Mr. Hernandez oversees the mission assurance, security, and law enforcement efforts for the Department of Veterans Affairs by leading and integrating the Department’s emergency management, national security, personnel and physical security,and law enforcement activities. These efforts aid to prevent and mitigate degradation of VA services to Veterans and employees, as well as to support federal response efforts for all hazard incidents.
Prior to serving in his current role, Mr. Hernandez served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Incident Command and Control, and as the Director of the Program Support Center at the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Preceding DHHS, he served as the Deputy Director of the United States Mint where he oversaw business operations – the manufacturing and distribution of circulating coin, precious metal and numismatics – as well as the security over the national assets entrusted to the Mint. Mr. Hernandez also served as the Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, where he oversaw the Field Operations Directorate, and led operations while on deployment to many of our Nation’s largest disasters. Before entering civilian public service, Mr. Hernandez had the privilege of leading Marines in peace, during contingency operations, and in combat as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, until his retirement in 2010.