Office of the Chief of Staff
About the Office
Office of the Chief of Staff (COS) works closely with the Under Secretary for Health, the Deputy Under Secretary for Health, and the Assistant Under Secretaries for Health in managing the day-to-day operations of VHA, the largest integrated health care system in the country. The COS serves as VHA’s central coordination point for all high-level negotiations involving establishment or implementation of policies, practices, management, and operational Activities to carry out the mission of VHA. The COS manages VHA’s executive correspondence, communications, legislative affairs, regulations, and VHA’s Governance Board.
Activities
Coordinates and responds to all requests for information from the Department and the White House.
Coordinates and responds to all requests for information from external stakeholders, such as Congress, Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs), other Governmental agencies, and the public.
Ensures VHA’s message is clear, concise, and consistent with VA’s current position and strategic direction.
Works closely with partners throughout the Department including, the Office of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (OSVA), Office of Management (OM), Office of Public Affairs and Intergovernmental Affairs (OPIA), Office of General Counsel (OGC), and Office of the Inspector General (OIG).
Leadership
Lisa Pape, LISW
Chief of Staff (COS)
Lisa M. Pape is the Chief of Staff for the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), serving as a senior advisor to the Under Secretary for Health and the Principal and Deputy Under Secretaries. She leads the coordination of organizational solutions and operational activities for the U.S. largest integrated healthcare system — VHA — which employs over 400,000 people and operates 1,234 healthcare facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,062 outpatient sites, serving more than 9 million Veterans