The New Mexico VA Health Care System serves the area of New Mexico, southern Colorado and parts of West Texas. The Albuquerque system was one of 26 facilities across the United States under investigation over the summer for delays in care for veterans and falsifying documents to hide substantial delays.
Welch began his career with the VA in 1987. He has degrees from Texas A&M and Baylor. Welch has served as director of the Amarillo, Texas VA Health Care System for the last six years. The Amarillo VA system serves veterans in the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles, eastern New Mexico and southern Kansas. It also has outpatient clinics in Clovis and Childress, Lubbock and Dalhart, Texas.
Welch will remain in his job in Amarillo for the next 30 days before assuming the directorship in Albuquerque.