Organizational Leadership

Anastasia Kakel currently serves as the Acting Director of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Service within the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Compliance, Risk, and Remediation (CRR) office, effective immediately. In this senior leadership role, Mrs. Kakel performs the delegable duties of the Director, bringing in over two decades of federal service and a proven track record in FOIA, Privacy Act (PA), and Records Administration to drive transparency, accountability, and service excellence.

In her permanent position, Mrs. Kakel holds the title of Supervisory Government Information Specialist, FOIA Service, within the CRR service line. Her leadership is characterized by a transformational and coaching approach, with a clear focus on enhancing technical capabilities, and fostering continuous improvement and coordination efforts across FOIA operations. As Acting Director, she is guiding initiatives aligned with the FOIA and Cleland-Dole Section 406 mandate, promoting efficiency and responsiveness in processing FOIA requests throughout the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Before joining the VA FOIA Service, Anastasia dedicated 26 years to federal service for the U.S. Army, Department of Defense. Her diverse and impactful career included managing enterprise-level FOIA/PA/Records programs, leading Army-wide strategic planning and manpower studies, and directed high-performing cross-functional teams to achieve measurable, mission-aligned results. Her expertise in policy development and operational efficiency consistently delivered cost-avoidance solutions and process improvements at scale.

Anastasia Kakel’s dedication to public service and her deep technical and strategic experience make her a trusted leader in the field of information governance and a valuable asset to the Department of Veterans Affairs.