[Heyitsrick]

Originally Posted by Marty94

There have been some comments in this tread about Secretary Wilkie and I’d like to offer a different perspective.

Robert was one of my students at the Joint Forces Staff College. He was a Reserve Officer in the Navy then and an advisor to Condoleezza Rice. We had many discussions and remained friends for many years and as is typical in the military we drifted apart due to orders and moves. I was extremely pleased though when I heard he was assigned to head the VA. I couldn’t think of a better candidate. Robert has the highest integrity of any officer I have ever had the honor of serving with, and while he has a law degree, he is first and foremost a veteran. He represents and fights for all veterans. He is incredibly intelligent and has served his country with honor and tremendous professionalism for many, many selfless years of personal sacrifice. Robert is the kind of fellow that would leave Washington and drive 3 hours to have lunch with me, just to “catch up” and I was really no one, not a dignitary and not a flag officer. I was just his teacher. So, I hope before anyone passes judgement on a “political appointee” that you’ll stop and consider that there are those few men and women who rise above politics. I trust Robert. He is one person I’d gladly have next to me in the worst situation, working through challenges and finding solutions. As this thread has mentioned, he most recently went on camera to clear up the misunderstanding of a report that was released from the VA. Some of you are questioning if you can believe a lawyer and a political appointee. That’s up for you to decide, but for me, I know him and I know that he would resign before he would let anyone force him to make a false statement.

Great post, Marty. Thanks for providing that background.