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 January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump nominated Sam Brown to serve as the Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Memorial Affairs. Brown was confirmed by the Senate on July 29, 2025, by a roll call vote of 54–44, with Nevada Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen, both Democrats, voting in favor of the confirmation. He was sworn into office on August 1, 2025, by Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins.
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 L. 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.Former Directors & Under Secretaries for Memorial Affairs, 1973–Present. United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
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: PortraitSecretaryTook officeLeft officeNotesRufus Harold WilsonFebruary 8, 1974January 23, 1975John W. MahanJanuary 23, 1975January 28, 1977acting director from August 1973 – January 1977Carl Thomas NollMay 9, 1977January 27, 1981died in officePaul Takeo BannaiDecember 7, 1981September 30, 1985Wilfred Louis EbelJuly 1987April 1989Jo Ann Krukar WebbOctober 10, 1989November 1991Allen B. Clark Jr.November 22, 1991January 19, 1993Jerry Wayne BowenMay 20, 1993April 3, 1998Robert "Mike" WalkerSeptember 8, 2000January 2001Robin L. HigginsMay 24, 2001September 1, 2002John W. "Jack" NicholsonApril 11, 2003January 19, 2005William F. TuerkOctober 28, 2005January 19, 2009Steve L. MuroJune 6, 2011June 22, 2014was acting under secretary from January 19, 2009 until appointed as permanent under secretaryRandy ReevesDecember 13, 2017January 20, 2021Ronald E. WaltersJanuary 20, 2021June 23, 2021acting under secretaryMatthew T. QuinnJune 23, 2021May 23, 2024Ronald E. WaltersMay 23, 2024August 1, 2025acting under secretarySam BrownAugust 1, 2025Present
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