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Meet Our Leadership Team

Director: Pritz Navaratnasingam

Pritz Navaratnasingam was appointed as Director of Seattle VA Regional Office (RO), effective October 2014. In his role as Director of the Seattle RO, he is responsible for over 800 full-time employees and administering approximately $1.6 billion in annual compensation and pension benefits to over 580,000 Veterans and their dependents in Washington State. 

Assistant Director: John Lombardo

John Lombardo was appointed as Assistant Director with the Veterans Benefits Administration, Seattle Regional Office, in May 2021.  He started working for the Department of Veterans Affairs, Seattle Regional Office, in March 2010 as a Staff Assistant.  John held positions of increasing responsibility including Continental District Lead Management Analyst, Assistant Special Mission Program Officer, Acting Special Mission Program Officer, and Acting Assistant Director.  He is a graduate of the 2018 Assistant Directors Development Program.

Assistant Director: Chantile Stovall

Chantile Stovall was appointed as Assistant Director of the Seattle VA Regional Office in November 2022. Ms. Stovall served as the Veterans Service Center Manager of the Baltimore Regional Office/National Capital Region Benefits Office (BRO/NCRBO) where she provided oversight over the Integrated Disability Evaluation System Program, Benefits Delivery at Discharge, and Outreach. With over 17 years of experience with the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Ms. Stovall has held division leadership roles in two VBA business lines. She considers herself a life-long learner and has enjoyed serving as a formal mentor for several of VBA’s development programs throughout the years.

 

Veteran Service Center Manager: Stephen Strope

Mr. Strope was appointed as the Veteran Service Center Manager (VSCM) in May of 2017. In this position, he administers Compensation and Pension programs and provides other assistance regarding VA benefits and services to Veterans, Servicemembers, their families, and their survivors in the Seattle Regional Office service area. He previously served as a Coach at the Philadelphia Regional Office. 

Decision Review Operations Center Manager: Daniel Austin

Daniel joined VBA as a Rating Veterans Service Representative (RVSR) in 2011 at the Detroit Regional Office. After serving in various positions of increasing responsibility, Daniel began at the Seattle Decision Review Operations Center as the Assistant DROC Manager in 2018. Prior to joining VBA, Daniel was a commissioned officer in the United States Army serving in various positions of responsibility from June 2003 through December 2010. Daniel served two tours of duty in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Daniel graduated from Capital University in 2003, from graduate school from Seattle University in 2010, and completed course studies at University Detroit-Mercy Law School from 2011 through 2013.

Integrated Disability Evaluation System (IDES) Special Missions Program Officer (SMPO):  Beorn Kjeldsen

Beorn began his VA career in 2009 as a Veterans Service Representative in the Seattle Regional Office, was promoted to RVSR, and later became a Director’s Office Management Analyst, Assistant Coach, Coach, Assistant DROC Manager and, most recently, the SMPO. His career experience includes VSC, Nehmer, IDES, and Appeals Modernization. Beorn attended the University of Washington (BA) and Seattle University School of Law (JD). He worked at a newspaper for 10 years prior to attending law school.

Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) Officer: Karolyn Hannem

Karolyn Hannem was selected as the Veteran Readiness & Employment Officer on January 29, 2023, for the Seattle Regional Office with the Veterans Benefits Administration. Prior to her position, Karolyn served as the Assistant Veteran Readiness & Employment Officer (AVREO) from August 2008 through January 2023. Karolyn began her Department of Veterans Affairs career in 2001 as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor at the Portland Regional Office.

 

Change Management Agent: Margaret (Maggie) Shartel

Maggie Shartel was appointed as the Change Management Agent for Seattle VA Regional Office, effective March 2022. In her role as CMA she leads change management activities across business lines within the Regional Office and provides assistance to external stakeholders. Ms. Shartel previously served as a Veterans Service Representative and is certified as an ELITE Master Instructor. She is a Veteran of the U.S. Army where she served as a Broadcast Journalist and Public Affairs Specialist at multiple locations including Joint Base Lewis-McChord WA.

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