Harry Walters
is the former Administrator of Veterans Affairs, reporting
to President Ronald Reagan. That post is now a cabinet
position and the chief executive is now the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs The Veterans Administration, at that
time, had more than a $30 billion budget and 225,000
employees. Mr. Walters introduced management initiatives
that brought a significant increase in efficiency within
the organization and received notice outside the VA.
From 2001 to 2003, Mr. Walters participated
as commissioner and a co-chair on the President’s
Task Force to Improve Healthcare for American Veterans.
Mr. Walters is formerly President and
CEO of Great Lakes Carbon Corporation, a $500 million
international manufacturer of carbon based and artificial
graphite industrial products. Other previous positions
include Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower
and Reserve Affairs, and Chairman, CEO and Owner of Potsdam
Paper Corporation and St. Lawrence Pulp Corporation.
In April of 1991, Mr. Walters was asked
by the White House to assume the duties of President
and CEO of the Desert Storm Homecoming Foundation, a
501(C)3 corporation that sponsored, and managed the National
Victory Celebration in Washington DC on June 6, 1991.This
corporation was founded by our nation’s veterans
service organizations who fulfilled their obligations
by serving on the Board of Directors. Over one million
Americans were in Washington to observe the largest parade
since WW 2, a great tribute to our Desert Storm troops.
The Foundation was funded by charitable donations of
nearly $7 million.
Mr. Walters is a principal in general
partnership of Lafayette Equity Fund, a $12 million Washington,
DC-based venture capital fund invested in emerging growth
technology companies nationwide and has his own consulting
corporation. He heads the newly established Veterans
Coalition (VCI), an initiative of the American Legion,
VFW, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of
America and the AmVets. Mr. Walters is a partner with
the veterans organizations in this historic opportunity
and also acts as Chairman of the Board of Directors of
VCI.
Mr. Walters was Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant
in the U.S. Army and earned a Bachelor of Science degree
in Engineering from the United States Military Academy
at West Point, class of 1959. At West Point, Walters
was an honorable mention All American football player,
a fullback on the last undefeated Army football team,
frequently blocking for Heisman trophy winner, Pete Dawkins.
Mr. Walters has received numerous awards
to include two Distinguished Service Awards from the
Department of Defense and the James E Van Sandt Citizenship
award from the Veterans of Foreign Wars |
