Another Augusta VA shakeup has a leader placed on leave during an investigation.
Acting Director Oscar Rodriguez is on administrative leave “while the VA conducts an investigation of the leadership climate,” the Department of Veterans Affairs said in a statement.
Rodriguez only recently returned to the Charlie Norwood Augusta VA Medical Center in March from a yearlong stint as acting director of the Columbia, S.C. VA Health Care System.
Acting Deputy Director Lovetta Ford has been named acting medical center director.
Tuesday, Augusta VA employees were informed of the changes in an email from David Walker, director of the VA Southeast Network.
Ford came to Augusta at the same time as Rodriguez, during a March shake-up that saw the removal of then-Executive Director Robin Jackson and Interim Deputy Director Kimberly Booker.
The VA said at the time the reassignments of Jackson, who had been there since 2017, and Booker were “temporary” while the VA completed an investigation of leadership.
Veterans Affairs has not offered an explanation for the leadership changes. Officials said the March shakeup was not part of the 15% workforce reduction promised by Secretary of Veterans Affairs Douglas Collins.
