A fledgling federal interagency office that doesn't have a permanent director is supposed to lead the development of a lifetime electronic health and benefits record for active military personnel and veterans, Nextgov reports. The publication obtained a Sept. 24 charter between the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs that expands the responsibilities of the Defense/VA Interagency Program Office to include the sharing of health and personnel records for those leaving military service. Interim director Rear Adm. Gregory Timberlake is due to retire this week, according to Nextgov.

The office, set up in 2007, is supposed to issue the contracts for, oversee the development of and manage the Joint Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record initiative. Harold Gracey, a former VA chief of staff, says that the charter is "broad and breathtaking in scope," but the big plans must be followed by bold action. Another, unnamed, source, says that office is too far down the DoD chain of command to have the necessary impact.

For more about this revelation about the DoD/VA project:
- read this Nextgov story

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