Dr. Eric Goralnick, a Navy veteran and doctor, will become Massachusetts' veteran services secretary in February 2026.

Dr. Eric Goralnick, a U.S. Navy veteran and emergency physician, has been appointed Massachusetts’ secretary of the Executive Office of Veterans Services, effective February 2026, succeeding Jon Santiago. Gov. Maura Healey cited his leadership and commitment to veteran care, while colleagues praised his experience in military-civilian healthcare partnerships. Goralnick will oversee veterans’ benefits, state veterans homes, and implementation of the HERO Act. Acting Secretary Andrea Gayle-Bennett will remain interim until his start. The role, elevated to Cabinet level in 2022, remains the only one without a permanent appointee, with the Department of Transportation still led by an interim official.