Coby M. Petersen
Sacramento,CA
Summary
Dedicated, motivated, results-driven professional with distinguished career in the United States Army and State Government, with over 30 years' experience managing complex leadership challenges. Natural leader with talent for motivating teams to excel. Exceptional trainer with strong interpersonal communication skills. Committed to fostering the professional development of team members through focused mentorship. Adept problem-solver with capacity to make sound executive decisions to ensure operational success. Accustomed to managing multiple, time-sensitive priorities. Unmistakable professional integrity and committed to excellence.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Deputy Secretary of Veterans Homes
California Dept of Veterans Affairs
Sacramento, CA
05.2014 - Current
- Appointed by the Governor of California to serve as the Deputy Secretary of Veterans Homes, Department of Veterans Affairs for two consecutive terms.
- Manage and oversee 8 federally regulated state veterans homes facilities, multiple programs within those facilities, and aptly analyze programmatic processes, problems and trends.
- Expert knowledge of a wide range of Department of Veterans Affairs & DoD principles, concepts, techniques, programs, regulations, authorities, directives, executive orders and public law for VA medical treatment at VA facilities.
- Of the 2100 veterans we care for, 50-60% are wartime veterans, with 50% of them in skilled nursing care.
- 200 of our veterans are 70% service-connected disabled (Wounded Warriors), requiring significant clinical care.
- Possess the skill and ability to expertly communicate clearly, concisely, and with technical accuracy in a senior leadership environment, working closely with federal and state government officials, routinely providing briefings and testimony to California's State Legislature and the Office of the Governor, Department of Veterans Affairs, community leaders, city mayors and stakeholders, ensuring division remains compliant with state and federal laws and regulations.
- Expert knowledge of accepted accounting, budgeting, funds control, standard practices, procedures and concepts of resources, personnel, equipment and principles with ability to interpret and analyze financial data for California Department of Veteran's Affairs largest single budget, exceeding $400 million dollars, allocating those funds with financial acumen to maintain all aspects of the department.
- As the fiduciary for the Veterans Homes Department, I have steered the department to fiscal soundness, consistently meeting and exceeding financial responsibilities and obligations within a strict government budget.
- Ability to plan, organize and direct the functions of HQ team. Mentor, develop, motivate and appraise the staff of a multi-level, multi-mission organization through subordinate staff consisting of over 3000 full-time state employees and 30+ immediate departmental staff, overseeing onboarding, training, licensing, reviews, counseling and off-boarding.
- Defined problem areas based on in-depth, extensive analysis of numerous types of information and data related to on-going and projected CalVet programs, to determine steps necessary to resolve problems, to develop recommendations and solutions, and to coordinate the activities of many mission and mission-support elements within the Veterans Homes Division.
- Perform oversight of clinical staff activities, quality improvements, licensing, patient safety and utilization management.
- Refined the Department of Veterans Affairs Homes Division security and protection strategy for the entire state footprint in California, creating more focused, predictive threat and risk assessments.
- Responsible for the management and oversight of hundreds of contracts & all veteran home facility operations for CalVet, facilitating compliance with state and federal regulations and policies.
- Implemented processes to optimize the execution of standard and complex administrative responsibilities such as the planning and development of CalVet’s first “clinical strike team” to address deficiencies and ensure licensing survey excellence.
- Recognized by US News & World Report/Newsweek as one of 'The Best Nursing Homes' in the state, and Top 100 in Nation, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023; with consistent 4-5 Star CMS rating, which had not been achieved prior to my tenure.
COLONEL, Senior Army Advisor
U.S. Army, CA Army National Guard
Sacramento, CA
06.2010 - 05.2014
- Served as Senior Army Advisor for the Adjutant General of California and Liaison Officer (LNO) for the First United States Army for the California Army National Guard (CAARNG).
