View source for Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Memorial Affairs

{{Infobox official post
| post = Department of Veteran Affairs<br>Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs (USM)
| appointer = The [[President of the United States|President]]
| department = [[National Cemetery Administration]]
| insignia = US National Cemetery Administration logo stacked.png
| incumbent = [[Ronald E. Walters]]
| incumbentsince = May 23, 2024
| acting = y
| insigniasize = 300px
| formation = March 15, 1989 <small> as Under Secretary</small>
| constituting_instrument = § 1000 of the National Cemeteries Act, {{USStatute|93|43|87|75|1973|06|18|S|49}}, as amended
| reports_to = [[Secretary of Veterans Affairs]]
| appointer_qualified = with [[United States Senate|Senate]] [[advice and consent]]
| precursor = Director of the National Cemetery System
| style = The Honorable
| salary = [[Executive_Schedule#Level_III|Executive Schedule, Level III]] <br>($187,300 [[United States Dollars|USD]] (2022))
| deputy = Principal Deputy Under Secretary
| flag = Flag of the United States Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs.svg
| image = Ronald_E._Walters.jpg
}}
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 [[United States National Cemetery|national cemeteries]] and provides burial services for veterans of the [[United States military]] and eligible family members. 

The Under Secretary is [[List of positions filled by presidential appointment with Senate confirmation|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 [[US senate|Senate]] on June 17, 2021, by voice vote.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-05-26|title=PN399 - Nomination of Matthew T. Quinn for Department of Veterans Affairs, 117th Congress (2021-2022)|url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/117th-congress/399|access-date=2021-06-17|website=www.congress.gov}}</ref> He was sworn into office on June 23, 2021 by [[Denis McDonough|Secretary Denis McDonough]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=National Cemeteries @VANatCemeteries |title=“Welcome to NCA Matt Quinn!” |url=https://twitter.com/vanatcemeteries/status/1407749866588196868 |website=Twitter |publisher=Twitter |access-date=26 June 2021 |language=en}}</ref> Quinn resigned in May 2024 and was succeeded by acting secretary [[Ronald E. Walters]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Shane |first=Leo |title=VA chief of staff stepping down from leadership post next month |url=https://www.militarytimes.com/veterans/2024/06/21/va-chief-of-staff-stepping-down-from-leadership-post-next-month/ |website=Military Times |access-date=26 June 2024 |language=en}}</ref>

==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 [[headstone]]s, markers, and Presidential Memorial Certificates—engraved paper certificates signed by the current president—to honor deceased veterans' service. The Under Secretary also administers [[federal grant]]s to help states establish state veterans' cemeteries.<ref>{{cite web | title=US CODE: Title 38,2400. Establishment of National Cemetery Administration; composition of Administration | url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/38/2400- | access-date= September 20, 2007 }}</ref>

The position was created by the [[Veterans Programs Enhancement Act of 1998]], which was signed by President [[Bill Clinton|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]].<ref>{{cite web | title=getdoc.cgi | url=http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=105_cong_public_laws&docid=f:publ368.105.pdf | access-date= September 20, 2007 }}</ref> From April 1998 to early September 2000, a series of [[acting (law)|Acting]] Directors and Acting Under Secretaries headed the Administration. Two of these were [[Roger R. Rapp]] and [[Robert M. Walker|Mike Walker]], with the latter later being confirmed by the United States Senate.<ref>{{cite web | title=Former Directors and Undersecretaries for Memorial Affairs, 1973 – 2005 – Burial & Memorials | url=http://www.cem.va.gov/cem/hist/frmrleads3.asp | access-date= September 20, 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=VA Testimony of Roger Rapp before Congress on May 20, 1999 – Congressional and Legislative Affairs | url=http://www.va.gov/OCA/testimony/hvac/soi/20MY9940.asp | access-date= September 20, 2007 }}</ref> They were followed by Under Secretaries [[Robin Higgins]] and [[John W. Nicholson]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Former Directors & Under Secretaries for Memorial Affairs, 1973 – 2005 – Burial & Memorials | url=http://www.cem.va.gov/cem/hist/frmrleads4.asp | access-date= September 20, 2007 }}</ref>

