Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Memorial Affairs

(Redirected from Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs)

Department of Veteran Affairs Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs (USM)


Incumbent Ronald E. Walters Acting since May 23, 2024
National Cemetery Administration
Style	The Honorable
Reports to	Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Appointer	The President with Senate advice and consent
Constituting instrument	§ 1000 of the National Cemeteries Act, Pub. L. 93–43, S. 49, 87 Stat. 75, enacted June 18, 1973, as amended
Precursor	Director of the National Cemetery System
Formation	March 15, 1989 as Under Secretary
Deputy	Principal Deputy Under Secretary
Salary	Executive Schedule, Level III ($187,300 USD (2022))

The Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs is a senior position within the United States Department of Veterans Affairs that directs the National Cemetery Administration, which maintains 150 national cemeteries and provides burial services for veterans of the United States military and eligible family members.

The Under Secretary is nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate.

On April 19, 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Matthew T. Quinn to become the next Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Memorial Affairs. Quinn was confirmed by the Senate on June 17, 2021, by voice vote. He was sworn into office on June 23, 2021 by Secretary Denis McDonough. Quinn resigned in May 2024 and was succeeded by acting secretary Ronald E. Walters.

History and responsibilities

In addition to the maintenance and operation of national cemeteries, the Under Secretary is also responsible for their land acquisition, design, and construction. Other memorial programs overseen by the Under Secretary include the provision of headstones, markers, and Presidential Memorial Certificates—engraved paper certificates signed by the current president—to honor deceased veterans' service. The Under Secretary also administers federal grants to help states establish state veterans' cemeteries.

The position was created by the Veterans Programs Enhancement Act of 1998, which was signed by President Clinton on November 11, 1998. As a result of the Act, the organization led by a Director, the National Cemetery System, evolved from an agency into an administration led by an Under Secretary when it was renamed to the National Cemetery Administration. From April 1998 to early September 2000, a series of Acting Directors and Acting Under Secretaries headed the Administration. Two of these were Roger R. Rapp and Mike Walker, with the latter later being confirmed by the United States Senate. They were followed by Under Secretaries Robin Higgins and John W. Nicholson.

List of Under Secretaries for Memorial Affairs

Originally, the position was Chief Memorial Affairs Director and then director of the National Cemetery System.

Public Law 105-368 (November 11, 1998) changed the National Cemetery System, headed by a Director, to the National Cemetery Administration, headed by the Under Secretary of Memorial Affairs.

The following individuals served as director or under secretary:

Secretary	Took office	Left office	Notes
Rufus Harold Wilson	February 8, 1974	January 23, 1975
John W. Mahan	January 23, 1975	January 28, 1977	acting director from August 1973 – January 1977
Carl Thomas Noll	May 9, 1977	January 27, 1981	died in office
Paul Takeo Bannai	December 7, 1981	September 30, 1985
Wilfred Louis Ebel	July 1987	April 1989
Jo Ann Krukar Webb	October 10, 1989	November 1991
Allen B. Clark, Jr.	November 22, 1991	January 19, 1993
Jerry Wayne Bowen	May 20, 1993	April 3, 1998
Robert "Mike" Walker	September 8, 2000	January 2001
Robin L. Higgins	May 24, 2001	September 1, 2002
John W. "Jack" Nicholson	April 11, 2003	January 19, 2005
William F. Tuerk	October 28, 2005	January 19, 2009
Steve L. Muro	June 6, 2011	June 22, 2014	was acting under secretary from January 19, 2009 until appointed as permanent under secretary
Randy Reeves	December 13, 2017	January 20, 2021
Ronald E. Walters	January 20, 2021	June 23, 2021	acting under secretary
Matthew T. Quinn	June 23, 2021	May 23, 2024
Ronald E. Walters	May 23, 2024	Present	acting under secretary

References

"PN399 - Nomination of Matthew T. Quinn for Department of Veterans Affairs, 117th Congress (2021-2022)". www.congress.gov. 2021-05-26. Retrieved 2021-06-17.
National Cemeteries @VANatCemeteries. ""Welcome to NCA Matt Quinn!"". Twitter. Twitter. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
Shane, Leo. "VA chief of staff stepping down from leadership post next month". Military Times. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
"US CODE: Title 38,2400. Establishment of National Cemetery Administration; composition of Administration". Retrieved September 20, 2007.
"getdoc.cgi" (PDF). Retrieved September 20, 2007.
"Former Directors and Undersecretaries for Memorial Affairs, 1973 – 2005 – Burial & Memorials". Retrieved September 20, 2007.
"VA Testimony of Roger Rapp before Congress on May 20, 1999 – Congressional and Legislative Affairs". Retrieved September 20, 2007.
"Former Directors & Under Secretaries for Memorial Affairs, 1973 – 2005 – Burial & Memorials". Retrieved September 20, 2007.
^ Former Directors & Under Secretaries for Memorial Affairs, 1973–Present. United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

v t e United States Department of Veterans Affairs
Headquarters: 810 Vermont Avenue NW (Veterans Affairs Department Building) Denis McDonough, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Tanya J. Bradsher, Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs	Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Office of Acquisition, Logistics, and Construction Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs Office of Electronic Health Record Modernization Office of Enterprise Integration Office of General Counsel Office of Human Resources and Administration Office of Information and Technology Office of Inspector General Office of Management Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs Veterans' Experience Office
Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Health	Veterans Health Administration
Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Benefits	Veterans Benefits Administration
Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Memorial Affairs	National Cemetery Administration
Chairman of the Board of Veterans' Appeals	Board of Veterans' Appeals

Category:

United States Department of Veterans Affairs officials