- Required skill and ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and with technical accuracy in a senior leadership environment (Adjutant General of California, First Army GO/FO leadership) advising leadership in areas of training, readiness, sustainment, and mobilization of 17,000+ soldiers to Iraq and Afghanistan.
- Provided subject matter expertise and liaised between active Army and CAARNG to support development of mission-capable Army National Guard units for mobilization and deployment or for Defense Support to Civil Authorities (DSCA).
- Established a unique and highly effective networking system through direct participation within First Army, National Guard Bureau and FORSCOM to share vital information from outside the state with key leaders within California.
- Applied lean strategies in managing program, defining and analyzing program processes, problems and trends to optimize efficiency and elevate productivity.
- Developed and implemented innovative solutions that transformed the California Army National Guard Federal Recognition Board process by implementing new standards for promotion packets, ensuring submission of highest quality candidates, significantly streamlining the selection process of most qualified promotions by redirecting the coordination of efforts of disparate, competing functions and SME's to accomplish more timely objectives, eliminating bureaucracy, waste and excessive manpower requirements from the process.
- Successfully planned and supervised the mobilization and deployment of over 9,000+ soldiers during my assignment as SRAAG (Senior Army Advisor).
COLONEL, Chief Future Operations
USARCENT
Camp Arifjan, Kuwait
06.2009 - 05.2010
- Deployed with US Army Central (USARCENT) to Kuwait in support of stability operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa.
- Served as the Principal Staff Assistant for all matters pertaining to USARCENT Future Plans and Operations, drafting the plan for the U.S. withdrawal from Iraq and the build-up of forces in Afghanistan.
- Planned Army Service Component Command missions in the USCENTCOM Area of Operations (AOR), comprised of 150,000 soldiers.
- Communicated clearly, concisely, and with technical accuracy in a senior leadership environment, specifically at the General Officer and Field Officer (GO/FO) level, leading the Third Army Operational Planning Team in origination and execution of 'the plan' to move 30,000 soldiers and equipment during the US Forces build-up in Afghanistan, negotiating complex issues, and consistently maintaining good working relationships at the unit, Major Command, Combatant Command, Services, and DoD levels.
- Provided staff oversight, guidance and training to the Operations Planning Group and Working Groups.
- Coordinated strategic planning endeavors in collaboration with Army MACOMs (Major Area of Command), service Components and Coalitions Forces, providing forward-looking assessments and operational orders.
- Developed and executed numerous planning initiatives while synchronizing ARCENT staff with subordinate, adjacent, and higher headquarters.
- Mastery and skill to plan, organize, supervise, build consensus, and direct the coordination efforts of disparate, competing functions and subject matter experts (SMEs) to accomplish timely objectives, synchronizing complex planning efforts relative to drawdown of forces and equipment from Iraq, while meeting the demands for forces build-up in Afghanistan.
COLONEL, Brigade Commander
FIRST ARMY
Fort Drum, NY
06.2008 - 05.2009
- Commanded Brigade of 800+ soldiers across the Northeast United States, requiring expert knowledge of accepted accounting, budgeting, funds control, standard practices, procedures and concepts of resources, personnel, equipment and principles with ability to interpret and analyze financial data in order to oversee the management of equipment and facilities valued at over $100 million+.
- Planned, organized and directed the functions of and mentored, motivated and appraised the staff of Brigade level operations through subordinate staff in support of the First Army mission.
- Provided mentorship, training advice, assistance, and training validation of six Army National Guard brigades, one Army National Guard Division Headquarters, and nearly 3000 soldiers per fiscal year.
- Prepared units and soldiers for combat operations and deployments.
- Developed innovative solutions, assessed policy implementation, determined impact, developed and assessed options, implementing recommendations that greatly increased operational readiness of brigade and battalions through implementation of numerous internal systems, streamlining administrative support, medical readiness, family support, equal opportunity, fiscal management, and safety.
- Developed and supervised training of all Observer/Controller-trainers, maintaining morale, discipline and welfare of the Brigade.