==List of Under Secretaries for Memorial Affairs==
Originally, the position was '''Chief Memorial Affairs Director''' and then '''director of the National Cemetery System'''.<ref name="autogenerated1973">[https://www.cem.va.gov/history/frmrleads1.asp Former Directors & Under Secretaries for Memorial Affairs, 1973–Present]. United States Department of Veterans Affairs.</ref>

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.<ref name="autogenerated1973"/>

The following individuals served as director or under secretary:<ref name="autogenerated1973"/>
{| class=wikitable style="text-align:center"
|-
!Portrait
!Secretary
!Took office
!Left office
!Notes
|-
|[[File:Rufus_Harold_Wilson.jpg|100px]]
|[[Rufus Harold Wilson]]
|February 8, 1974
|January 23, 1975
|
|-
|[[File:John_W._Mahan.jpg|100px]]
|[[John W. Mahan]]
|January 23, 1975
|January 28, 1977
|acting director from August 1973 – January 1977
|-
|[[File:Carl_Thomas_Noll.jpg|100px]]
|[[Carl Thomas Noll]]
|May 9, 1977
|January 27, 1981
|died in office
|-
|[[File:Paul_Takeo_Bannai.jpg|100px]]
|[[Paul Takeo Bannai]]
|December 7, 1981
|September 30, 1985
|
|-
|[[File:Wilfred_Louis_Ebel.jpg|100px]]
|[[Wilfred Louis Ebel]]
|July 1987
|April 1989
|
|-
|[[File:Jo_Ann_Krukar_Webb.jpg|100px]]
|[[Jo Ann Krukar Webb]]
|October 10, 1989
|November 1991
|
|-
|[[File:Allen_B._Clark,_Jr.jpg|100px]]
|[[Allen B. Clark, Jr.]]
|November 22, 1991
|January 19, 1993
|
|-
|[[File:Jerry_Wayne_Bowen.jpg|100px]]
|[[Jerry Wayne Bowen]]
|May 20, 1993
|April 3, 1998
|
|-
|[[File:Robert M. Walker.JPEG|100px]]
|[[Robert "Mike" Walker]]
|September 8, 2000
|January 2001
|
|-
|[[File:Robin_L._Higgins,_Under_Secretary_for_Memorial_Affairs.jpg|100px]]
|[[Robin L. Higgins]]
|May 24, 2001
|September 1, 2002
|
|-
|[[File:John W. Nicholson.jpg|100px]]
|[[John W. "Jack" Nicholson]]
|April 11, 2003
|January 19, 2005
|
|-
|[[File:William Tuerk.jpg|100px]]
|[[William F. Tuerk]]
|October 28, 2005
|January 19, 2009
|
|-
|[[File:Steve_L._Muro.jpg|100px]]
|[[Steve L. Muro]]
|June 6, 2011
|June 22, 2014
|was acting under secretary from January 19, 2009 until appointed as permanent under secretary
|-
|[[File:Randy Reeves official photo.jpg|100px]]
|[[Randy Reeves]]
|December 13, 2017
|January 20, 2021
|
|-
|[[File:Ronald_E._Walters.jpg|100px]]
|[[Ronald E. Walters]]
|January 20, 2021
|June 23, 2021
|acting under secretary
|-
|[[File:Matthew-Quinn-VA.jpg|100px]]
|[[Matthew T. Quinn]]
|June 23, 2021
|May 23, 2024
|
|-
|[[File:Ronald_E._Walters.jpg|100px]]
|[[Ronald E. Walters]]
|May 23, 2024
|Present
|acting under secretary
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{USVA agencies}}

[[Category:United States Department of Veterans Affairs officials|Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs]]