About CFM
Mission
Oversee, manage, resource, and acquire the planning, design, construction, and operations of infrastructure and real estate for the Department.
Vision
Be the preeminent enterprise infrastructure portfolio acquisition and management organization delivering world-class expertise, healthcare environments, memorial, and benefits facilities with speed, agility, and trust for Veteran, their families, caregivers, and survivors.
Values:
“I CARE” VA’s Core Values Personalized for CFM
- Integrity: Act with high moral and ethical principles. Adhere to the highest professional standards. Maintain the trust and confidence of all with whom we engage.
- Commitment: Work diligently to serve Veterans and other beneficiaries. Be driven by an earnest belief in VA’s mission. Fulfill our individual responsibilities and organizational responsibilities.
- Advocacy: Be truly Veteran-centric by identifying, fully considering, and appropriately advancing VA’s mission.
- Respect: Treat all those we serve and with whom we work with dignity and respect. Show respect to earn it.
- Excellence: Strive for the highest quality and continuous improvement. Be thoughtful and decisive in leadership, accountable for our actions, willing to admit mistakes and rigorous in correcting them.
A History of VA’s Construction and Facilities Management
Colonial Period
The tradition of public responsibility for the care of disabled servicemen began in America’s colonial period. In 1798, a federal law established medical care for Veterans by providing relief to sick and disabled seamen. Construction of marine hospitals and soldiers’ homes continued throughout the 19th century.
The Civil War accelerated the construction of facilities for disabled Veterans. State Veterans Homes were established, and Congress authorized a National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. These facilities provided domiciliary care and hospital services.
World War I
World War I created a tremendous increase in the demand for Veterans’ care. Responsibility was shared between federal agencies, such as the Bureau of War Risk Insurance and the U.S. Public Health Service.
- In 1921, the Veterans Bureau was created to consolidate services.
- Fifty-eight hospitals were transferred to the Bureau.
- Many facilities were inadequate, so a new construction program authorized 24 new hospitals by 1930, while 33 were closed.
Colonel L. T. Tripp was the first chief of the Veterans Bureau construction program, overseeing both construction and hospital operations.
The Veterans Administration (VA) was established in 1930 by Executive Order of President Herbert Hoover, consolidating all Veterans benefit programs. At that time, 60 hospitals were placed under consolidated management.
World War II
By the end of World War II:
- 34 new facilities were in operation.
- 43 hospitals were transferred from the armed services to VA.
- In 1944, a $500 million construction program was approved to build 76 new hospitals.
Key leaders included George E. Ijams (1945–1946), Francis H. Dryden (1946–1952), and Raleigh M. Edgar (1952–1958). During this period, 82 hospitals were added to the VA system.
Cold War Era (1958–1968)
Whitney Ashbridge served as Assistant Administrator for Construction. VA’s program included:
- Acquiring new hospital sites
- Replacing outmoded facilities
- Improving existing facilities
- Closing inadequate hospitals
Vietnam Era (1968–1980s)
Viggo P. Miller served as Assistant Administrator for Construction from 1968 to 1980.
- In 1973, the National Cemetery Act transferred 81 national cemeteries from the U.S. Army to VA.
- This expanded the VA construction program to include cemetery projects.
Leadership included William A. Salmond (1980–1984), William Fote (1984–1985), and Albert Peter (1985–1986).
1980s-1990s
In 1986, all facility-related programs were realigned into a new Office of Facilities, giving full responsibility for VA’s capital facilities program to one office. Gerald E. Neumann became its first Director.
Key milestones:
- In 1989, VA became a Cabinet-level Department. Lester M. Hunkele III was named Deputy Assistant Secretary for Facilities.
- In 1992, facilities construction was realigned to the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) as the Office of Construction Management (CM).
- By the late 1990s, CM was renamed the Office of Facilities Management (FM), reflecting broader asset management responsibilities.
2000s
In the late 1990s, VA launched the Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES) study to modernize healthcare facilities.
- In 2004, major facility replacement and renovation projects were announced.
- On February 18, 2007, VA created the Office of Construction & Facilities Management (CFM). Donald Orndoff served as its first head.
- CFM consolidated all major construction responsibilities and reported directly to the Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
After Mr. Orndoff’s departure, Robert L. Neary, Jr. served as Executive-in-Charge until December 2012.
CFM Today
Since 2004:
- 36 major construction projects received full or partial funding, totaling $4.7 billion.
- 22 National Cemetery Administration (NCA) construction projects have been managed by CFM.
- CFM provides services including national design and construction standards, land acquisition, leasing, real property management, master planning, technical consultations, and infrastructure support for State Homes and Homeless Grants.