EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — The Department of Veterans Affairs has appointed Mark Rielo as the new medical center director of the El Paso VA Health Care System, putting him in charge of a $735 million operating budget and health care services for more than 44,000 enrolled Southwest Texas veterans.

Rielo has been the acting director of the El Paso VA Health Care System since September 2024. In his new role, he will oversee the system’s operations across multiple sites supported by more than 1,500 staff in East, West, Northeast and South Central El Paso, as well as Las Cruces, New Mexico.

We are excited to officially announce Mr. Rielo as the new Medical Center Director of the Central Texas VA Healthcare System,” said Dr. Wendell Jones, Veterans Integrated Service Network 17 director. “His sound leadership qualities and proven experience are valuable assets for the facility, the employees and volunteers, and most importantly, for the Veterans we are honored to serve.

Before coming to El Paso, Rielo served as associate director of the Amarillo VA Health Care System, where he oversaw administration areas including fiscal operations, supply chain management, environmental management, engineering, health administration, police, privacy, emergency management, facility planning, contracting, canteen services, Office of Information and Technology, and human resources.

He also held leadership positions at the VA Loma Linda Healthcare System and the VISN 22 Network Office, and has more than 18 years of experience serving veterans.

Rielo earned a master’s in public health from Loma Linda University and a master’s degree in economics from the University of California, Riverside. The VA said he is a VHA-certified mentor, a graduate of the VA Healthcare Leadership Development Program, has completed the Senior Executive Assessment Program, and is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

The El Paso VA Health Care System operates across six counties spanning 19,000 square miles and recorded 400,000 outpatient visits in the past year. The system also has a sharing agreement with the Department of Defense and Defense Health Agency as a joint venture facility with William Beaumont Army Medical Center on Fort Bliss, Texas.

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