Paul R. Lawrence

The department's chief operating officer — and, notably, the man charged with finding permanent chiefs for Health and Benefits while he runs the building.

Former Army captain (Airborne), PhD in economics, and VA’s Under Secretary for Benefits from 2018 to 2021 — he has run the benefits operation before. Senate-confirmed March 27, 2025 (51–45) and sworn in the next day as the 11th Deputy Secretary.

Accountable for: department-wide policy and operations; personally the named lead on the EHR modernization; chair of the 2026 candidate commissions for Under Secretary for Health and Under Secretary for Benefits; and, since a July 2026 memo, the designated “enterprise owner” of VA.gov — the same web infrastructure whose Blue Button report told a 100% veteran that his service did not exist. The correction Letter No. 1 demands lands, in part, on his desk.

On video: VA explainer videos and Senate hearing testimony; no personal series.

Official bio: department.va.gov. Verified October 16, 2026.