Meet Dr. Ronny Jackson, POTUS Trump’s Pick To Lead The Department Of Veterans Affairs

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump announced White House physician Ronny L. Jackson had been tapped to replace Dr. David Shulkin as Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 

“I am pleased to announce that I intend to nominate highly respected Admiral Ronny L. Jackson, MD, as the new Secretary of Veterans Affairs……..In the interim, Hon. Robert Wilkie of DOD will serve as Acting Secretary. I am thankful for Dr. David Shulkin’s service to our country and to our GREAT VETERANS!” Trump tweeted.

Who is Dr. Jackson?

 AJC reports:

U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Ronny L. Jackson became physician to the president in 2013, when he was appointed by President Barack Obama. It’s a position that has been around since George Washington became president, but it did not become official until Congress created the title in 1928. […]

The 50-year-old was born and raised in Levelland, Texas, located in the western part of the state near the New Mexico border. He graduated from Texas A&M University at Galveston in 1991 with a bachelor of science degree in marine biology, according to his biography. He attended medical school at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, where he graduated in 1995 with a Doctor of Medicine degree.

Jackson then completed his internship at the Portsmouth Naval Medical Center in Virginia and began active duty naval service in 1995. He returned to Portsmouth in 2001 to begin his residency in emergency medicine. He completed his residency in 2004, finishing at the top of his class.

In 2005 he joined the 2nd Marines, Combat Logistics Regiment 25 at Camp LeJeune, North Carolina. He was then deployed to Iraq, where he served during Operation Iraqi Freedom as an emergency medicine physician based out of Taqaddum, Iraq.

While still serving in Iraq, Jackson was appointed a White House physician, serving on the staff of Air Force Brig. Gen. Richard Tubb. He was named the physician to the president in July 2013 and was retained when Donald Trump was elected president.

According to Fox News reporter Chad Pergram, House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Phil Roe (R-TN) is pleased with Trump’s pick.

“Hse Vets Affairs Cmte Chair Roe on Shulkin: I think he’s done a fantastic job & I hate to see him go. That said, I respect President Trump’s decision, support the president’s agenda and remain willing to work with anyone committed to doing the right thing on behalf of..veterans,” Pergram tweeted.

On March 14, CBS News reported that Shulkin’s job was “in jeopardy due to continued fallout from travel expenses and the IG report about misinformation tied to that travel situation.”

 

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