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Virginia Penrod
Ms. Virginia Penrod
Performing the duties of Assistant Secretary of Defense | Manpower & Reserve
Affairs
Ms. Virginia (Vee) Penrod, assumed her current
role February 12, 2018. She is principal advisor to the Secretary of Defense and the Under Secretary of
Defense for Personnel and Readiness on all matters relating to civilian and military personnel policies,
reserve integration, military community and family policy, and Total Force manpower and resources. She
also oversees the Department of Defense Education Activity and the Defense Commissary Agency.
A member of the Senior Executive Service since 2006, Ms. Penrod previously
served as the Chief of Staff, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness (OUSD
P&R). For four years, Ms. Penrod, enabled the work of the OUSD P&R through continuous
improvement of processes and procedures, increasing efficiency and growing P&R’s collective
success.
Prior to her assignment as the Chief of Staff, Ms. Penrod served as the
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Personnel Policy where she was responsible for
recruiting, retention, compensation, travel and the related human resource management for the 1.4
million Active Duty military members of the U.S. Armed Services.
A graduate of Chapman University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in
Business Administration, Ms. Penrod holds a Master of Business Administration Degree from Central
Michigan University and a Master of Science Degree in National Resource Strategy from National Defense
University. Ms. Penrod's career includes 35 years of service in the Air Force in the field of
manpower management at Air Force Logistics Command, executive-level management at the 601st Tactical
Control Wing in Germany, and military personnel management, including Command at base level; personnel
policy at Headquarters Air Force and the Air Force Personnel Center.
Her awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Defense Superior
Service Medal, and the Distinguished Executive Presidential Rank Award.