Tom Murphy Named VA’s New Compensation and Pension Service Director

– Under the Bush-Cheney administration, the position was held by the notorious anti-veteran-benefits neocon, Renee L. Szybala –

WASHINGTON – Tom Murphy was recently appointed Director of the Compensation and Pension Service for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

 “Tom Murphy is an outstanding leader who cares deeply for Veterans and their families,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki.  “With 21 years of service in the Reserves and National Guard, he is committed to VA’s transformation and finding innovative solutions that will break the disability claims backlog.”

In his new post, Murphy will manage the disability and survivor benefit programs that provide more than $45 billion annually in benefit payments to four million Veterans and their families.  Murphy had been the Director of VA’s San Juan Regional Office since August 2009, overseeing benefits for 151,000 veterans living in Puerto Rico, Vieques, Culebra and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Murphy retired from the military as a Major after serving 15 years in the Colorado National Guard and six years in the Marine Corps Reserve.

Murphy joined VA from The Home Depot, where he was a Director of Merchandise Planning and oversaw more than 1,950 stores, with more than $8.5 billion in annual sales.

Murphy previously was a Senior Tactical Planning Manager for Qwest Communications and worked for 10 years at the Department of Defense in a variety of positions. 

Murphy replaces Bradley G. Mayes, who has been named Director of VA’s Boston Regional Office.  Mayes leaves VA headquarters to return to VA’s field organization and work more directly with Veterans, after bringing significant improvements to VA.  These include the groundbreaking new disability evaluation criteria for Traumatic Brain Injury and simplified claims procedures for Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. 

VA provides compensation, pension, education, loan guaranty, vocational rehabilitation, employment and insurance benefits to Veterans and their families through 57 VA regional offices.