Huntington Regional Office

Director: Linda Parker

Ms. Parker was appointed the Director of the Huntington Regional Office in December 2019. The Regional Office is responsible for administering benefits payments in excess of 59 million dollars to the 146,000 West Virginia Veterans, as well Veterans throughout the United States. The Regional Office employs 200 full-time employees across three business lines: Veterans Service Center, Support Services, and Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E).

CAREER CHRONOLOGY:
2013-2019 Assistant Director, Little Rock Regional Office
2010-2013 VR&E Officer, Salt Lake Regional Office
2007-2010 Training Specialist, VR&E Service, Central Office
2004-2007 VR&E Counselor, Los Angeles Regional Office

EDUCATION:
2019 Executive Certificate in Public Policy, Georgetown University
2019 Executive Coaching
2015-2016 Partnership for Public Service Excellence in Government Fellows Leadership Program
2016 Lean Six Sigma Greenbelt Certification
2012-2013 VBA Assistant Director Development Program
2011 Leadership VA
2007 VR&E Managerial Enhancement Program
2006 Certified Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor
2005 Masters – Rehabilitation Counseling, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
1981 Masters – Social Work, San Diego State University

Staff Assistant: Amanda Penn

Amanda Penn was appointed Staff Assistant of the Huntington Regional Office (RO) in April 2015. Prior to her appointment, Ms. Penn served as a Program Analyst in VBA’s Office of Field Operations (OFO) in Washington, DC. In this role, she assisted the Deputy Under Secretary for Field Operations in the oversight of 56 regional offices. Ms. Penn worked extensively with Veteran Readiness & Employment (VR&E) Service and Pension & Fiduciary Service. She worked as OFO Area Liaison with each Area Office and Regional Office leadership in areas such as national performance targets, resource allocation and performance standards. Ms. Penn began her VA career in 2009 as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) in the Atlanta RO. She served as one of two Independent Living VRCs for the Atlanta RO. Ms. Penn was also created training and mentored new VRCs. In 2012, she graduated from the Atlanta Leadership Enhancement and Development (LEAD) program. Ms. Penn is a graduate of the 2013 LEAD program. She also supported the 2014 LEAD program through sponsoring a group project and instructing. She facilitated multiple workgroups while in OFO to include the Promulgation Team Workgroup, VR&E Resource Allocation Model (RAM) Workgroup and Fiduciary Misuse Workgroup. Ms. Penn graduated from Kennesaw State University in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and minor in Professional Writing. She graduated from Georgia State University with a Master of Science degree in Rehabilitation Counseling. She currently resides in Huntington, WV.

Veteran Service Center Manager: John Hewitt

Mr. John Hewitt joined VA as a Rating Specialist at the Huntington Regional Office in June 2001. Prior to the VA, he worked 10 plus years in the Sport Medicine field as a Certified Athletic Trainer and Chief Operating Officer for a Private Physical Therapy Department. Mr. Hewitt has served as a Rating Specialist and Coach throughout the Veterans Service Center before assuming his new role as the Veterans Service Center Manager. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Studies/Certification in Athletic Training from West Virginia University and Masters of Science in Adult Fitness and Exercise Science from Bloomsburg University.

Support Service Chief: Ron Bonecutter

Mr. Ronald Bonecutter assumed the position of Support Services Chief in June 2009. Mr. Bonecutter leads a staff of 11 employees in the delivery of a wide range of administrative and financial functions supporting a RO staff of over 200. He is a 21-year Veteran of the Air Force having served on active duty. His Air Force career began in 1985 as an enlisted member. He was honored in 1992 as the AF Dental NCO of the Year. Mr. Bonecutter graduated in 1994 from the University of North Texas with a MEd in Education and in 2004 with a MS from Alabama State University in Counseling.

Veteran Readiness & Employment Officer: Vacant