WASHINGTON – Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi recently named Judge Morris J. Pullara Jr. as the new vice chairman of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Board of Contract Appeals.
"Judge Pullara has a keen understanding of the law and brings years of valuable experience to this position,” said Principi. "Ultimately, all veterans benefit when our contracting process works fairly.”
In his new position, Pullara will be responsible for assisting the chairman of the board in ensuring fair and timely disposition of contract disputes in which VA is involved. The board reviews and rules on appeals relating to VA contracts.
The board consists of a chair, vice chair and four other members, all of whom are attorneys. In general, except for small claims, appeals are assigned to panels of at least three members who decide cases by majority vote. Board members are designated as administrative judges.
Judge Pullara is the longest-serving judge on the board, having been appointed in 1984. Before joining VA, he served on the Board of Contract Appeals for the Department of Agriculture.
Pullara was born in Tampa, Fla. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a law degree from the University of Florida, Gainesville, and a master of laws degree in government contracts from George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
