Cold War Veterans Blog

Sepúlveda Sworn in as VA Assistant Secretary for Human Resources

WASHINGTON (May 21, 2009) - John U. Sepúlveda, a former executive with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, took the oath of office yesterday as the Assistant Secretary for Human Resources for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

"I am grateful to again have the opportunity to serve my country as a member of the Obama Administration," Sepúlveda said. "I am also honored to be on Secretary Shinseki's team focused on how to better serve those who have sacrificed so much for us: our Veterans and their families."

With more than 25 years of experience leading public- and private-sector organizations, Sepúlveda will oversee programs and services affecting nearly 280,000 VA employees in the second largest federal agency.

As former deputy director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Sepúlveda was instrumental in promoting greater diversity throughout the U.S. government. He served on the White House Interagency Task Force on Asian American and Pacific Islanders, the President's Council for Y2K Conversion, and the President's Council on Integrity and Efficiency.

Before joining OPM, Sepúlveda successfully managed a $5 billion portfolio of federally insured hospital mortgages as a director at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

His federal career in Washington was preceded by various local and state executive and appointed positions in Connecticut.

Sepúlveda has taught political science at Hunter College and Yale University. A native of New York City, he earned two master's degrees from Yale University and a bachelor's degree from Hunter College.