The Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General conducted an administrative investigation into alleged ethics violations by Tracy Skala, former deputy director of the Orlando VA Medical Center. Ms. Skala’s son, who had a different last name, was a former VA employee who subsequently worked for a software development company with a mobile wayfinding application that could help veterans navigate VA facilities on their smartphones. Ms. Skala did not disclose their relationship when her son attended an April 6, 2023, meeting of the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 8 Executive Leadership Board. VISN 8 serves more than 1.4 million veterans. During the presentation and at many other times, Ms. Skala encouraged VISN leaders and a subordinate in her medical facility to approve the application for use, knowing her son could receive bonus pay as a percentage of a new VA contract. A VISN 8 executive who learned of their relationship promptly alerted the OIG.
The investigation found that Ms. Skala violated ethics rules by using her position to promote procurement of software from her son’s employer. Her participation in matters involving her son’s employer was an apparent conflict of interest. The OIG also noted that Ms. Skala, who retired from VA in April 2024, informed VA that she received a critical skills incentive, but VA had not initiated the process to recover any debt owed from her retiring before the requisite term of service.
Due to Ms. Skala’s retirement, the OIG did not make recommendations regarding her conduct. VA concurred, or concurred in principle, with the OIG’s three recommendations relating to identifying potential conflicts before vendor presentations and improving critical skill incentive recoupment processes. VA provided acceptable action plans to implement the OIG recommendations and VA’s progress will be monitored until sufficient documentation has been received to close them as implemented.
Open Recommendations
| Recommendation Number | Significant Recommendation | Recommended Questioned Costs | Recommended Funds for Better Use | Additional Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Yes | $0 | $0 | ||
| The Veterans Health Administration chief operating officer establishes a written policy or procedure to reasonably ensure that potential conflicts of interest or appearance of partiality concerns involving VHA employees are identified and remediated before contractor presentations to Veterans Integrated Service Network or facility leaders. | |||||
| 02 | Yes | $0 | $0 | ||
| The Veterans Integrated Service Network 8 director confirms that VA has initiated the process to seek recoupment of the critical skill incentive paid by VA to Ms. Skala that was attributable to a service period that she did not complete due to her retirement. | |||||
| 03 | Yes | $0 | $0 | ||
| The assistant secretary for Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness directs a review to determine whether any VHA employee ranked GS‑15 or above awarded a critical skill incentive has left VA before completing their required service obligation, and, if so, whether VA has established a debt and initiated recoupment in the amount of the CSI attributable to the uncompleted period, and takes further corrective actions as warranted. | |||||
| 01 | No | $0 | $0 | ||
| The Veterans Health Administration chief operating officer establishes a written policy or procedure to reasonably ensure that potential conflicts of interest or appearance of partiality concerns involving VHA employees are identified and remediated before contractor presentations to Veterans Integrated Service Network or facility leaders. | |||||
| 02 | No | $0 | $0 | ||
| The Veterans Integrated Service Network 8 director confirms that VA has initiated the process to seek recoupment of the critical skill incentive paid by VA to Ms. Skala that was attributable to a service period that she did not complete due to her retirement. | |||||
| 03 | No | $0 | $0 | ||
| The assistant secretary for Human Resources and administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness directs a review to determine whether any VHA employee ranked GS-15 or above awarded a critical skill incentive has left VA before completing their required service obligation, and, if so, whether VA has established a debt and initiated recoupment in the amount of the CSI attributable to the uncompleted period, and takes further corrective actions as warranted. | |||||
