Manila Regional Office

Station Director: (vacant)

The Station Director heads the VA Manila Regional Benefit Office and Outpatient Clinic. Manila Office is the Department’s only office located in a foreign country; the Director also serves as the United States Attaché for Veterans Affairs at the United States Embassy in the Philippines. In this role, the Director provides executive direction to 175 employees who administer medical and non-medical benefits to Veterans, their dependents, and their survivors residing in the Philippines to include disability compensation, pension, and the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation benefits.

Monthly monetary disbursements total $20.7 million for approximately 13,000 beneficiaries throughout the Philippines. The clinic provides outpatient medical services for service connected eligible Veterans. VA services are provided within an annual operating budget of $18.7 million.

Assistant Director: Kevin J. McAllister

Kevin J. McAllister was selected as the Assistant Director of the VA Manila Regional Benefit Office and Outpatient Clinic on 16 September 2018. The Manila Office is the Department’s only office located in a foreign country; therefor, Kevin also serves as an Embassy Officer for the United States Embassy in the Philippines.

As the Assistant Director, he is responsible for day to day operations of 175 employees who administer medical and non-medical benefits to Veterans, their dependents, and their survivors residing in the Philippines to include disability compensation, pension, education, veteran readiness and the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation (FVEC) benefits.

Kevin is a Veteran of the United States Marine Corps (four years) and the United States Army (six years) and has over 23 years of total federal service. He began his career with the VBA in 2008, as a loan specialist with VBA’s Loan Guaranty Service in the Specially Adapted Housing Programs policy and procedures division at VBA Central Office, Washington, DC.

He transitioned to the Office of Management as a management and program analyst in March of 2012. In this role he served as a senior advisor to the director, Office of Management supporting the areas of Employee Development and Training, Acquisition, Administration and Facilities, Human Resources.

Kevin’s other professional accomplishments include the completion of the Partnership for Public Service- Excellence In Government Fellows leadership program (2016) and VBA’s Leadership Development Program (2011). He has also served on details as the Acting Deputy Director for the Office of Administration and Facilities (2018), Acting Deputy Director for the Office of Management (2016), Acting Deputy Director for the Office of Field Operations (2015), and Acting Chief of Administrations (2014).

Kevin was born in St. Paul, Minnesota and has three adult children. He currently resides in Manila with his wife Lucenia “Vicky” who was born in the Philippines

Clinic Manager: John L. Stelsel

John L. Stelsel was appointed as the Health System Administrator (Clinic Manager) for the VA Manila Outpatient Clinic. In this role, he is responsible for the daily operations of VA’s only clinical location outside of the United States and its territories. The VA Manila Outpatient Clinic provides service-connected health care benefits to more than 6,000 unique Veterans annually. In addition to outpatient primary care, mental health, and specialty care, VA Manila also provides laboratory, radiology, and pharmacy services.

John began his VA career in 1992 as an Textile Care Manager Intern at the William S. Middleton VAMC in Madison, WI and served in various administrative leadership positions of increasing responsibility at nine VA facilities across the country.

Prior to this appointment John served as Assistant Director, VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System from September 2012-December 2022. He was directly involved in the day-to-day operations of VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System.

He served as the facility’s Acting Associate Director on several occasions; and in 2021, was detailed as Acting Associate Director of the VA Pacific Islands Health Care System.

John holds a both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in occupational safety from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. He is also a graduate of several leadership programs including VA’s Health Care Leadership Institute and is a Fellow-Level Mentor in the national mentor certification program.

Support Services Division Chief: (vacant)