Richard J. Hipolit, JD, Acting General Counsel

In his current position as Deputy General Counsel for Veterans Programs, Performing the Delegable Duties of the General Counsel, Mr. Hipolit oversees and coordinates the work of the several Office of the General Counsel (OGC) Central Office Law Groups, OGC’s District Chief Counsel Offices, and OGC’s National Practice Groups, which provide legal services in areas encompassing all of VA’s Veterans’ programs, personnel, torts, and general law subject matters.  He also participates in strategic planning and other management functions and coordinates legal services as the head of OGC’s Executive Leadership Team.

Previously, as Deputy General Counsel for Veterans Programs, Mr. Hipolit supervised OGC Central Office Law Groups and OGC’s Loan Guaranty National Practice Group in providing legal services in areas encompassing all of VA’s Veterans’ benefit programs, including health care.

From December 2018 to November 2019, he served as Principal Deputy General Counsel, overseeing and coordinating the work of the several OGC Central Office Law Groups, OGC’s District Chief Counsel Offices, and OGC’s National Practice Groups.    Mr. Hipolit joined VA in 1982 as a staff attorney and was appointed Deputy Assistant General Counsel in 1989, Assistant General Counsel in 2005, and Deputy General Counsel in April 2014.  Prior to joining VA, he was employed for five years as an attorney in the Office of the Chief Counsel, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), U.S. Department of Transportation, where he handled regulatory and legislative matters involving motor vehicle safety.

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