About Dr. Richard Stone

Dr. Richard Stone served as the Acting Undersecretary for Health at the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). As the Executive in Charge, Dr. Stone directed a health care system with an annual budget of approximately $68 billion, overseeing the delivery of care to more than 9 million enrolled Veterans. 

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,243 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,062 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics). VHA is the nation’s largest provider of graduate medical education and a major contributor to medical and scientific research. More than 73,000 active volunteers, 127,000 health professions trainees, and more than 306,000 full time health care professionals and support staff are an integral part of the VHA community. 

Prior to returning to VA, Dr. Stone was a Vice President at Booz Allen Hamilton, assigned to Military Health within Booz Allen’s health portfolio. 

Dr. Stone previously served the Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Health in VHA. His focus on VHA organizational transformation, ensuring Veteran access to health care and restoring trust in the Veterans Health Administration has been broadly recognized. 

Prior to that appointment, Dr. Stone was a Principal at Booz Allen Hamilton and was widely recognized for his expertise in civilian and Department of Defense health and health care business reengineering. He provided strategic input across the Federal and civilian Health portfolio and supported programs to enhance the overall health of service members, Veterans, and military families. 

Dr. Stone is retired from the US Army where he served as the Army’s Deputy Surgeon General and the Deputy Commanding General of Support for US Army MEDCOM. His final assignment was leading the operations cell of the Defense Health Agency Transition Team that developed business case analysis and business process reengineering for the 10 “shared services” assigned to the new Defense Health Agency. 

With extensive experience in civilian health care, Dr. Stone served multiple non-profit regional health care systems and has owned multiple businesses over his career. 

Currently a practicing dermatologist, he obtained his training from Wayne State Affiliated programs in Detroit and the VA Health system, and is a Board Certified fellow in the American Academy of Dermatology. 

He has a number of awards and honors to his credit including the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Combat Action Badge, and was a member of the Department of Defense Recovering Warrior Task Force from 2011 – 2015. 

CAREER CHRONOLOGY: 

2018 – 2021 Acting Undersecretary for Health, VHA 

2017 – 2018 Vice President, Booz Allen Hamilton, Military Health, Washington, DC 

2016 – 2017 Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Health, VHA 

2009 -- 2013 Deputy Surgeon General, US Army 

2005 – 2009 Deputy Commanding General of Support for US Army MEDCOM EDUCATION: 

2005 MS in Strategic Studies, Army War College, Carlisle, PA 

1977 MD Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 

1973 BS in Biology and Chemistry, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI