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VHA Announces Leadership Change in Fresno
August 9, 2019
VALLEJO, Calif. — The Department of Veterans Affairs is pleased to announce the appointment of Charles O. Benninger as the new Director of the VA Central California Health Care System headquartered in Fresno, CA. Benninger will oversee delivery of health care to over 42,000 enrolled Veterans residing in the medical center’s San Joaquin Valley catchment area, a $283 million annual operating budget and over 1,500 employees.
“We are excited to bring Chuck on board as the new Director of the VA Central California Health Care System,” said John Brandecker, Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 21 Director. “His sound leadership qualities and proven experience will be valuable assets for the facility, the employees and volunteers, and most importantly, for the Veterans we are honored to serve. We anticipate he will begin his appointment in mid-August.”
Benninger, the Chief Nurse Executive at VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System in Reno, NV, has been serving as Acting Medical Center Director at the Fresno VA since February 1, 2019. He became the Chief Nurse Executive at Reno VA in 2017, where he also served as Chief of Quality Management from 2013-2017. Benninger began his VA career in 2006 as head of the Utilization Management Program at the Danville, IL VAMC. Prior to joining VA, Benninger was Director of Clinical and Support Services at Associated Physicians and Surgeons Clinics in Terre Haute, Indiana. He holds a Master’s degree in Nursing and a Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration. He is a Certified Fellow of the American Academy of Medical Administrators. Benninger served nearly 25 years of active duty in the U.S. Navy, during which time he provided leadership in initiation of managed care concepts within Navy Medicine during the early days of TRICARE implementation. He also served in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve, and also held a reserve commission in the Army Nurse Corps.
The VA Central California Health Care System provides inpatient, outpatient and long-term care health care services, with over 400,000 outpatient visits per year. The medical center is a 57-bed inpatient facility with state-of-the-art medical and diagnostic services, along with a 60-bed Community Living Center. Outpatient services are available at the Medical Center and at Community Based Outpatient Clinics in Merced, Tulare and Oakhurst, CA.
