Leo Mackay Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Leo Mackay Jr.
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Mackay in 2002
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| 4th United States Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs | |
| In office May 24, 2001 – September 30, 2003 |
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| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Edward A. Powell (Acting) |
| Succeeded by | Gordon H. Mansfield |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Leo Sidney Mackay Jr.
August 15, 1961 San Antonio, Texas, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | United States Naval Academy (BS) Harvard University (MPP, PhD) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1983–1995 |
| Rank |  Lieutenant Commander |
| Unit | VF-11 |
| Battles/wars | Operation Earnest Will |
Leo Sidney Mackay Jr. (born August 15, 1961) is an American businessman. He also served as a top official in the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
He is currently a senior leader at Lockheed Martin Corporation, a large company that makes aerospace and defense products. At Lockheed Martin, he helps make sure the company acts ethically and safely. He also leads efforts to protect the environment and manage risks.
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His Career in Business
Leo Mackay Jr. is a Senior Vice President at Lockheed Martin. In this role, he makes sure the company follows high standards for ethics and business conduct. He also works to improve the company's environmental safety and health programs. He helps guide the company's efforts to be sustainable, which means operating in a way that protects the planet for the future.
He is also a director for other public companies like Ameren and Cognizant Technology Solutions. This means he helps make important decisions for these companies. He has received awards, including the Black Engineer of the Year Award for Career Achievement in 2012.
Serving the Government
From 2001 to 2003, Leo Mackay Jr. was the United States Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs. This was the second-highest job in the department. He helped manage important services for veterans, including:
- The Veterans Health Administration (VHA), which is the largest healthcare system in the country.
- The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), which helps veterans get their benefits.
- The National Cemetery Administration, which cares for national cemeteries.
He worked to improve how the department was run, making sure veterans received better care and faster help with their claims. He also helped start a program called VetFran, which helps veterans begin their own franchise businesses.
Before this, from 1993 to 1995, he worked for the Department of Defense. He helped with important policies about nuclear weapons and reducing threats around the world.
Meeting with a President
In 2017, Leo Mackay Jr. met with then-President-elect Donald Trump. They talked about the possibility of him becoming the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Although they had a "good discussion," he decided not to take the job. Reports suggested he preferred to stay in the private business sector.
His Life Story
Leo Mackay Jr. was born in San Antonio, Texas, into a military family. Because of his family's service, he grew up on and around military bases. He lived in Japan as a child and spent some of his high school years in Tehran, Iran. His family had to leave Iran in 1978 when the government there changed.
He joined the Navy and became a naval aviator, which is a pilot. He flew F-14 fighter jets and completed over 200 carrier landings. He also attended Topgun, a special school for fighter pilots. He served in `Operation Earnest Will`, which was a mission to protect shipping in the Persian Gulf. After his flying career, he taught history at the Naval Academy.
Education and Affiliations
Leo Mackay Jr. graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1983. He then went on to Harvard University, where he earned two advanced degrees: a master's degree in public policy and a Ph.D. in public policy.
He has been a part of several important groups, including the Aspen Strategy Group and the Council on Foreign Relations. These groups discuss important national and international issues. He is also a life member of the U.S. Naval Institute.
Images for kids
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The rank insignia for a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy.
