Derrick Jaastad

Executive Director, Veterans Health Administration, Office of Emergency Management

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Mr. Jaastad is responsible for providing expertise and leadership to the Veterans Health Administration enterprise through the integration of emergency management programs, functions and supporting activities to prevent, protect, mitigate, respond, and recover from all hazards. OEM provides the expertise, knowledge, guidance, and front-line capabilities to ensure VHA is a resilient and prepared healthcare system in an all-hazards environment, serving as a national model.
Most recently, as Director of Integration and Implementation, Mr. Jaastad provided the forum for enterprise initiatives and priorities such as, Caregivers Support Program expansion, Referral Coordination, Electronic Health Record Modernization, and COVID-19. Mr. Jaastad was responsible for the organizational construct and creation of the common operating picture for the successful implementation of Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks Act (MISSION Act) of 2018.
Mr. Jaastad is a retired Navy SEAL with service as Special Boat Team 12, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and high yield Explosives Officer, and SEAL Team Three, Platoon Corpsman. He has extensive federal certifications in emergency management, including National Preparedness Leadership Institute through Harvard University, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Energy, and the Department of Homeland Security.

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