Portland Regional Office

Acting Director: Cesar Romero

As Executive Director, Cesar Romero manages the administration of Compensation and Vocational Rehabilitation benefits for more than 350,000 Veterans, their dependents, and survivors residing in Alaska and Oregon. He oversees the delivery of benefits across Alaska, Oregon, and five counties in Southwest Washington. Cesar leads two Veteran Service Centers, a Veteran Readiness and Employment Division, Support Services Division, and the Human Resources Department.

A United States Marine Corps Veteran, Cesar served honorably from 1999 to 2006. He began his career with the Department of Veterans Affairs in July 2007 at the San Diego Regional Office as a Veteran Service Representative.

CAREER CHRONOLOGY:

2024 – Present Executive Director, Portland and Anchorage Regional Offices
2021 – 2024     Director, Albuquerque Regional Office
2020 – 2021     Acting Deputy Director, OFO Front Office Operations, Washington D.C.
2017 – 2021     Assistant Director, Seattle Regional Office
2016 – 2017     Special Missions Program Officer, Seattle Regional Office
2014 – 2016     Assistant Veterans Service Center Manager, Los Angeles Regional Office

EDUCATION:

2024  Senior Leader Program, George Washington University, Washington D.C.
2023  Master of Public Administration, Kent State University, Kent, OH
2021  The Federal Executive Institute, Leadership for a Democratic Society, Washington D.C. 
2019  Federal Acquisition Certification in Program and Project Management, Washington D.C. 
2017 Operations Management Course, George Washington University, Washington D.C.

Assistant Director: Aaron Edmonds

Mr. Aaron Edmonds was appointed to the position of Assistant Director for the Portland and Anchorage Regional Offices in November 2020.  As Assistant Director, Mr. Edmonds provides operations oversight for all operational aspects within the Anchorage Regional Office and Human Resources.  Prior to his current position, Mr. Edmonds held the position of Director of VBA's Product Management and Delivery at 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, 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 Rehabilitation 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. Ms. Bay is also a 2018 LEAP graduate.

Veterans Service Center Manager: Kevin Kalama

Mr. Kevin Kalama accepted this position in January 2006. He is responsible for administering VA’s Compensation program for Veterans, Servicemembers, their families and survivors in Oregon. Prior to this assignment, Mr. Kalama served as the Veterans Service Center Manager at the Honolulu Regional Office. Mr. Kalama began his VA career in 1992 in California at the Oakland and Los Angeles Regional Offices.

Veteran Readiness and Employment Officer: Jonathan R. Penna

Mr. Jonathan Penna was selected as the Veteran Readiness and Employment Officer at the Portland Regional Office in November 2021.  He graduated with his master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Albany (Albany, NY).  He began his 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.