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Meet Our Leadership Team

Executive Director: Renaye Murphy

Ms. Murphy was appointed as the Executive Director of the Portland and Anchorage Regional Offices in August 2020. As Director, Ms. Murphy is responsible for administering over $130,000,000 per month in compensation and pension benefits to approximately 97,289 Veterans, dependents and their survivors living in Alaska and Oregon. She is also responsible for providing Veteran Readiness & Employment services, placement assistance and independent living Services to over 2,700 Veterans throughout Alaska, Oregon and 5 counties in Southwest Washington.

Prior to becoming the Executive Director of the Portland and Anchorage Regional Offices, Ms. Murphy was the Executive Director at the Denver Regional Office.

Assistant Director: Aaron Edmonds

Mr. Aaron Edmonds was appointed as Assistant Director for the Portland and Anchorage Regional Offices in November 2020. As Assistant Director, Mr. Edmonds provides operational oversight for all operational aspects within the Portland Veterans Service Center, Veteran Readiness and Human Resources divisions. Prior to his current position, Mr. Edmonds held the position of Director of VBA's Product Management and Delivery in the Office of Business Integration. Mr. Edmonds served on active duty as a Flight Operations Specialist for the United States Army.

Assistant Director: Melissa Bay

Ms. Melissa Bay was appointed to the position of Assistant Director for the Portland and Anchorage Regional Offices in August 2021. Prior to this appointment, she was selected to be the Veteran Readiness Officer in June 2018. She relocated to the Portland Regional Office from the Hartford Regional Office in February 2017 as the Assistant Veteran Readiness Officer. Ms. Bay has worked for VA Veteran Readiness & Employment Services Division since May 2013.

She began her career with VA as a Pathways student intern and accepted a position as a Vocational Readiness Counselor in August 2013.  Ms. Bay received her bachelor's degree in Psychology from Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) and her master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from CCSU.  She is also a 2018 LEAP graduate.

Veterans Service Center Manager: Chad Pomelow

Mr. Chad Pomelow is responsible for the administration of VA benefits and services to more than 77,000 Veterans living in Alaska.  Mr. Pomelow began his VA career in 2002 at the Togus Regional Office, where he served in a variety of positions, including Veterans Service Representative.

Veteran Readiness and Employment Officer: Jonathan Penna

Jonathan Penna has been the Veteran Readiness and Employment Officer at the Anchorage Regional Office since April 2023. He has served as the Veteran Readiness and Employment Officer at the Portland VA Regional Office since November 2021. Mr. Penna graduated with his master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Albany (Albany, NY). He began his VA Career as a vocational rehabilitation counselor at the Newark Regional Office. In 2018, he was selected as the supervisory vocational rehabilitation counselor at the Seattle Regional Office.

He serves as a mentor within VR&E's New Manager Training, is the Pacific District's representative on the Quality Assurance Advisory Committee and is a graduate of the 2021 LEAP cohort. Mr. Penna is passionate about serving Veterans and their families so as to ensure their success in preparing for, obtaining, and maintaining employment. Mr. Penna prides himself on promoting a culture of learning, growth, and self-empowerment.

 

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