HELENA — John Ginnity, who served as acting director of VA Montana Health Care for eight months, has been named the permanent director.
U.S. Sen. Jon Tester said Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald told him about the appointment Thursday.
The announcement came three days after Ginnity was removed as acting director because he had exceeded the federal time limit for holding an “acting” position.
Before being named acting director, Ginnity served as the health care system’s associate director.
Tester says the main priority is to reopen the acute mental health care wing of the psychiatric hospital at Fort Harrison. The VA announced a temporary closure of the eight-bed wing on Feb. 10 due to lack of staffing.
Ginnity says two mental health providers retired and a third left for another job.