SALISBURY — The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on Friday announced the appointment of Joseph P. Vaughn as the new director of the Salisbury VA Medical Center.

Vaughn will oversee delivery of health care to more than 88,000 veterans and an operating budget of more than $560 million.

“We are excited to welcome Mr. Vaughn to our team as the new director of the Salisbury VA Medical Center,” said DeAnne Seekins, director of Veterans Integrated Service Network 6. “His proven record of experience will be a valuable asset for the facility, the employees and volunteers, and most importantly, for the veterans we are honored to serve.”

She said Vaughn would begin his new job within the next 15 to 30 days.

Vaughn is a veteran who joined VA more than 12 years ago and has held progressive leadership positions at VA facilities in Jackson and Ridgeland, Mississippi. Most recently, he was the chief operating officer and associate director at the VA Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi, which serves more than 45,000 veterans with a budget of $350 million.

He has also served as commander of American Legion Post 68 in Brandon, Mississiippi, and is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Vaughn holds a master of business administration degree from Mississippi State University and is a graduate of the Federal Executive Institute and VHA Health Care Leadership Development Program. He is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and co-chairman of the VHA New Executive Training Committee.

One of the fastest-growing VA medical centers since 2000, the Salisbury hospital outperformed VA five-star facilities in reducing health care-associated infections (including MRSA), ambulatory care sensitive-condition hospitalizations, the 30-day readmission rate, and the call-center abandonment rate.

The facility, with responsibility for two major health care centers and an outpatient clinic, also serves as the tele-retinal reading hub and PTSD tele-mental health hub for Network 6. It has moved to a recovery-based mental health model and relationship-based nursing in inpatient mental health areas. Its PTSD residential rehabilitation program is one of only a handful in the VA system.