and veterans of future wars that are unknown today,” said Walters. “A major slice of that new veteran population will be the National Guard and Reserve forces rather than the traditional active duty services,” he said.

“The needs of these future veterans will be very different from those of today,” Walters said.

“Too often our government gets bogged down in short term cycles of elections and budgets. Strategic planning is often restricted to less than two years,” said Walters. “When it comes to setting the strategic direction of the Department of Veterans Affairs in providing benefits and services to the next generation of veterans, there simply is no long range vision for where these programs ought to be in 20 or 30 years,” he said.

“This Commission will be unlike any commission or task force in the past,” Walters said. “These individuals were chosen for one reason: because they are recognized experts in veterans policy, with experience that covers the gamut of veterans issues from budget, to health care, to benefits, to Guard and reserve matters,” he said.

“For example, Dr. Kenneth Kizer, former Under Secretary of the Veterans Health Administration, and the man credited with VA’s last great leap forward in health care quality, efficiency, satisfaction, and safety, has agreed to serve on the Commission,” said Walters. “Dr. Kizer and each one of these Commissioners brings extraordinary knowledge, experience, passion, and independence, all necessary ingredients to make this Commission a success,” Walters said.

Over the next 18 months, the Commission will hold public meetings and forums, conduct independent research studies, confer with veterans’ stakeholders, and discuss, debate and develop comprehensive recommendations to guide VA’s future. The first meeting of the Commission will take place in Washington, DC on November 9, 2006, just before Veterans Day, and the final report will be released around Memorial Day 2008.

The full list of nine Commissioners named today includes:

Everett Alvarez, Jr. – former Deputy Administrator of the Veterans Administration from 1982 to 1986. He was the first American aviator shot down over North Vietnam, where he was held as a prisoner of war for eight and a half years.

Raymond Boland – a Vietnam War veteran and former Secretary of the Wisconsin State Department of Veterans Affairs from 1992 until 2003. He is also a past president of the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs.

Chad Colley – a Vietnam War veteran who lost both legs and an arm in combat. He has served in numerous senior positions with veterans organizations, including as National Commander of the Disabled American Veterans.

Ronald F. Conley – Director of Veterans Affairs for Allegheny County, Pennsylvania and former American Legion National Commander. He is also the founder and President of the American Legion for Homeless Veterans Corporation which operates eight homes for veterans.

William M. Diefenderfer III – a Vietnam War veteran, served in senior positions in the House and Senate, and was Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget. He served on The American Legion’s Veterans Planning and Coordinating Committee for several years.

Kenneth W. Kizer, M.D., M.P.H. – former Under Secretary for Health in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from 1994 to 1999. Dr. Kizer is widely credited as being the chief architect and driving force behind the successful transformation of VA healthcare in the 1990s.

Susan Morrisey Livingstone - former Navy Under Secretary, having previously served as CEO of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA), Army Assistant Secretary for Installations, Logistics and Environment, and in VA as Associate Deputy Administrator for Logistics and Associate Deputy Administrator for Management.

Bryan E. Sharratt – Alumni Committee President for the Reserve Forces Policy Board. He previously served as Air Force Deputy Assistant Secretary for Reserve Affairs and Executive Director of the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.

JoAnn Webb, MHA – former Assistant Secretary for Policy and Planning and Director of the National Cemetery System in the Department of Veterans Affairs. She is also the former Staff Director of the House Veterans Affairs’ Subcommittee on Health.

In addition, Harry Walters will serve as a nonvoting managing member of the Commission to help coordinate the day-to-day activities and ensure that the work of the Commission flows smoothly.

Walters pointed out that unlike other commissions, the Commission on the Future for America’s Veterans will be both independent from, yet proceed with the support of, the major drivers of veterans policy – the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Congress, and the veterans service organizations (VSOs).

“We have already met with VA Secretary Jim Nicholson, Congressional leaders, and the heads of major veterans service organizations, and their feedback has been extremely positive and supportive,” said Walters. “They recognize the value of an independent Commission that is focused on long range reform and transformation of VA and veterans programs,” Walters said.

Walters also announced that Altarum Institute, a nationally-recognized nonprofit research institute, will support the work of the Commission as well as perform independent research on major policy matters that the Commission will consider.

“Altarum will provide the Commission with additional expertise and independent analytical capabilities,” said Walters. “Altarum’s extensive experience working on health systems research, modeling and policy reform, and their ongoing work with VA makes them a tremendous asset to the Commission,” Walters said.

Further supporting the work of the Commission will be a National Advisory Board, which includes former VA Secretary Anthony J. Principi, former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, former White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta, former VA Under Secretaries for Health Jonathan Perlin and Thomas Garthwaite, former Army Surgeon General Ronald Blanck, and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense George Anderson.

The Commission was created by the Veterans Coalition, a nonprofit organization founded earlier this year by the five largest veterans service organizations: The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Disabled American Veterans (DAV), AMVETS, and Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA). While the Veterans Coalition created and supports the work of the Commission, it is not involved in the deliberation or determination of the Commission’s recommendations.