Gary De Gasta, MSW

Gary De Gasta

In January 2008 Mr. De Gasta retired as the Director of the White River Junction (WRJ) VA Medical Center after 20 years. His retirement capped a forty-year career with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Mr. De Gasta also served in the U.S. Army and retired from the US Army Reserve with the rank of Colonel in December 2001 after twenty-three years of military service.

For six consecutive years (2002-2007) the White River Junction VAMC was selected as a winner in the Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert W. Carey National Organizational Excellence Award Program – an Achievement Award Winner in 2002 and 2003; the Trophy Winner in 2004 and the Circle of Excellence Award winner in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

De Gasta is the recipient of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs Distinguished Career Award, the Under Secretary for Benefits Exceptional Service Award, VISN 1 Network Director's Commendation, numerous VA Performance Awards and awards and citations from Veterans Service Organizations (AL, DAV, VFW, Marine Corps League). Mr. De Gasta holds a BA in Sociology (Siena College, Loudonville, NY, 1963) and Masters degrees in Social Work (Syracuse University School of Social Work, Syracuse, NY, MSW, 1965) and Sociology (State University of New York at Albany, NY, MA, 1974). He completed additional postgraduate course work in Public and Health Care Administration at SUNY at Albany and Xavier University and is a graduate of the George Washington University Contemporary Executive Development Program.

De Gasta is a Life Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executive (LFACHE), a Licensed Social Worker and a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers (ACSW). He presently serves on The Advisory Board, Dartmouth Institute for Security, Technology and Society, the Vermont Governors Veterans Advisory Council and the Board of Trustees, Vermont Veterans Home.