Administrator of Veterans Affairs


The Administrator of Veterans Affairs was the head of the Veterans Administration, a United States Government agency responsible for military veterans benefits. The administrator was appointed by the President. In 1989, the Veterans Administration was replaced by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs as its head.
No.NameTerm of OfficesPresident served under
1Frank T. Hines1930–1945Herbert Hoover, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman
2Omar Bradley1945–1948Harry S. Truman
3Carl R. Gray Jr.1948–1953Harry S. Truman
4Harvey V. Higley1953–1957Dwight D. Eisenhower
5Sumner G. Whittier1957–1961Dwight D. Eisenhower
6John S. Gleason1961–1965John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson
7William J. Driver1965–1969Lyndon B. Johnson
8Donald E. Johnson1969–1974Richard Nixon
9Richard L. Roudebush1974–1977Gerald Ford
10Max Cleland1977–1981Jimmy Carter
11Bob Nimmo1981–1983Ronald Reagan
12Harry N. Walters1983–1986Ronald Reagan
13Thomas K. Turnage1986–1989Ronald Reagan
14Ed Derwinski1989George H. W. Bush

Derwinski went on to become the first Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

Directors of Veterans Bureau

Before the VA was established on July 21, 1930, its functions were carried out by the U.S. Veterans’ Bureau, the Bureau of Pensions of the Interior Department, and the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. The director of the Veterans' Bureau corresponds somewhat with the later position of Administrator.
No.NameTerm of OfficesPresident served under
1Charles R. Forbes1922–1923Warren G. Harding
2Frank T. Hines1923–1930Warren G. Harding, Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover