Patrick W. Dunne was nominated by President George W. Bush to serve as the Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Policy and Planning on May 24,2006, and confirmed by the Senate o August 3, 2006. He was sworn into office on August 23, 2006.

As Assistant Secretary, Mr. Dunne serves as senior advisor to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, overseeing the Department's strategic planning, policy research and analysis, program evaluation, and the National Center of Veterans Analysis and Statistics - VA central clearinghouse for veterans and veteran program data. In his role, he supports the continuous enhancement of policies, programs, and services to veterans. Mr. Dunne represents the Department in interagency functions and the Department of Labor's Advisory Committee on Veteran's Employment. In this capacity, he coordinates VA collaboration and innovation efforts with DoD and service-members and veterans.

Mr. Dunne retired from the U.S. Navy as a Rear Admiral on December 31, 2005 after completing a tour as President of the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif. He is a 1972 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics. He earned a Master of Science degree in mathematics from the Naval Postgraduate School and is a graduate of the Navy's Nuclear Power training program.

Selected for Flag Rank in 2001, Rear Admiral Dunne's initial flag assignment was U.S. Pacific Command Representative to Guam/Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands/Federated States of Micronesia/Republic of Palau and Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Mariana's. His service at sear includes tours on USS Nathaniel Greene (SSBN 636) (BLUE), USS Batfish (SSN681) and USS Baton Rouge ((SSN 689). He served as Commanding Officer of USS Baltimore (SSN 704) and USS Frank Cable (AS40).

Mr. Dunne was born in Washington, DC and raised in Troy, N.Y. He and his wife, Diane, live in Fairfax, VA and are the parents of two adult children.