Mrs. Marri “Nicki” Fryar has been named the Executive Director of the Fayetteville NC VA Coastal Health Care System by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Her appointment is effective March 12. Fryar previously served as the health care system’s interim director since September 25, 2022.

As executive director, she provides strategic leadership and oversight for more than 2,500 employees, 89,000 Veterans, at 15 locations in 19 counties in southeast North Carolina, with an overall operating budget of more than $760 million.

Before joining Fayetteville NC VA Coastal Health Care System as the interim director, Mrs. Fryar was the Associate Director of Patient Care Services and Chief Nurse Executive at the Durham VA Health Care System since January 2019 and served as the acting for this role since January 2018. Fryar also served as the Interim Executive Director for Durham VA Health Care System from October 2021 to May 2022. 

Mrs. Fryar has served in various VA leadership roles: Associate Chief Nurse for Performance Improvement and Research and the Nurse Manager for numerous clinical settings, including cardiovascular and electrophysiology laboratories, interventional radiology, and critical care.

She is a native of North Carolina and holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from North Carolina Central University and a Master of Business Administration, and a Master of Health Administration from Pfeiffer University. She is a 2021 graduate of the Federal Executive Institute. Mrs. Fryar is a board-certified Nurse Executive through the American Nurses Credentialing Center. She is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and the American Organization of Nurse Leaders.