Donald Remy

The Honorable Donald M. Remy was nominated by President Biden to serve as the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Mr. Remy’s nomination was confirmed by the United States Senate on July 15, 2021, and he was sworn in by Secretary Denis McDonough on July 19, 2021, as the 9th Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

During his confirmation hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs on May 19, 2021, Deputy Secretary Remy testified, “I have been given a clear mission by Secretary McDonough to use all my experience, skills, and leadership capabilities as the Department’s chief operating and management officer to help nurture a culture of excellence and motivate those around me to deliver on our shared values . . . There is no greater mission than the mission to serve our Veterans.”

Before coming to VA, Mr. Remy was the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Legal Officer at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), where he oversaw all strategic planning, operations, budget management, and legal affairs for America’s Higher Education athletics activity. Mr. Remy advised the NCAA governance cabinets, committees, and boards of all three Divisions, and he was central to improving NCAA business, operational, and legal strategies.

Mr. Remy has prior government service as Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Department of Justice, Assistant to the General Counsel for the United States Army, Detailee of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and law clerk at the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Immediately prior to joining the NCAA, Mr. Remy served as a partner and global practice group chair in the Law Firm of Latham & Watkins, where he represented individual and corporate clients in complex investigations and compliance matters related to international business, and also practiced at the Law Firm of O’Melveny & Myers handling complex class action litigation. In the private sector, Mr. Remy was a Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel, and Chief Compliance Officer at Fannie Mae, handling community development after hurricane Katrina as his last duty assignment.

A Veteran himself, Mr. Remy was a Captain in the Army, and he grew up in a family with a long tradition of military service. His father, Army Master Sergeant Donald Remy (Retired), was awarded the Bronze Star for his service in Vietnam. Mr. Remy’s brother, uncle, late father-in-law, and many other family members and close friends are Veterans. Deputy Secretary Remy has said, “My family would not be where it is but for the Department of Veterans Affairs.”

Mr. Remy earned his bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University and a Juris Doctorate from Howard University School of Law.