Gary Tallman serves as the Principal Deputy and senior Federal career leader for the VA Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs (OPIA). He was elevated to the Federal Senior Executive Service in 2016. He supports OPIA’s cadre of political appointees and is responsible for providing strategic leadership, direction, coordination, and alignment of resources for all OPIA Federal employees including 10 field offices throughout the Continental United States. He serves as executive in charge and accountable official for strategic communications planning for major departmental policy initiatives for National Veterans Outreach, the annual Veterans Day National
Observance, and Employee Engagement Communications. He provides executive-level strategic communication advice and counsel to the Assistant Secretary, OPIA, and other VA senior leaders as required. Mr. Tallman represents OPIA as required on VA executive committees including the interagency VA/DOD Joint Executive Committee. He leads OPIA’s participation in VA’s Federal disaster response program in support of Emergency Support Function 15 for national-level response to disasters or designated national security events. Mr. Tallman completed a 21-year career in the U.S. Army, retiring in 2009. He is a veteran of Operation Just Cause, the Persian Gulf War, and Afghanistan. He is a recipient of the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star.
