In previous appointments, he served as the Director of the Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System, and oversaw the construction of six new clinical and administrative buildings on the Biloxi campus. These new facilities replaced buildings which were destroyed on the Gulfport campus by Hurricane Katrina. He also served as Associate Director and Acting Director of the VA Medical Center in Columbia, SC; Associate Medical Center Director at the Alexandria, LA, VA Medical Center; and Acting Medical Center Director at the VA Healthcare Network Upstate New York at Bath.

Mr. Wisnieski’s management career began when he was selected as a Health Systems Specialist in Canandaigua, NY. At this facility he was responsible for the Diagnostics and Therapeutics Care Line and served as Assistant Chief of Environmental Management Service.

Having achieved the high honor of Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, Mr. Wisnieski was also a participant in the One VA Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program Class of 2010. He is a graduate of the Leadership VA Class of 2004 and successfully completed all requirements for graduation as a member of the 2003 Executive Career Field Class. Mr. Wisnieski received a Master’s in Public Administration with Healthcare Emphasis degree from the State University of New York at Brockport and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Millersville State College in Pennsylvania. He also is certified by the Rochester Institute of Technology in Continuous Quality Improvement and Facilitation.

Mr. Wisnieski has received numerous awards during his VA career including the Secretary’s Hero Award for leadership following Hurricane Katrina; Under Secretary for Health’s Innovation Award for Customer Service Initiatives; and the “Staying Alive Award” for his leadership during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. This award was presented by the Alexandria VA and the displaced New Orleans VA staff members working at the Alexandria VA Medical Center.

Mr. Wisnieski and his wife, Cheryl, have five children.