Public and Intergovernmental Affairs

The Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs (OPIA) develops, maintains, and communicates the Department’s message through media relations and public, intergovernmental, and Veteran engagement to empower Veterans and their families. We oversee the Department’s communications with Veterans, the public, VA employees, and the news media. We also provide VA leadership with strategic advice, guidance, and information by fostering partnerships and liaising between state, local, tribal, insular, and international governments. OPIA works to build confidence in VA and its readiness to serve America’s Veterans of all generations.

Melissa Bryant

Acting Assistant Secretary, Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs

Additional Resources

What we do

Public Affairs

Public Affairs is responsible for coordinating and orchestrating the release of external public affairs communication and information for VA. The primary mission of this Office is to coordinate with VA’s three Administrations (Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and National Cemetery Administration (NCA)) and other offices throughout VA to ensure Veterans and their families, other beneficiaries and stakeholders receive accurate and timely information about Department benefits and programs as well as information on many other topics using all forms of traditional and new media to communicate.

Intergovernmental Affairs

Public Affairs is responsible for coordinating and orchestrating the release of external public affairs communication and information for VA. The primary mission of this Office is to coordinate with VA’s three Administrations (Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and National Cemetery Administration (NCA)) and other offices throughout VA to ensure Veterans and their families, other beneficiaries and stakeholders receive accurate and timely information about Department benefits and programs as well as information on many other topics using all forms of traditional and new media to communicate.

Veterans’ Day

Each year the Veterans Day National Committee publishes a commemorative Veterans Day poster. The Committee selects a poster from artwork submitted by artists nationwide. It also distributes the winning design to VA facilities, military installations around the world, and across cities and towns in our nation. It then serves as the cover of the official program for the Veterans Day Observance at Arlington National Cemetery.

Get more information about Veterans’ Day activities

VA on Flickr

Browse our extensive collection of VA events from around the country.