The Deputy Director is the Medical Center’s primary extension of the Executive Director's authority. Dr. Velez is tasked with the responsibility of assisting the Executive Director and staying abreast of the undertakings the Executive Director is working on, while focusing on guiding and coordinating operational elements of the Medical Center. In the absence of the Executive Director, the Deputy Director serves as the primary acting Director, exercising and assuming that level of responsibility, authority, direction, and oversight.

Dr. Velez is a retired 20-year U.S. Air Force Veteran, with service in the Air Force-Active Duty and in the Air National Guard where he served in various roles to include Healthcare Administrator. He participated and led multiple worldwide deployments to include humanitarian aid missions. Dr. Velez received the Theodore C. Marrs Award which recognized him as the Air National Guard Health Administrator of the Year. He also is the recipient of the National Defense Service Medal and United States Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, Second Oak Leaf Cluster.

After retiring from the Air Force, Dr. Velez served as the Administrative Director for the International Outreach Program at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis Tennessee. During his tenure at St. Jude, Dr. Velez provided leadership and operational oversight to 23 international partnerships and affiliations worldwide with the mission of providing local support to promote the development of sustainable children cancer programs with curative intent. Dr. Velez also worked in the Pacific North West and the Mid-West as a Regional Director for Healthcare Operations in various health systems with emphasis on rural healthcare, underserved populations with health disparities, and patient access.

Dr. Velez is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, Senior Executive Fellow of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Fellow of the American Academy of Medical Administrators and a Senior Fellow of the Partnership for Public Service. Dr. Velez graduated from the Community College of the Air Force with an Associate’s Degree in Allied Health Science. He graduated from the Ohio State University and completed an Undergraduate Degree in English. Dr. Velez obtained an MBA in Healthcare Administration from Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, Ohio, and a Doctor of Health Administration from Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. Dr. Velez is a Collaborating Scientist at Harvard University participating in front-line research activities. He is currently an adjunct faculty with the Doctor of Health Administration Program at Franklin University in Columbus, Ohio; and an adjunct faculty with the Master’s Degree Program in Health Administration at Central Michigan University. During his free time, Dr. Velez serves as a board member on a local not-for-profit foundation serving children with cancer in Puerto Rico, he volunteers in his local community with underserved populations, and enjoys time with his family in Puerto Rico