- Handpicked as Acting Brigade Commander during 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team (HBCT) post-mobilization training mission at Camp Shelby, MS (Dec 2008 to Apr 2009).
- Developed and conducted post-mobilization training for 3,800 soldiers deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom, leading team in training 8,500+ soldiers preparing for deployment to Afghanistan and Iraq.
- Recognized by First Army Division West Commander for superior leadership and competence in ensuring all validation requirements for 30th HBCT were met with minimal training distractions.
- Recognized by the Secretary of the Army, Pete Geren, for 'dynamic approach' to training 12,000+ soldiers, sailors, and airmen in a more efficient and productive manner.
Education
Bachelor of Science Applied Sociology: Corrections - Minor, Physical Education
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, AZ01.1987
Skills
- Organizational Management
- Operational Excellence
- Change Management
- Budget Management
- Complex Project Management
- P & L Responsibility
- Process Optimization
- Risk Management
- Conflict Resolution
- Strategic Planning
- Facilities Management
- Leadership Development
- Team Building
- Training & Development
- Staff Oversight & Management
- Emergency Management
Professional Education Training
- Department of Defense (DoD) Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA) Phase Course (2012)
- First Army Observer-Controller Trainer Academy (2006)
- Joint Fires and Effects Course (2005)
- Command and General Staff College (1999)
- Jungle Operations Training Center (1995)
- Combined Arms Service and Staff School (1992)
- Field Artillery Advanced Course (1990)
- Field Artillery Basic Course (1988)
- Airborne School (1988)
Honors Awards Affiliations
- Navajo Nation: BIA C#603,708
- Legion of Merit Medal (2)
- California Legion of Merit Medal
- Meritorious Service Medal (8)
- Army Commendation Medal (3)
- Army Achievement Medal (2)
- National Defense Service Ribbon
- Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
- Kosovo Campaign Medal
- NATO Medal
- Humanitarian Service Medal
- Korean Defense Medal
- Army Superior Unit Award (3)
- Ancient Order of Saint Barbara
Additional Career Highlights
- Appointed by two Governors of California to serve as the Deputy Secretary of Veterans Homes, Department of Veterans Affairs.
- Achieved Five Star CMS Rating for all 6 Skilled Nursing Homes at one time in California. Only state in country to have all of its SNFs homes rated at Five stars at same time.
- Transformed the California Army National Guard Federal Recognition Board process by implementing new standards for promotion packets, ensuring submission of highest quality candidates, significantly streamlining selection process of most qualified promotions.
- Led Third Army Operational Planning Team, Kuwait, in origination and execution of "the plan" to move 30,000 soldiers and equipment during US Forces build-up in Afghanistan.
- Developed and conducted post-mobilization training for 3,800 soldiers deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom and led team in training 8,500+ soldiers preparing for deployment to Afghanistan and Iraq.
- Selected by 3rd Mar Div Commander, Okinawa, for deployment as Senior Battle Captain in support of 'Operation Unified Assist,' the Tsunami Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Efforts in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, December 2004.
- Selected by Division Artillery Commander to serve as 1st Infantry Division Chief of Plans officer during Army Forces North-Turkey contingency operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, 2003.
- Played a significant role in executing the drawdown of U.S. forces in the Republic of Panama.
Dod Security Clearance
Top Secret/SCI (inactive)
Highest Grade
US Army 06 (GS 15)
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Deputy Secretary of Veterans Homes
California Dept of Veterans Affairs
05.2014 - Current
COLONEL, Senior Army Advisor
U.S. Army, CA Army National Guard
06.2010 - 05.2014
COLONEL, Chief Future Operations
USARCENT
06.2009 - 05.2010
COLONEL, Brigade Commander
FIRST ARMY
06.2008 - 05.2009
Bachelor of Science Applied Sociology: Corrections - Minor, Physical Education
Northern Arizona University
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