Mr. Syrek was appointed Chief of Staff for Veterans Affairs when he took the oath of office on January 20, 2025. In this pivotal role, he plays a critical part in steering the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), an agency dedicated to serving America’s Veterans. Mr. Syrek’s responsibilities encompass the orchestration of policy, development of strategic initiatives, management of operations, and facilitation of communications within the VA, which stands as the second-largest Cabinet department in the federal government. The department operates with an impressive budget exceeding $264 billion and employs a dedicated workforce of over 450,000 individuals committed to providing exemplary services to Veterans.
Mr. Syrek brings over 15 years of management and public policy experience to this role. Prior to being appointed to Chief of Staff, Mr. Syrek was a Director at KPMG in their Federal Consulting practice, providing a wide range of expertise and project leadership to the firm’s clients.
Mr. Syrek previously served as the Deputy Chief of Staff of VA from 2018-2021 during President Donald Trump’s first term. Mr. Syrek helped oversee significant reforms during his tenure, including the successful implementation of the VA Mission Act, implementation of the VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act, and a historic reduction in the backlog of disability and compensation claims. Mr. Syrek also served as the Executive Director of State and Local Government Relations at VA from 2017-2018, leading VA’s coordination and outreach to State and Local government officials.
Before his role with the Trump Administration, Mr. Syrek served as the President of a statewide trade association and as an advisor to numerous political campaigns. He is the recipient of the VA Secretary’s Exceptional Service Award for his previous service to the VA as Deputy Chief of Staff. Mr. Syrek holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Roger Williams University. He resides in northern Virginia with his wife Tori, and their children Grace and Abigail.
