SACRAMENTO, CA — Governor Jerry Brown today made several appointments to leadership positions at the California Department of Veterans Affairs.

Nancy Bien, of Camarillo, has been appointed skilled nursing facility administrator at the Veterans Home of California, West Los Angeles. Bien held multiple positions at the Los Angeles Jewish Home from 2008 to 2014, including administrator in training, residential care facility for the elderly administrator, assistant to the administrator and director of nursing. She was long-term consultant on Social Security Systems for the United Nations Development Programme in China from 1997 to 1999 and an independent consultant from 1993 to 2003.

Julian Manalo, of Corona, has been appointed deputy administrator at the Veterans Home of California, West Los Angeles. Manalo has been a medical administrator and major in the California Air National Guard since 2008. He was a homeland response force observer, controller and trainer for the National Guard Bureau Joint Staff, Office of the Joint Surgeon in 2013, an operations and training officer in the California Air National Guard Homeland Response Force from 2010 to 2013 and residential care facility for the elderly administrator at the Village Homes of Moreno Valley from 2006 to 2012. Manalo served as a captain in the California Army National Guard from 1999 to 2008 and fire chief and emergency management coordinator at the California Department of Mental Health Patton State Hospital from 1995 to 2008.

Paul Sullivan, of Cedar Park, Texas, has been appointed deputy secretary of communications at the California Department of Veterans Affairs. Sullivan has been managing director of public affairs and veterans outreach at Bergmann and Moore LLC since 2012. He was executive director at the National Organizations of Veterans' Advocates from 2011 to 2012, executive director at Veterans for Common Sense from 2006 to 2011 and lead program analyst in Veterans Benefits Administration at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs from 2000 to 2006. Sullivan was executive director at the National Gulf War Resource Center from 1997 to 2000, armored reconnaissance specialist in the Georgia Army National Guard from 1991 to 1993 and armored reconnaissance specialist in the U.S. Army from 1989 to 1991. He served in the 1st Armored Division of the U.S. Army during the Gulf War in 1991.

JP Tremblay, who served as Deputy Secretary for Legislation and Communications prior to today’s appointment, will now serve as Deputy Secretary for Legislation and Government Relations.