VA Secretary McDonald to address the state of the VA at Nov. 6 luncheon

Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert A. McDonald will address the state of the VA and the continuing efforts to improve services to millions of America’s veterans and their families at a National Press Club luncheon on Friday, Nov. 6.

McDonald took office on July 29, 2014 amid controversy over reports that dozens of veterans had died while waiting for care from the VA’s hospital system. Internal investigations at the VA identified 35 veterans who died while waiting for care in the Phoenix VHA system.

McDonald, a 1975 graduate of the United States Military Academy, served with the 82nd Airborne. He leads the second largest federal department serving more than 21 million veterans and their families with a staff of more than 300,000 and a budget of over $163.9 billion.

Prior to joining VA, McDonald was chairman, president, and chief executive officer of Procter & Gamble (P&G). Under his leadership, P&G significantly recalibrated its product portfolio; expanded its marketing footprint, adding nearly one billion people to its global customer base; and grew the firm’s organic sales by an average of three percent per year. This growth was reflected in P&G’s stock price, which rose from $51.10 the day he became CEO to $81.64 on the day his last quarterly results were announced—a 60 percent increase from 2009 to 2013.

The Press Club luncheon begins promptly at 12:30 p.m. Remarks will begin at 1p.m., followed by a question-and-answer session, ending at 2 p.m. Tickets may be purchased here. The cost of luncheon admission is $23 for National Press Club members and $37 non-members. Tickets must be purchased at time of reservation.

National Press Club Luncheons are webcast live on press.org. Follow the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #NPCLunch, or on Facebook and Twitter (@PressClubDC). Submit questions for speakers in advance and during the live event by sending them to @QNPCLunch on Twitter. Or email a question in advance, type VETERANS in the subject line and send to [email protected] before 10 a.m. on the day of event.