THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

PRESIDENT NAMES DENNIS M. DUFFY AS ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR POLICY AND PLANNING FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

President Clinton today announced his intent to nominate Dennis M. Duffy as Assistant Secretary for Policy and Planning for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

A Vietnam veteran, Mr. Duffy has a 20-year career with VA and currently is Deputy Assistant Secretary for Congressional Liaison, responsible for developing and maintaining an effective liaison program between VA officials and Congress. Prior to his appointment to the Office of Congressional Affairs in 1988, he spent nearly 14 years with the Veterans Benefits Administration. Mr. Duffy began his VA career in 1974 as a veterans education and training representative at the VA Regional Office in Pittsburgh, PA, and advanced through positions of increasing responsibility in the Veterans Services Division. In 1983, he transferred to VA headquarters, where he was a senior program analyst with the Veterans Assistance Service. Mr. Duffy served with the U.S. Army as a combat infantryman and squad leader with the American Division in the Republic of Vietnam in 1970-71.

A native of Pittsburgh, Mr. Duffy received a bachelor of arts degree from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and completed graduate studies in public administration at the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Pittsburgh.

Mr. Duffy would be the principle advisor to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary on policy development and strategic planning for VA. His other responsibilities would include conducting and coordinating policy analysis and review, as well as statistical research and demographic analysis. He also would serve as the department's Chief Minority Affairs Officer, responsible for examining VA policies, regulations and programs as they affect minority group veterans; assessing their needs; and advising the Secretary on ways to improve or expand programs.

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