Erik Shinseki

Erik Shinseki (born November 28, 1942) is a retired United States Army four-star general who served as the 34th Chief of Staff of the United States Army and later as the 7th United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs. He commanded units from company to army level, served in the Vietnam War and Gulf War, and led major transformation initiatives for the United States Army before transitioning to civilian public service in the Obama administration.

Early life and education

Born on the island of Kauaʻi in Hawaii, he is of Japanese American descent and was raised in a family with ties to Sugar plantation communities and World War II internment histories that affected many Japanese American families. He attended Lihue High School before receiving an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he graduated and was commissioned in 1965. Later professional military education included the Command and General Staff College and the Army War College, and he earned a master's degree from the University of Southern California.

Military career

His early service included platoon and company commands in the Vietnam War with infantry units and later staff assignments at Pentagon and combat training centers. He rose through battalion and brigade commands, leading a mechanized brigade in the Gulf War theater and serving in senior leadership posts in United States Army Pacific and at FORSCOM. As a lieutenant general and later a four-star general, he commanded the 25th Infantry Division and served as Vice Chief of Staff of the Army before being appointed Chief of Staff of the United States Army in 1999. In that role he advocated for transformation programs that affected force structure, equipment modernization, professional development systems, and operational doctrine, engaging with institutions such as the Department of Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and allied militaries. His tenure included oversight of deployments to the Balkans, operations related to the Global War on Terrorism, and coordination with combatant commands including U.S. Central Command and U.S. European Command.

Post-military career and public service

After retiring from active duty in 2003, he engaged with private sector boards and veterans' organizations, participating in policy discussions with entities like the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and think tanks focused on national security such as the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the Brookings Institution. In 2009 he was nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed as United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs, leading the Department of Veterans Affairs and coordinating with congressional committees including the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs on benefits, health care, and claims backlog initiatives.

Controversies and resignation

His tenure as Secretary of Veterans Affairs coincided with revelations about lengthy wait times and scheduling practices at multiple Veterans Health Administration facilities, prompting investigations by the Government Accountability Office, Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and Congressional oversight from the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs and House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Allegations and findings about misreported appointment metrics and access to care led to intense scrutiny from Senator Daniel Akaka, Senator Patty Murray, and Representative Bob Filner among others, and generated media coverage by outlets such as The Washington Post and The New York Times. In 2014, amid mounting bipartisan pressure and following testimony before Congress regarding accountability and systemic failures, he resigned from the position and was succeeded by a Secretary of Veterans Affairs nominee confirmed by United States Senate action.

Personal life

He is married and has children; his family roots tie back to Kauaʻi and Hawaii communities with historical connections to Japanese American immigration and agricultural labor. He has been recognized with multiple military awards and decorations, including honors from the Department of Defense and international military partners, and has been involved in veterans' outreach with organizations such as Disabled American Veterans and Paralyzed Veterans of America. Category:1942 births, Category:Living people, Category:United States Army generals, Category:United States Secretaries of Veterans Affairs