Ms. DeFreese previously served as the Assistant Medical Center Director. She graduated from The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management in 2003, a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) in 2005 and a Master of Science in Healthcare Administration (M.S.H.A.) in 2006. She is a VHA certified mentor and has earned a Black Belt in LEAN Healthcare Process Systems Redesign. Ms. DeFreese began her VA career in June 2004 as an Accounting Trainee at BVAHCS. She held the position of Assistant Chief Financial Officer prior to her appointment as the Chief Financial Officer in July 2016.  Ms. DeFreese is a current member of the Veterans Health Administration Health Care Leadership Development Program (HCLDP).