Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Announces New VISN Director – John Brandecker Brings Leadership and Proven Experience to VA Sierra Pacific Network

By Chuck Ramey, Public Affairs Officer, VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System
The Department of Veterans Affairs is pleased to announce the appointment of John A. Brandecker, MBA, MPH, as the new Director of the VA Sierra Pacific Network (VISN 21) in Vallejo, California. Mr. Brandecker will oversee delivery of health care at seven major health care systems in northern California, Nevada, Hawaii and the Pacific. VISN 21 has an operating budget of $3.9 billion and has more than14,300 employees.

“We are excited to bring Mr. Brandecker on board as the new Director of the VA Sierra Pacific Network,” said Steve Young, VHA Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Operations and Management.  “His sound leadership qualities and proven experience will be valuable assets for the facility, the employees and volunteers, and most importantly, for the Veterans we are honored to serve.  We anticipate he will begin his appointment within the next four to six weeks.

For the past five years, Mr. Brandecker has served as the Medical Center Director at the McGuire VA Medical Center in Richmond, Virginia, one of the highest complexity medical centers in the 160-hospital VA Health System. In this capacity, he had full ownership and accountability for all activity related to medical center operations along with four Community Based Outpatient Clinics.  The McGuire VA Medical Center has 408 operating beds providing care to nearly 60,000 veterans in a 52-county area with more than 3,300 employees.

Prior to joining VA, Mr. Brandecker served in several executive positions in the private sector including Associate Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of UT Southwestern Hospitals in Dallas; Senior Vice President of Jackson Health System and Chief Administrative Officer for Holtz Children’s Hospital and Jackson Memorial  Women’s Hospital Center in Miami; Associate Hospital Director at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics; Executive Director, University of Iowa Children’s Hospital in Iowa City; Vice-President, University of Chicago Hospitals and Health System; and Director, Comer Children’s Hospital in Chicago. He also served as a System Administrative Director and Chief Financial Officer in the North-Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System in North Hyde Park, New York, as well as the Director of Internal Management Services at Columbia University in New York City.

Mr. Brandecker holds a Master’s in Business Administration from St. John’s University in Queens, New York and a Master’s in Public Health from Columbia University.