THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release September 29, 1993

PRESIDENT NAMES VOGEL TO VA BENEFITS POST

The President announced today that he intends to nominate career Veterans Affairs official Raymond John Vogel, to be the Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Benefits. Vogel, a disabled Vietnam-era Army veteran, would head the Veterans Benefits Administration, the VA agency responsible for delivery of non-medical benefits to the nation's 27 million veterans.

In making his announcement, the President said, "John Vogel is uniquely qualified to apply his in-depth expertise to the VA's new commitment to serve America's veterans during a new era of efficiency and sensitivity. He will ably assist VA Secretary Jesse Brown in his plans to modernize and streamline the VA claims process."

Vogel, since early this year, has been detailed to VA's Washington headquarters as Deputy Under Secretary for Benefits from his position as director of the VA medical center in Bay Pines, Fla. He is one of few VA career managers with experience directing both benefits and health-care facilities.

Vogel began his VA career in 1968 as a claims examiner, rose to direct VA regional offices in Portland, OR., and Philadelphia, and was named Chief Benefits Director of the then Veterans Administration in 1985. In 1988, he became a charter member of the Federal Quality Institute, a forerunner to government management innovation and improvement initiatives. He was assigned to VA's Veterans Health Administration in 1990, following VA's elevation to cabinet status.

A Wheeling, WV native, Vogel earned his bachelors degree from Wheeling College. He also has completed graduate studies in government administration from George Washington University and the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He and his wife, the former Georgia Faris, have two sons and a daughter.

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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release September 28, 1993

REY TO BE AMBASSADOR TO POLAND

President Clinton announced his intention today to nominate Polish-born business consultant Nicholas Rey to be the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Poland.

"I am very proud of this choice," said the President. "Nicholas Rey has already done much for America in helping Poland along the road to democracy and free markets. I am confident that as our nation's ambassador, he will continue to further those important values."

Rey is the Managing Director for North America of Integrated Control Systems, Inc., the efficiency and productivity consulting firm. From 1971-92, he was an investment banker with Merrill Lynch and Bear Stearns. In addition, he is the Vice Chairman and Director of the federally-funded Polish-American Enterprise Fund, established by Congress to foster private enterprise in Poland. During the 1960s, Rey served at the Department of the Treasury as an international economist and as Director of the Executive Secretariat.

Born in Poland in 1938, Rey is a direct descendent of Mikolaj Rej (1505-1569), who is known as the father of Polish literature. After emigrating to the U.S. with his parents at the age of three, he went on to earn a B.A. from Princeton University and an M.A. from The John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. He and his wife, the former Louisa Gawtry Machado, have three grown children, Cecilia, Anthony and Michael. He lives in Larchmont, NY.

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