Nomination reported favorably out of committee, next step is full Senate vote on confirmation
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, applauded the bipartisan committee approval of Robert Wilkie, a native of Fayetteville, NC and Senior Advisor to Senator Tillis from 2015 until late 2017, to be Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Wilkie’s nomination now moves to the full Senate for a vote.
“I applaud the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs for overwhelmingly approving Robert Wilkie to be Secretary of the VA. I’ve had the honor of working with Robert for three years, and his combination of knowledge, experience, humility, and heart will serve him well in his new role leading the agency that serves our nation’s veterans.
“In his short time as the acting VA Secretary, Robert quickly worked to improve morale at the VA, earning strong reviews and trust from VSOs, members of Congress, and VA staff. I have no doubt once he is confirmed by the full Senate that he will bring his professional expertise and a personal insight and intensity to the role that will transform the VA to better serve veterans across the nation.”
Senator Tillis introduced Wilkie at his Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs hearing to consider his nomination to be secretary of the VA on June 27.
Background on Robert Wilkie:
Robert Wilkie, a native of Fayetteville, North Carolina, is the current Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, confirmed unanimously by the Senate in November 2017. Wilkie served as Senator Tillis’ senior advisor since Tillis took office in 2015 until late 2017, advising him on national security, military, and veterans affairs issues. Wilkie previously served as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs under Robert Gates and Donald Rumsfeld. He also served as Special Assistant to President George W. Bush for National Security Affairs and as Senior Director of the National Security Council under Dr. Condoleezza Rice.
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