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Name: Kussman, Michael
Current Position: Previous Under Secretary
Born in Troy, N.Y., Brig. Gen. Michael J. Kussman, MD has directed the VHA since May 2007 as Under Secretary for Health. He earned his undergraduate and medical degrees from Boston University, receiving his M.D. in 1968. He earned a master’s degree in management from Salve Regina University in 1994. Kussman began his military career in 1970 with the 7th Infantry Division in South Korea. He left active duty in 1972 to resume medical training and complete his residency at the Joslin Clinic in Boston. From 1974 to 1979, Kussman worked in private practice in Pittsfield, Mass.
In 1979, Kussman returned to active duty at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, serving as chief of internal medicine. He later served as division surgeon for the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii. From 1984 to 1988, Kussman served as chief of the Department of Medicine at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. He completed his tour there as deputy commander for clinical services.
In 1988 Kussman became the Army Surgeon General’s chief consultant in internal medicine and governor for the Army Region of the American College of Physicians. He commanded Martin Army Community Hospital at Fort Benning, Ga., from 1993 to 1995 and later commanded the Walter Reed Health Care System in Washington, D.C., where he was promoted to brigadier general.
Following his tour at Walter Reed, Kussman served as commander of the Europe Regional Medical Command, command surgeon for U.S. Army Europe, and TRICARE lead agent for Europe. He was responsible for army health care throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Prior to becoming Under Secretary for Health, Kussman served as Acting Under Secretary for Health and Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Health.