Valerie Mattison Brown

About Valerie Mattison Brown

I am a healthcare executive and former Chief Strategy Officer for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Veterans Health Administration, where I led enterprise strategy, performance management, and system-wide transformation for the nation’s largest integrated healthcare system.With more than 25 years of experience across federal service and the private sector, I have guided complex organizations through strategic realignment, operational execution, and measurable performance improvement. My work has focused on translating policy, data, and financial realities into clear priorities that strengthen access, quality, and sustainability.A defining strength of my leadership is building, developing, and sustaining high-performing teams. I am recognized for assembling diverse executive and senior-level teams, developing leaders at scale, and creating leadership pipelines that deliver results in complex, high-stakes environments. I have mentored senior executives, strengthened succession readiness, and fostered cultures of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.I bring a CSO–COO mindset, connecting long-range strategy to operating models, governance, and execution. I am particularly effective in environments requiring clarity under ambiguity, disciplined decision-making, and alignment across multiple stakeholders.As a Veteran spouse, I bring lived insight into the needs of military and Veteran communities and a strong commitment to mission-driven healthcare. Following my retirement from federal service, I am intentionally shaping a portfolio career focused on CSO, COO, Strategic Advisor, Healthcare Transformation Executive, and board opportunities, where my experience in enterprise leadership, team development, and governance can add immediate value.Executive focus areas include:• Enterprise and healthcare strategy• Operating model design and execution• Team building, leadership development, and succession readiness• Performance management and governance• Healthcare policy and system transformation• Executive advising and board engagement

Experience

1. Strategic Advisor and Healthcare Executive

   Independent

   Oct 2025 — Present

   Providing strategic advisory support to healthcare and mission-driven organizations navigating growth, transformation, and operational complexityAdvising senior leaders and governing bodies on enterprise strategy, performance management, and execution alignmentBuilding, scaling, and mentoring high-performing executive teams, with a focus on leadership development, succession readiness, and cultureSupporting leaders through change by strengthening decision-making, accountability, and cross-functional collaborationPursuing CSO, COO, executive advisory, and board opportunities aligned with healthcare, Veterans’ services, and public-interest missions

Education

• HHS Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program

  Executive Leadership

  2014 — 2015

• Morgan State University

  BS, Accounting

  1987 — 1991

• American University

  Executive Leadership

  2014 — 2015

• American University

  Master’s Degree, Public Administration

  2015 — 2017

• UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School

  Executive Leadership Course

  2017 — 2017

• Harvard Business School

  Strategy for Healthcare Delivery

• University of Baltimore

  MS, Accounting, Health Care Finance

  1995 — 1996