Nicholson to step down as Veterans Affairs chief

Chris Barge, Rocky Mountain News

Published July 18, 2007 at midnight

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Colorado's Jim Nicholson announced Tuesday that he is stepping down after two years as Secretary of Veterans Affairs, saying he has no further political aspirations and wants to return to the business world.

Since President Bush appointed him to head the VA in early 2005, Nicholson has fought off repeated calls for his resignation over the department's unexpected $1.3 billion shortfall in 2005 and last summer's theft of 26.5 million veterans' personal data in what was the government's largest security breach.

His resignation also comes amid scrutiny of the Pentagon and VA following reports of shoddy outpatient care of injured troops and veterans at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and elsewhere.

Nicholson, 69, said he told Bush a couple of weeks ago he was ready to return to the private sector after 10 years of public service and will leave no later than Oct. 1.

He said it has been "an extreme joy" to work with and for veterans, "a special class of citizens in our society."

Despite some hard times, Nicholson said he felt good about the progress the VA had made under his supervision. He pointed to the transformation of the agency's information technology system in the wake of the identity theft scandal as one example.

He also said the VA has reduced the wait time for veterans' benefit claims.

"But it remains too high in my opinion, and we've taken considerable steps to remedy that."

And all clinicians have been trained to screen new veterans for brain damage and post- traumatic stress disorder.

"This agency is so big and dynamic," he said. "There's probably never a good time to leave, but this is a relatively good time."

This year, Nicholson was considering a bid for the Colorado Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Loveland. But Tuesday he put rumors to rest. "I have no plans to run for elected office," he said.

Nicholson received mixed reviews from veterans groups.

"The VA under Secretary Nicholson has been woefully unprepared for the influx of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, consistently underestimating the number of new veterans who would seek care and failing to spend the money Congress allotted to treat mental health issues," said Paul Rieckhoff, executive director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

But Tom Bock, of Aurora, who was national commander of the American Legion until last year, said Nicholson successfully worked through a lot of difficult issues. "He was a good secretary, and we'll miss him," he said.

Democratic lawmakers quickly called for a replacement who would vigorously look after veterans.

Republicans joined Bush in praising Nicholson and thanking him for his service.

Robert James "Jim" Nicholson

• Age: 69

• Growing up: One of seven children raised on a tenant farm in Struble, Iowa.

• Education: Graduate of the Military Academy at West Point, 1961; master's degree in public policy from Columbia University in New York and a law degree from the University of Denver.

• Military experience: Army Ranger and paratrooper, fought in Vietnam and spent eight years on active duty and 22 years in Army Reserve, retiring as colonel.

• Business experience: Developer best known for building the town of Parker.

• Political experience: Served as chairman of the Republican National Committee from 1997 to 2001. U.S. ambassador to the Vatican, living in Rome from 2001 to 2005.

• Family: He and wife, Suzanne, have been married 39 years and have three children: sons Nick and R.J. and daughter Katie.

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