In April 2020, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) formally established the VA History Office (VAHO) to manage an overarching history initiative in a collaborative effort that includes VA’s three Administrations: Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), and National Cemetery Administration (NCA).
The VA History team supports the VA History Program and establishment of the National VA History Center (NVAHC), and includes a small number of talented historians, archivists, curators, and other specialists with a passion for VA history. The VA History team also includes employees with special talents who are on temporary detail assignments to VAHO and make significant contributions to this new endeavor.
The VA Chief Historian manages the development of the NVAHC and the VA History Program. VHA, VBA, and NCA have their own historians on staff who serve as critical experts to tell the story of their respective Administration, while increasing the effectiveness of the collaborative process in telling the overarching VA story.
Our internal VA partners include the Federal Preservation Officer, Records Management Officers of each administration, and Librarians, among members of other diverse disciplines. We also work closely with professionals across the VA Central Office who manage communications, information technology, construction, VA’s legislative interaction, and other functions.
