Leadership Team
Michael T. Kilmer | 720-725-6511
Director, Eastern Colorado Health Care System
Mr. Michael Kilmer is the Director of VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System. Director Kilmer has held many vital roles in Veterans Health Administration and most recently served more than two year as the Medical Center Director for the Western Colorado VA Health Care System, Grand Junction, Colo. Through his commitment to serving Veterans, Director Kilmer has more than 15 years’ experience in VA, including various leadership roles, organizational improvement, and multi-facility operations. He has also served VA as Chief Consultant, Care Management and Social Work; Interim Director, Central Texas Health Care System; Interim Director, Amarillo VA Health Care System; and Program Director, Patient Centered Care and Care Management, VA Desert Pacific Health Care System. He earned his BA in Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences from University of Washington, Tacoma, and Master of Social Work from University of Washington, Seattle. Director Kilmer is also a 15 year Veteran of the United States Coast Guard.
Clifford L Parmley | 720-723-6539
Chief of Staff
Dr. . Clifford Parmley is the Chief of Staff of VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System. Parmley previously served as our Deputy Chief of Staff and has been with VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System since October 2018. Prior to joining us, Parmley served as Chief of Staff for Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Parmley attended medical school at Loma Linda University in California through an Air Force scholarship program and was assigned to Lackland Air Force Base for his anesthesiology residency. He completed his military commitment in San Antonio and worked in private practice near Houston before taking a brief detour from medicine. He pursued his law degree from South Texas College of Law in Houston and worked briefly in medical malpractice before returning to medicine. He is board certified in Anesthesiology and Critical Care and is a Fellow of both the American College of Legal Medicine and American College of Critical Care Medicine.
Duane B Gill | 720-723-6509
Deputy Director
Mr. Duane Gill is the Deputy Director of VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System, which he has served in since August 2017. Gill has served VA in multiple leadership roles to include Interim Director for VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System, Acting Director for the Louisville VA Medical Center, Associate Director of VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System. Before that, he served as the Senior Health System Specialist and Acting Assistant Director at the Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital in Columbus, MO. Gill has extensive experience and oversight pertaining to Resource Management, Facilities Management, Human Resources, Logistics, Environmental Management, Safety, Business Office, Police and Strategic Planning. Gill earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Eastern Kentucky University and a master’s degree in management from Indiana Wesleyan University. Gill served in the United States Navy.
Josh Pridgen | 720-723-6511
Associate Director
Mr. Josh Pridgen is the Associate Director of VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System. Pridgen has been the Associate Director for VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System since January 2018. Pridgen has fulfilled many leadership roles to include Acting Director for VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Assistant Director and Chief of the Business Office for VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System. Prior to moving to Colorado, Pridgen worked in the Orlando VA Health Care System for seven years. He joined the Department of Veteran Affairs in 2008, as part of the VHA Technical Career Field Program within the Chief Business Office. Pridgen earned a Bachelor of Science from Valdosta State University in Georgia and a Master of Science in Health Services Administration from the University of Central Florida in Orlando.
Keith Harmon RN, BSN, MBA | 720-723-6510
Nurse Executive
Mr. Keith Harmon is the Associate Director of Patient Care Services, Nurse Executive, of VA Eastern Colorado Health Care Systems. Harmon joined VA in 2007, and has served in a variety of positions in support of VA’s mission to include the Chief of Organizational Improvement, the Systems Redesign and Performance Measure Coordinator, Health System Specialist to the Associate Director and Health Systems Specialist to the Director, where he performed duties which included VISN 19 Systems Redesign Coordinator, Facility Planner, Public Affairs Officer, Webmaster and Chief of Compensation and Pension. Harmon received his bachelor’s degree in nursing from University of St. Francis Joliet, Illinois and completed his Master’s in Business Administration from University of Phoenix.
Mary S. Newell | 720-723-6508
Assistant Director
Mary (Shannon) Newell is the Assistant Director of VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System, which she has served in since October 2018. She joined VA in 2013, as a Graduate Healthcare Administrative Training Program Fellow at the Harry S. Truman VA in Columbia, MO., and later at the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System in Temple, TX. She came to VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System in May 2014, and has served in a variety of roles, including Acting Deputy Director, Acting Health System Specialist to the Director, Surgery Service Administrative Officer and the Project Eagle Executive, facilitating the successful opening of the Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center in August 2018. Newell received her commission and BS degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point and served for more than eight years in the United States Army. Newell earned her Master’s degrees in Public Health and Public Administration from the University of Colorado.
