Al Montoya has served as interim director of the medical center since November 2015, Joseph Anglin, public affairs officer of the medical center, said Friday. As the new director, Montoya will be in charge of the main campus at White River Junction, as well as five outpatient clinics in Vermont and two in New Hampshire.
Prior to becoming the interim director of the White River Junction medical center, Montoya was the assistant director of the Veteran Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System.
Montoya is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, where he served for 10 years as a Russian Cryptologic Linguist. During his years of service, he provided Air Force personnel training on the EC-130H Compass Call, a system that disrupts enemy communications, according to a press release.
Montoya also received a bachelor’s degree in occupational education from Wayland Baptist University and a master’s degree in healthcare administration from Walden University, according to the release.
Dr. Michael Mayo-Smith, Veterans Integrated Service Network 1 director, said that he is pleased to appoint Montoya to the position.
“His proven leadership qualities and experience will be valuable assets for the Veterans we are honored to serve, as well as the employees and volunteers who work at the medical center,” Mayo-Smith said.
Montoya embraces a healthcare practice of relationship-centered care, Mayo-Smith said.
“I am honored to be appointed and take seriously the responsibility to continue the important work to fulfill President Lincoln’s promise, ‘To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan’ by serving and honoring the men and women who are America’s Veteran,” Montoya said.
Built in the 1930’s before World War II, the medical center’s main campus facility has an operating budget of $219 million and cares for 25,541 veterans from both Vermont and New Hampshire, according to the press release. The White River Junction medical center is part of the Veteran Affairs New England Healthcare System, which includes seven other medical centers across New England.
