Leadership Team
Ada Clark, FACHE, MPH
Network Director
Ada Clark was named Network Director for the VA Sierra Pacific Network (VISN 21) effective August 27, 2023. Previously she served Interim VISN 21 Network Director from January 1, 2023. In her role as Network Director, she oversees the operations of an integrated health care network spanning over 294,000 square miles, providing services to 475,000 Veterans in seven major health care systems located in Nevada, central/northern California, Hawaii, the Philippines, and the vast Pacific region including Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. VISN 21 has an operating budget of $6.7 billion and over 22,800 employees. Before serving as Network Director, Ms. Clark was the Deputy Network Director in VISN 21 since September 2018 where she had overall responsibility for the strategic direction and administrative operations of the Network. Prior to her coming to VISN 21, Ms. Clark served as Assistant Director for VA San Diego Healthcare System from April 2016-August 2018 overseeing administrative operations, as well as Operations Officer for the VA Desert Pacific Healthcare Network (VISN 22) from January 2014-March 2016. Ms. Clark has more than 16 years of outstanding commitment to VHA's mission in offering the highest quality health care to our Veterans. Ms. Clark is board certified in health care management as a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a member of the VHA Regents Advisory Committee. She was awarded VA’s GHATP Preceptor of the Year in 2023, an ACHE Service Award by the Northern California Chapter in 2019 and the ACHE Early Career Healthcare Executive VA Regent’s Award in 2015. Ms. Clark holds a Bachelor of Science in Neurobiology/Biomedical Engineering from University of California, Irvine and a Masters of Public Health in Policy and Management from University of California, Los Angeles.
Susan Mittenzwei, MPH
Deputy Network Director
Ms. Mittenzwei completed various detail assignments to include: Acting Deputy Director at Eastern Colorado HCS from February 2024 to April 2024; Acting Associate Director at Montana VA HCS from September 2023 to February 2024; and Acting Director of Field Operations VHACO’s Healthcare Operations Center (HOC) from August 2020 to October 2020. Ms. Mittenzwei has 11 years of service with VHA. She began her VHA career in 2013 at the Eastern Colorado Health Care System (ECHCS, Denver VA) as a Graduate Health Administrative Training Program (GHATP) Fellow. After her GHATP Fellowship, her roles at ECHCS included Health Systems Specialist (HSS) to the Nurse Executive and HSS to the Chief of Staff. In June 2018, Ms. Mittenzwei took a Management Analyst position with the VISN 19 Rocky Mountain Network reporting to the Network Director. In 2019, she was selected as the VISN 19 Assistant Director of Resources (AsD-R). Ms. Mittenzwei received her Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Biology from Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH and her Master of Public Health (MPH) from the University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY. She is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE).
Regina Godbout, MD
Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Regina Godbout was appointed as Chief Medical Officer, VA Sierra Pacific Network, VISN 21 (Pleasant Hill, California) on August 17, 2020. In this role she oversees all clinical programs, operations, and services for the network. VISN 21 serves Veterans in Northern and Central California, Nevada, Hawaii, the Philippines, and U.S. Territories in the Pacific Basin. Dr. Godbout received her medical degree from Chicago Medical School/Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine in 1994 and completed her categorical Internal Medicine Residency at University of California, San Francisco in 1997. She went on to serve in the Navy, completing Advance Traumatic Life Saving (ATLS), Combat Casualty Care Course, and the Fleet Hospital Operations Field Training Course. Dr. Godbout served at both Balboa Naval Hospital and Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton before joining a multi-specialty care practice in the Seattle area. She has served as a Medical Director, Chief of Medicine, and has managed a thriving private practice for ten years. She is currently an Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of California, Davis. Dr. Godbout’s special interests include Women’s Health, LEAN processes, and HRO principles. She strives to be a servant leader who advocates for Veteran-centric health care and a champion for excellence. Dr. Godbout served as interim Chief Medical Officer for VISN 21 and COVID-19 Incident Commander for six months prior to her appointment. In this capacity, she worked closely with facilities and their academic partners to coordinate pandemic efforts across the network. Dr. Godbout’s previous roles in VA include Deputy Chief of Staff for VA Northern California Health Care System, and Chief of Medicine, Women’s Health Medical Director and interim COS for VA Central California Health Care System.
Dr. Desiree Crawford
Acting Chief Nursing Officer
Dr. Desiree Crawford was appointed serve as the Acting VISN 21 Chief Nursing Officer, Effective May 12, 2024. Dr. Crawford served as the Associate Director of Patient Care Services/Nurse Executive at the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System. Since joining VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System, Dr. Crawford has served as the Associate Nurse Executive, Nursing Professional Services and Deputy Nurse Executive. Before joining the VA in 2011, Dr. Crawford worked in a non-profit community hospital in South Central Pennsylvania, where she was a staff nurse in Critical Care and held progressive leadership positions in Education, Critical Care and Medical Surgical clinical areas. Additionally, she served on work groups with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry addressing new graduate RN transition to clinical practice and shared faculty appointments and was a member of the Pennsylvania Workforce Investment Board Nurse Education Committee. Dr. Crawford graduated from A.T. Still University, Kirksville, Missouri. with a Doctorate in Healthcare Education in 2011. In 2004, she completed her Master’s in Healthcare Administration from University of Maryland, University College in Adelphi, Maryland. Dr. Crawford completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from York College, York, Pennsylvania, in 1997 and in 1985, her Associate of Science in Nursing from Shenandoah University, Winchester, Virginia. She is also a graduate of the 2015 VHA Health Care Leadership Development Program, and a 2017 graduate of the VHA Executive Career Development Program.
Jeanette C. Moody, JD, DNP, MSN, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, CENP, CPHQ, CPPS
Quality Management Officer (QMO)
Dr. Jeanette Moody was appointed as Quality Management Officer of VA Sierra Pacific Network, VISN 21 (Pleasant Hill, California) on July 11, 2022. Prior to this role, Dr. Moody held the role of Deputy Quality Management Officer of the VA Sierra Pacific Network, VISN 21. In her current role, Dr. Moody oversees the quality, safety, and high reliability in the Network with executive oversight of seven VA Health Care Systems in Northern and Central California, Nevada, Hawaii, Philippines and U.S. Territories in the Pacific Basin, 59 Community Based Outpatient Clinics. She holds direct full-line authority and responsibility for Patient Safety, Risk Management, Systems Redesign & Innovation, Performance Improvement, Accreditation & Regulatory Oversight and High Reliability for the region. Dr. Moody holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock, Texas.; MSN degree from the University of Missouri-St. Louis in St. Louis, Missouri and a MBA degree from Texas Woman’s University in Houston, Texas. As a complement her nursing education and risk background, Dr. Moody holds a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Texas Tech School of Law. Dr. Moody is also a Certified Professional of Health Care Quality (CPHQ) and she is certified in Patient Safety (CPPS), Nursing Practice (CENP), and Advanced Nurse Executive competencies (NEA-BC). Dr. Moody has served in various roles within the VA since 2013. Her previous roles included Director of Quality, Safety, and Value, Quality Manager, Accreditation Specialist, and Quality Consultant. Prior to joining the VA, Dr. Moody held several leadership and executive roles in the private health care sector throughout Missouri and Texas to include Service Line Manager, Branch Manager, Chief Quality Manager, Director of Nursing, Director of Clinical Operations, Director of Patient Care Services and Regional Director of Business and Clinical Operations. Dr. Moody’s work has always been focused on advocating for Veteran care and the staff who serve while ensuring excellence and compliance with quality and regulatory standards.
