About the Office

Mission

The Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection (OAWP) serves Veterans, employees, and other stakeholders by protecting whistleblowers and fostering individual and organizational accountability across VA, through advice, reports, and recommendations to the Secretary and to Congress; training on whistleblower rights and protections; unbiased investigations into alleged senior leader misconduct and whistleblower retaliation; and independent performance reviews to improve compliance and effectiveness of VA programs.

The office operates under the authority of VA Directive 0500

Organizational Structure

Our office has approximately 128 staff organized into three primary directorates: the Investigations Directorate; the Management and Operations Directorate; and the Compliance and Oversight Directorate. We are headquartered in Washington, D.C.

Assistant Secretary
- Deputy Assistant Secretary
  - Executive Director, Investigations Directorate
    - Director, Investigative Attorney Division
    - Director, Investigations Division
    - Director, Intake and Referral Division
  - Executive Director, Compliance and Oversight Directorate
    - Director, Compliance Analytics and Reporting Division
    - Director, Special Reviews Division
  - Director, Quality Division
  - Director, Stakeholder Engagement Division
- Chief of Staff
  - Director, Resource Management and Operations Division
  - Director, Information Systems Management Division

Roles and Responsibilities

The Deputy Assistant Secretary serves as the alter ego to the Assistant Secretary and oversees the Quality and Stakeholder Engagement divisions. The Compliance and Oversight Directorate and Investigations Directorate report under the Deputy Assistant Secretary through Executive Directors.

Quality Division
Conducts quality assurance for the office's investigative processes to identify systemic deficiencies in how we receive, review, refer, and investigate cases. Recommends ways to correct deficiencies to the Investigations Directorate leaders.
Stakeholder Engagement Division
Manages our relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, to include Members of Congress, Congressional staff, other agencies of government, Veteran Service Organizations, whistleblower advocacy groups and the media. Oversees our Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act programs.
The Executive Director for Compliance and Oversight reports to the Deputy Assistant Secretary. The Directorate encompasses the Compliance Analytics and Reporting Division and Special Reviews Division.

Compliance Analytics and Reporting Division
Provides a detailed justification to Congress if the Secretary receives a recommendation for disciplinary action under subsection 38 USC 323(c)(1)(I) and does not take or initiate the recommended disciplinary action within the established timeframe. Records, tracks and confirms implementation of recommendations from audits and investigations carried out by the OIG, OMI, OSC, and GAO, including the imposition of disciplinary actions and other corrective actions contained in such recommendations. Analyzes data from OAWP, other whistleblower disclosures and relevant audits and investigations to identify trends and issue reports to the Secretary based on analyses conducted. Tracks whistleblower settlements across VA.
Special Reviews Division
Provides advice, reports, and recommendations to the Secretary on all matters related to accountability, retaliation against whistleblowers and other such matters the Secretary considers similar and affect public trust in the Department. Conducts programmatic and climate reviews. Reviews implementation of recommendations and effectiveness thereof from audits and investigations carried out by the OIG, the OMI, the OSC, and the GAO.
The Executive Director for Investigations reports to the Deputy Assistant Secretary. The Directorate encompasses the Intake and Referral Division, Investigative Attorney Division, and Investigations Division. The Directorate’s Operations and Training Section develops and provides education and training on whistleblower rights and protections in addition to overseeing VA’s certification under the U.S. Office of Special Counsel’s 5 U.S.C. 2302(c) whistleblower certification program.

Intake & Referral Division
Receives, reviews, and records all incoming matters involving allegations of senior leader misconduct and poor performance, whistleblower retaliation, and whistleblower disclosures submitted by VA employees or applicants for employment. Transmits or refers matters to the appropriate offices for investigation.
Investigations Division
Investigates allegations of VA senior leader misconduct and poor performance, and allegations of whistleblower retaliation by VA supervisors. Makes recommendations for disciplinary and corrective actions for substantiated allegations.
Investigative Attorney Division
The Investigative Attorney Division provides legal support and assistance to OAWP regarding investigations, reviews investigative work-product, and prepares reports of investigation and recommendations, including recommendations for disciplinary action against VA senior leaders and supervisors.The Investigative Attorney Division provides legal support and assistance to OAWP regarding investigations, reviews investigative work-product, and prepares reports of investigation and recommendations, including recommendations for disciplinary action against VA senior leaders and supervisors.
The Chief of Staff leads this Directorate which encompasses the Information Systems Management Division and Resource Management and Operations Division.

Information Systems Management Division
Implements and maintains our information systems and supports our portfolio of products, services and processes from research and ideation through detailed design and delivery. The division collaborates with the Compliance Division to identify trends from audits and investigations so that VA can proactively address areas of concern.
Resource Management and Operations Division
Advises on human resources, budget, contracting, workforce planning, employee engagement, training, and internal management controls.

Mission

Organizational Structure

Roles and Responsibilities

Quality Division

Stakeholder Engagement Division

Compliance Analytics and Reporting Division

Special Reviews Division

Intake & Referral Division

Investigations Division

Investigative Attorney Division

Information Systems Management Division

Resource Management and Operations Division