History / Offices

Secretary of Veterans Affairs

20 people have held this office since Mar 15, 1989. Now: Doug Collins R.

Holders
20
10 R · 5 D · 4 U · 1 I
Longest tenure
5.4 years
Eric Ken Shinseki
Current
20 months
Doug Collins, since Feb 5, 2025
history/office/secretary-of-veterans-affairsEvery holder, newest first
+20
19901995200020052010201520202025Ed Derwinski · 1989-03-15 – 1992-09-26 · RepublicanAnthony Principi · 1992-09-26 – 1993-01-20 · RepublicanJesse Brown · 1993-01-22 – 1997-07-13 · DemocratHershel W. Gober · 1997-07-13 – 1998-01-02 · DemocratTogo D. West, Jr. · 1998-01-02 – 2000-07-25 · DemocratHershel W. Gober · 2000-07-25 – 2001-01-20 · DemocratAnthony Principi · 2001-01-23 – 2005-01-26 · RepublicanJim Nicholson · 2005-01-26 – 2007-10-01 · RepublicanGordon H. Mansfield · 2007-10-01 – 2007-12-20 · RepublicanJames Peake · 2007-12-20 – 2009-01-20 · RepublicanEric Ken Shinseki · 2009-01-21 – 2014-05-30Sloan D. Gibson · 2014-05-30 – 2014-07-30 · RepublicanRobert A. McDonald · 2014-07-30 – 2017-01-20 · RepublicanRobert Snyder · 2017-01-20 – 2017-02-14David Shulkin · 2017-02-14 – 2018-03-28 · IndependentRobert Wilkie · 2018-03-28 – 2021-01-20 · RepublicanDat Tran · 2021-01-20 – 2021-02-09Denis McDonough · 2021-02-09 – 2025-01-20 · DemocratDoug Collins · 2025-02-05 – present · RepublicanPeter O'Rourke · 2018-05-29 – 2018-07-30
Doug Collins R
Feb 5, 2025 – present · 20 months · appointed by Donald Trump
Denis McDonough D
Feb 9, 2021 – Jan 20, 2025 · 3.9 years · appointed by Joe Biden
Dat Tran (acting)
Jan 20, 2021 – Feb 9, 2021 · 20 days
Peter O'Rourke (acting)
May 29, 2018 – Jul 30, 2018 · 2 months
Robert Wilkie R
Mar 28, 2018 – Jan 20, 2021 · 2.8 years · appointed by Donald Trump
David Shulkin I
Feb 14, 2017 – Mar 28, 2018 · 13 months · appointed by Donald Trump
Robert Snyder (acting)
Jan 20, 2017 – Feb 14, 2017 · 25 days
Robert A. McDonald R
Jul 30, 2014 – Jan 20, 2017 · 2.5 years · appointed by Barack Obama
Sloan D. Gibson R (acting)
May 30, 2014 – Jul 30, 2014 · 2 months
Eric Ken Shinseki
Jan 21, 2009 – May 30, 2014 · 5.4 years · appointed by Barack Obama
James Peake R
Dec 20, 2007 – Jan 20, 2009 · 13 months · appointed by George W. Bush
Gordon H. Mansfield R (acting)
Oct 1, 2007 – Dec 20, 2007 · 3 months
Jim Nicholson R
Jan 26, 2005 – Oct 1, 2007 · 2.7 years · appointed by George W. Bush
Anthony Principi R
Jan 23, 2001 – Jan 26, 2005 · 4 years · appointed by George W. Bush
Hershel W. Gober D (acting)
Jul 25, 2000 – Jan 20, 2001 · 6 months
Togo D. West, Jr. D
Jan 2, 1998 – Jul 25, 2000 · 2.6 years · appointed by Bill Clinton
Hershel W. Gober D (acting)
Jul 13, 1997 – Jan 2, 1998 · 6 months
Jesse Brown D
Jan 22, 1993 – Jul 13, 1997 · 4.5 years · appointed by Bill Clinton
Anthony Principi R (acting)
Sep 26, 1992 – Jan 20, 1993 · 4 months
Ed Derwinski R
Mar 15, 1989 – Sep 26, 1992 · 3.5 years · appointed by George H. W. Bush

Dates are from Wikidata, which has gaps for some historical offices. Consecutive terms of one person are merged.