United States Department of Veterans Affairs
United States Department of Veterans Affairs

Public and Intergovernmental Affairs

VA Official Biography

The Honorable Patrick W. Dunne

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Patrick W. Dunne
Assistant Secretary for Policy and Planning

Patrick W. Dunne was nominated by President George W. Bush to serve as the Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Policy and Planning on May 24, 2006, and confirmed by the Senate on August 3, 2006. He was sworn into office on August 23, 2006.

As Assistant Secretary, Mr. Dunne serves as senior advisor to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, overseeing the Department's strategic planning, policy research and analysis, program evaluation, and the National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics – the VA central clearinghouse for veteran and veteran program data.  In his role, he supports the continuous enhancement of policies, programs, and services to veterans.  Mr. Dunne represents the department in interagency functions including the VA/ DoD Senior Oversight Committee, the Joint Executive Council, and the Department of Labor’s Advisory Committee on Veterans’ Employment. In this capacity, he coordinates VA collaboration and innovation efforts with DoD and other federal agencies to enhance service delivery policies impacting servicemembers and veterans.

Mr. Dunne retired from the U.S. Navy as a Rear Admiral on December 31, 2005, after completing a tour as President of the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif.  He is a 1972 graduate of the U. S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics. He earned a Master of Science degree in mathematics from the Naval Postgraduate School and is a graduate of the Navy's Nuclear Power training program.

Selected for Flag Rank in 2001, Rear Admiral Dunne’s initial flag assignment was U.S. Pacific Command Representative to Guam/Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands/Federated States of Micronesia/Republic of Palau and Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Marianas.  His service at sea includes tours on USS Nathanael Greene (SSBN 636) (BLUE); USS Batfish (SSN 681) and USS Baton Rouge (SSN 689). He served as Commanding Officer of USS Baltimore (SSN 704) and USS Frank Cable (AS 40).

Mr. Dunne was born in Washington, DC, and raised in Troy, N.Y. He and his wife, Diane, live in Fairfax, Va. and are the parents of two adult children.

March 2008