Perea-Henze Sworn in to Lead VA’s Policy and Planning Office

WASHINGTON  – Dr. Raul Perea-Henze was sworn in yesterday at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as the Assistant Secretary for Policy and Planning, a key post in the department’s transformation to provide 21st century service to our nation’s Veterans.

“Dr. Perea-Henze brings essential leadership, enthusiasm and initiative to transform VA,” Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki said.  “His leadership will support VA to make policy and strategy decisions based on the highest quality analysis and information.”

A physician with a master’s degree in public health, Perea-Henze has worked in both the public and private sectors for nearly 25 years.

VA’s Office of Policy and Planning develops policy and conducts strategic planning for VA.  It coordinates efforts involving transformation, innovation and strategic management and also leads the department’s efforts on VA/DoD collaboration.  It also serves as VA’s focal point for data and analysis, conducting program evaluations and surveys of Veterans, and managing the availability of official data.

Perea-Henze’s nearly 25 years of experience in strategy and planning have included serving as a senior executive at Merck and Co. and at Pfizer.  He was deputy assistant secretary for administration at the Commerce Department, a White House fellow and the chief of staff for the under secretary for international trade at the Commerce Department.
He also served as a management consultant, a senior official in New York City government and an adjunct professor of health policy at New York University.

Perea-Henze graduated from the University of Chihuahua School of Medicine in Mexico.  At Yale University, he earned a master’s degree in public health with a concentration in health policy and management.