Michael Bargmann

As the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Associate National Service Director managed all 62 regional offices, nationwide including personnel, budgets, and contracts. While DAV's Associate Employment Director led the organization's job fair program to connect veterans and transitioning service members to employers, manages special employment initiatives, and works with private and public sector entities to develop and build partnerships to address joblessness and underemployment. Gave testimony to Congress regarding veterans' employment. As DAV's Associate Communications Director, with external support, developed and implemented communications plans with cost-effective marketing and outreach strategies to communicate with a range of constituents through printed and electronic media and advertising. Created, wrote, edited, and produced press releases, publications, videos, collateral, newsletters, social media content, and other printed materials, including annual reports. Managed builder/developer outreach to promote the organization's programs and services. As the senior DAV National Appeals Officer advised and aided veterans or dependents in presenting disability, insurance, or pension claims for benefits under federal, state, or local laws. Reviewed legislation, regulations, and precedents and studied veterans' medical reports and service history to evaluate and determine the validity of the claim. Obtained claimant's power of attorney. Prepared claim forms and briefs and assembled pertinent evidence. Requested hearing before government board and presented legal briefs. Reviewed board decision for grounds for appeal. Advised veterans on insurance, vocational, and other matters, working in cooperation with the Veterans Administration and other agencies.

Staff member representing the Veterans Health Administration in developing information of Agency decision processes that ultimately help VA accomplish its mission goals, priorities, and outcomes. It provides direction for all programmatic and management functions such as informing VA leaders about the need for new major acquisitions, IT, human capital, and other capacity-building investments.

• Senior staff analyst with the 2016 Commission on Care, established via the President, through the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in accordance with the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (VACAA). As subject matter expert in VA/DoD benefits I offered specific recommendations that were accepted for standing up integrated veteran-centric, community-based delivery networks that will optimize the balance of access, quality, and cost effectiveness.
• Staff representative for the Deputy Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs with the Wounded, Ill and Injured Senior Oversight Committee (SOC) (2007-2009) that was established and chaired by the Offices of the Secretary of Defense and Veterans Affairs, along with the Department of Health of Human Services and the Department of Labor. The SOC was established as a means to bring Department high-level attention to addressing the recommendations and issues associated with the care and services for returning service members. Committee work included

-Disability Evaluation System (DES)

-Strategic, Administrative, Operational and IT Support

-Case Management

-DoD/VA Data Sharing (IM/IT)

-Recruitment and Retention of Medical Health Professionals

-Acquisition strategies/contract management

-Legislative analysis, public affairs and strategic communications

-Compensation, benefits, family support

• Two-term Chairman (1994-1996) - Committee on Disabled Veterans, President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped. Chaired this independent Federal agency on issues regarding disabled veterans employment and facilitate the communication, coordination, and promotion of public and private efforts to enhance the employment of people with disabilities. The Committee provides information, training, and technical assistance to America's business leaders, organized labor, rehabilitation and service providers, advocacy organizations, and families and individuals with disabilities. The Committee reports to the President on the progress and problems of maximizing employment opportunities for people with disabilities. (Committee re-designated the President's on Employment of People with Disabilities, effective May 1998)