VA PR Czar Got Last Minute Job Boost

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

As one of his last official acts in late 2013, the embattled outgoing Pittsburgh area director of the Department of Veterans Affairs issued a one-page order creating a new job and title for his public affairs chief.
The Oct. 17, 2013 memo from Michael E. Moreland created the full time job of communications director for VISN 4 and named David E. Cowgill to fill that post effective Oct. 20. Cowgill's current annual salary is $124,003.
Though VA officials said Cowgill's salary in his new job is the same pay grade as his old one, federal records show that he earned $118,273 in 2012, $5,730 lower than his current level. Cowgill issued a statement in which he said he had previously served as VISN 4 communications manager on a part-time basis.
In addition recently released records show Cowgill was one of dozens of Pittsburgh area VA employees to be awarded a performance bonus in 2014. Cowgill got $2,750 in bonus payments, records show.
"Leadership made a determination that a full time VISN 4 communications manager was needed and I no longer had the time to perform the dual role of serving as VA Pittsburgh public relations manager," Cowgill wrote in an email response to questions.
He said his pay grade remained the same in the new job "and I did not receive any pay increase or extra compensation for being appointed to the full time communications manager."
Moreland's action creating the full time post came just two weeks after he announced he was stepping down as VISN 4 director and retiring as of Nov. 1. His resignation came amid a congressional investigation into the deaths of six veterans at VISN 4 facilities in a Legionella outbreak.
"I have determined that the duties of a Public Affairs Officer are needed on the full-time basis within the network office," Moreland wrote.
"Although this new position has been established, I expect VAPHS will maintain sufficient staffing to continue to support the Network's public affairs efforts," the Moreland memo continues.
Moreland did not respond to requests for comment.
Though VA officials say Cowgill has no staff, internal memos show he has commandeered the services of many of VA public affairs staffers with a combined annual salary of more than $1 million. That figure include's Cowgill's replacement with a current salary of $110,607.
Cowgill has, through a series of internal directives asserted control of staffers who reported to him in his prior position.
In a March 24, 2014 to the VA's Pittsburgh Health Services public relations manager, Cowgill wrote that the Pittsburgh office "will be required to provide appropriate levels of staffing" to complete a series of functions for his office including the production of VISN's annual report, maintaining the VISN's websites and "VISN 4's public relations and outreach campaigns."
In an April 8 memo to VA's regional mangers, Cowgill requested " Nulph serve as his liaison.
"Ms. Nulph must be provided with the ability to work directly with the VISN 4 Communications Manager and have her Pittsburgh tasks adjusted as required by network priorities," Cowgill's memo states.
Nulph, whose job title is public affairs specialist, has an annual salary of $65,665.
In response to questions, VA spokesman Henry Huntley wrote that Cowgill  "utilizes the services of some VA Pittsburgh Healthcare Systems public affairs department to include occasional web design, photography, videography, video conferencing support and assistance from one public affairs specialist."
Cowgill, in his email, wrote that VA Pittsburgh had been providing support to VISN 4 since 2007.
Data provided by the VA shows that there are 16 persons assigned public affairs duties in the VA Pittsburgh Health Services office. Salaries range from $64,138 to the $110,607 being paid to Cowgill's replacement.
Michael Stelacio, department commander of the Pennsylvania American Legion, said both Moreland and Cowgill should be investigated.
"Mr. Cowgill should have to give an explanation of how he can order everyone around when he has no staff, Stelacio said, adding that Moreland should have to explain why he created Cowgill's job.
Asked about the salaries of the VA's local public relations staff, Stelaccio said that while it seems excessive, the staff has to answer a lot of quesions, particularly during the Legionella outbreak.