From: Leinenkugel, Jake
Sent: Monday, December 04, 2017 4:38:24 AM
To: Sandoval, Camilo J.
Cc: Leinenkugel, Jake
Subject: Jake’s Overview and Recommendations (Final Draft)
Cam: My intent is to provide my overall political perspective of key items that need to be
addressed within the VA Leadership structure. My remarks will be very brief and I will
intentionally leave out supporting testimony or documents.
1. My initial impression of Dr. David Shulkin was that he would be a game changer that
provided an aligned approach to POTUS Veteran agenda.
2. He accepted my role as a former CEO and business leader with a strong team building sense,
business acumen around sales, marketing, finance and risk taking. He properly utilized me to
initially meet with Reed Cornish and his team around new ideation for innovation, assignment of
political for Assistant Secretary roles and connecting with Cabinet Affairs. He also asked me to
create, develop and implement new VA Branding/Marketing platform “Choose VA” to replace
old “My VA”. Project completed August, 2017.
3. Trust ended when he accused me on May 6th with a phone call violently accusing me of
undermining current Acting USH Poonam by having her Acting role rescinded by calling WH
directly. I firmly denied and told him I tell the truth, did not make a call or speak to that affect. I
suggested he call the WH Counsel for clarification. He found out later in the day it was due to
some _____________ and not a call from a Senior WH Advisor. He never apologized. I have not
since felt a sense of trust even though I would meet weekly to discuss key topics and action
items. He then wanted me to “begin running everything by the COS” prior to taking actions. My
replies have also been that I do things in the best interest of POTUS, his Veteran agenda and
ensure our actions will never cause embarrassment.
4. I asked to bring Camilo Sandoval into the VA as requested by WH. Placed in VHA and was
immediately looked upon as a “WH spy” and not properly inserted into leadership role after
several requests to SECVA, COS, Interim Deputy Secretary and Acting USH. He was and
continues to be shunned and underutilized. This is truly sad after he have great overviews in
regards to Telehealth and the required changes needed to the Health Enrollment Center. Again,
he was never supported by SECVA or any of his leadership staff.
5. I continued to build alignment with as many department heads within VA as possible at the
same time as placing the right political into key roles. The COS then started her actions of
making as many of those assignments getting properly and timely administered a very slow and
complicated process.
6. The current COS – Viveca Wright Simpson was proud to tell me she is a Democrat who
completely trusts the Secretary and it’s her job to protect him and his agenda she also had alleged
__________________________.

 7. The COS helped arrange the Denmark & Great Britain trip that had her, the Acting USH,
SECVA and 6 security members out of country during a critical time for legislation, placing
political appointees and also a major VAMC issue that needed immediate attention (Boston
Globe investigation into bad practices in NH). No firm succession nor schedule of travel was
provided to any political staff members of VA.
8. COS has on numerous occasions slowed he hiring practices for political position requests to
build their organizations (OCLA, HRA, VEO and declined a replacement of our former White
House Liaison.
9. COS signed off on __________________________________________________________
_________. All have been discussed for action with current OGC and OAWP.
10. COS believed to be under extensive investigation by IG in regards to Trip (Denmark & Great
Britain).
11. Current Deputy Secretary Tom Bowman came on board and immediately wanted to know
why I went to WH, how often, who did I meet with and what issues were covered. I had no
problem with those questions until I discovered he thought my role was not required. I
emphasized to him my mission and role is to ensure completion and execution of the President’s
Veteran agenda and I am well qualified to ensure proper alignment of our missions.
12. Deputy Secretary doesn’t trust current slate of political staff, in particular our Assistant
Secretary of OPIA. He called him out several times as not providing correct legislative
information for new Veteran Care Act. Not true. DEPSEC has his own agenda to assist former
boss Senator Isakson and his agenda (not dynamic new Choice options requested by POTUS
agenda.
13. Deputy Secretary adamant about sending out thank-you press release to SECVA Chairman
and committee for getting bill forwarded even though WH wanted nothing released due to
current Tax Reform legislation. (Email and personal accounts fo 3 politicals overhearing
conversation directed to A/S OPIA on Dec. 1st after morning meeting.)
14. Deputy Secretary continually meeting in COS office and not bringing key staff into
discussions and solutions.
Solutions:
1. Do nothing.
2. Immediately remove COS with a Political due to being under investigation with IG. Replace
with Don Loren (Retired Navy Admiral and current Assist Secretary). This action is critical and
will immediately change dynamics within VACO operations.
3. Remove/Retire DEPSEC after legislation passes (Jan. 2018). Replace with Jake Leinenkugel
as Acting Deputy Secretary while bringing new candidate up for nomination.

 4. Return Acting USH to former position. Replace with former USH Usman (BG Ret)
5. APDUSH – Miquel Lapuz return to former position and replace with former PDUSH Dr.
Stone (MG Ret)
6. USH – New Commission and replace with Dr. Stone plus other key candidates.
7. Senior White House Advisor to Office of Innovation – Formal announcement of Cam
Sandoval to oversee, manage and direct EHR and HEC Projects.
8. SECVA – Put on notice to exit after major legislation and key POTUS VA initiatives in place.
Utilize outside team (Ike) and strong political candidates such as Kussman.
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