St. Paul Regional Office

Executive Director: Kim Graves

Kim A. Graves was appointed Director of the Veterans Benefits Administration's (VBA) St. Paul Regional Office (RO) effective October 19, 2014. The St. Paul Regional Office delivers more than five billion dollars annually in compensation and pension benefits, in addition to administering the Veteran Readiness and Employment program to Veterans, their families, and survivors. Ms. Graves oversees one of three Pension Management Centers, one of eight Benefit Eligibility Support Teams, and serves as the primary Restricted Access Claims Center (RACC). The RACC processes claims from VBA employees, Veterans Service Officers, high-level government officials and other sensitive claimants. In her current position, Ms. Graves is responsible for establishing policies and procedures consistent with VA guidelines, providing executive leadership and direction, managing available financial and human capital resources, directing programs for quality control in regional operations, as well as actively participating in outreach efforts in Veteran communities.

Prior to this appointment, Ms. Graves served as the Director of VBA's Eastern Area for nearly five years, where she provided direction and oversight in administering the full suite of VBA benefits to a Veteran population of more than 8 million across 14 states. She was selected as a Veterans Claims Examiner at the Lincoln Regional Office in 1991. Since coming to VA, Ms. Graves has served in several diverse roles in various VBA organizations, including designing and implementing VBA’s Office of Business Integration. While serving in these positions, Ms. Graves participated in the design and implementation of numerous national initiatives, including the National Automated Response System (NARS), VBA's Balanced Scorecard, Operations Center, the Inventory Management System (IMS), VETSNET Operations Reports (VOR), the VETSNET suite of software applications, and VBA’s paperless benefits delivery initiative (Veterans Benefits Management System, VBMS).

Ms. Graves began her career in public service in 1985 by enlisting in the United States Army. As the result of an early in-service injury, Ms. Graves entered VA's Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program to continue her education and gain experience in federal service, working in the VA Regional Office in Lincoln, Nebraska.

CAREER CHRONOLOGY:

2014 – Present: Director, St. Paul Regional Office

2010 – 2014: Director, Eastern Area

2008 – 2010: Director, Office of Business Process Integration

2007 – 2008: Special Assistant to the Under Secretary for Benefits

2005 – 2007: Director, St. Louis Regional Office

2003 – 2005: Director, Providence Regional Office

EDUCATION:

MPA Masters in Public Administration (MPA), University of Nebraska

BA Psychology & Sociology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE

Assistant Director: Ron Sackett

Ron Sackett was selected as Assistant Director of the Veterans Benefits Administration's (VBA) St. Paul Regional Office (RO) in October 2019. The St. Paul Regional Office delivers more than five billion dollars annually in compensation and pension benefits, in addition to administering Veteran Readiness and Employment benefits to Veterans, their families, and survivors. The St. Paul Regional Office also oversees one of three Pension Management Centers, a national non-rating claims processing team, and serves as the primary Restricted Access Claims Center (RACC). The RACC processes claims from VBA employees, Veterans Service Officers, high-level government officials and other sensitive claimants.

In his current position, Mr. Sackett is responsible for assisting the Director in establishing policies and procedures consistent with VA guidelines, providing executive leadership and direction to approximately 900 employees, managing available financial and human capital resources, directing programs for quality control in operations, as well as actively participating in outreach efforts in Veteran communities.

Prior to this appointment, Mr. Sackett served as the Chief of Support Services for the St. Paul Regional Office since 2012. In this role he provided direction and oversight in administering the second largest Support Services Division in VBA which provides payroll and administrative support to the employees of the St. Paul, Sioux Falls and Fargo Regional Offices as well as a variety of financial services in support of Veterans and Beneficiaries. He also served on the VBA’s National Support Services Council whose purpose is to facilitate innovation and refine policy within the Administration. 

Prior to joining VA in 2012, Mr. Sackett worked for General Dynamics where he served as the Commander’s Operations and Training Advisor for the 1/34^th Armor Brigade Combat Team. In this role, he was responsible for coordinating and executing training for the Brigade and its seven subordinate battalion staffs and developing pre-deployment training plans for the Brigade’s 5,000 soldiers in preparation for several deployments.

Mr. Sackett began his career in public service in 1979 by enlisting in the United States Marine Corps, serving four years and attaining the rank of Sergeant. In 1986, Mr. Sackett was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army and continued to serve in various assignments with the U.S. Army and on active duty with the Minnesota Army National Guard until his retirement as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2005. Assignments included, Deputy Chief, Office of Defense Cooperation, U.S. Embassy Croatia; Commander, 1/194 Armor Battalion; Deputy Chief, Military Liaison Team-Croatia; and Assistant Professor of Military Science, St. John’s University. Amongst Mr. Sackett’s awards and decorations are the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal and the Order of St. George.

EDUCATION:

BA      English, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

Assistant Director: Jessica Gillette

Jessica Gillette was selected as Assistant Director of the Veterans Benefits Administration's (VBA) St. Paul Regional Office (RO) in April of 2020. The St. Paul RO delivers more than five billion dollars annually in compensation and pension benefits, in addition to administering Veteran Readiness and Employment benefits to Veterans, their families, and survivors. The St. Paul RO also oversees one of three Pension Management Centers, is a National Non-Rating Special Mission processing site, and serves as the primary Restricted Access Claims Center (RACC). The RACC processes claims from VBA employees, Veterans Service Officers, high-level government officials, and other sensitive claimants.

In her current position, Ms. Gillette is responsible for assisting the Director in establishing policies and procedures consistent with VA guidelines, while providing executive leadership and direction to approximately 900 employees, managing available financial and human capital resources, directing programs for quality control in operations, and actively participating in outreach efforts in Veteran communities.

Ms. Gillette began her career with VA in 2002 as a Rating Veterans Service Representative, subsequently holding positions of increased responsibility in service to Veterans and their families. Prior to this appointment, Ms. Gillette served as the Veterans Service Center Manager (VSCM) for the St. Paul Regional Office. As the VSCM, she provided direction and oversight to the 400 employees within the Veterans Service Center, Restricted Access Claims Center, and National Non-Rating Special Mission Team. She also served on the Veterans Service Center Manager Advisory Committee, as well as the Appeals Advisory Committee. While serving on these committees, Ms. Gillette provided feedback and recommendations to VA Central Office leadership on proposed changes to regulations, policies, and procedures.

Prior to starting her career with VA, Ms. Gillette earned a degree as a Registered Nurse and worked at Regions Hospital in St. Paul. She specialized in infectious disease and wound care and successfully collaborated with the hospital and local business partners to create instructional videos on wound care techniques for national use.

Pension Management Center Manager: Joanna Yanez

Ms. Yanez was selected as the Pension Management Center (PMC) Manager in August 2018. She leads a division of approximately 350 employees. Prior to being selected in this position, Ms. Yanez served as an Assistant PMC Manager in St. Paul.

Ms. Yanez began her career with the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2001, as a student intern in Veteran Readiness and Employment at the St. Paul Regional Office. She was then selected as a Veterans Service Representative in the St. Paul PMC in 2001. Since that time, she served in multiple roles to include Veterans Claims Examiner, Assistant Coach and Coach.

Veterans Service Center Manager: Deana Chase

Deana Chase was selected as the St. Paul Veterans Service Center Manager (VSCM) in February 2021.  Ms. Chase is responsible for leading over 250 employees in providing timely resolution of rating claims and appeals.  Additionally, Ms. Chase oversees the activities of the Restricted Access Claims Center.  Ms. Chase began her career with the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2009 as a Veterans Service Representative in the Pension Management Center.  She later joined the leadership team in the Veterans Service Center (VSC) as an Assistant Coach, Coach, and then served as an Assistant Veterans Service Center Manager.  Following her time in the VSC, Ms. Chase served as the Benefit Eligibility Support Team Manager prior to her selection as VSCM. 

Ms. Chase received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Media Studies from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.

Veteran Readiness and Employment Officer: Charles Curtis

Charles Curtis was selected as the St. Paul Veteran Readiness and Employment Officer in August 2021. Mr. Curtis worked as a contractor for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) before joining VA in 2006. He began his VA career as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor in the Pittsburgh Regional Office, providing services for Veterans living in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Prior to coming to St. Paul in 2017, Mr. Curtis worked in the St. Louis and Milwaukee Regional Offices. He was out-based at the St. Cloud VA Hospital until 2018, when he became an Employment Coordinator here at the St. Paul Regional Office.