Secretary Of Veterans Affairs To Address AMVETS Convention

ORLANDO, FL -- Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie will be keynote speaker for the opening ceremony of the American Veterans (AMVETS) service organization’s 74th annual convention at the Caribe Royale Convention Center, 8101 World Center Drive in Orlando on Wednesday, Aug. 8 at 1 p.m.

Wilkie will open his Florida visit on Tuesday by renaming the Tallahassee VA Health Care Center the Ernest I. “Boots” Thomas Health Care Center. Thomas was a Marine Corps platoon sergeant killed in action during the Battle of Iwo Jima.

Wilkie will also visit VA facilities in Tampa.

Wilkie was nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as the 10th secretary of Veterans Affairs. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on July 23 and sworn in on July 30. Wilkie previously served as the acting secretary of VA.

The son of an Army artillery commander, Wilkie spent his youth at Fort Bragg. Today, he is an officer in the United States Air Force Reserve assigned to the Office of the Chief of Staff.

Before joining the Air Force, he served in the United States Navy Reserve with the Joint Forces Intelligence Command, Naval Special Warfare Group Two, and the Office of Naval Intelligence.

Image via VA

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