Brig. Gen. Rick Baccus, administrator of the Rhode Island Veterans' Home for the past 11 years, has submitted his resignation, to be effective in 60 days. Gen. Baccus, a Bristol resident, was at the helm of the veterans' home throughout the design, construction and opening of the new facility off Route 136 in Bristol, which has recently come under scrutiny because it is operating in the red with millions of dollars in cost overruns.

Speaking to WPRI-12 on Tuesday, Gov. Gina Raimondo said she is 'disappointed' in management at the home. That statement came a few weeks after she assigned the Rhode Island National Guard to step in and evaluate the finances and operation of the facility.

In his resignation letter, Gen. Baccus said it has been an honor to serve the state's veterans community for the past 13 years, and he drew particular attention to the opening of the new facility. "I have been proud to be a part of the design and construction of the new facility beginning in 2012; part of the team that moved our 194 residents into the new facility in only 6 days in November of 2017 without incident and, ten days later, completing a deficiency free federal recognition survey which qualified the State to receive over ten million dollars in federal reimbursement yearly. I have always done my best for the veterans who are residents of the home."

Gen. Baccus offered 60 days of notice so that the state can find a qualified replacement. The resignation was sent to Director Kasim Yarn of the Office of Veterans Affairs.