Deputy Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs

Steve L. Muro was named Deputy Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs Oct. 20, 2008. As Deputy Under Secretary, he is responsible for assisting the Under Secretary in overseeing 128 National Cemeteries that provide dignified burial services for military veterans and eligible family members, and maintaining the cemeteries as national shrines; for land acquisition, design, construction, and other activities relating to the establishment of new national cemeteries; overseeing other memorial programs for veterans, including the provision of headstones, markers and Presidential Memorial Certificates to honor the service of deceased veterans; and for administering federal grants to help states, territories and tribal governments establish veterans’ cemeteries.

Prior to his appointment, Mr. Muro was director of the Office of Field Programs from Feb. 23, 2003, providing leadership and direction for the Administration’s field offices and facilities supporting a system of 128 national shrine cemeteries. Under his guidance, a new NCA Training Center was established that graduated its first class of Cemetery Director Trainees in April 2005 and NCA created a nationwide National Cemetery Scheduling Office. From February to November 2005 Mr. Muro served as the Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs and as such was integral to the organization at several senate hearings regarding future land acquisitions and fiscal planning.

Mr. Muro’s life work is linked with the mission of the National Cemetery Administration. He began his career in 1979 as an automotive mechanic at Los Angeles National Cemetery. While there, he was promoted to Maintenance Foreman and in 1981 was selected to attend the Cemetery Director Trainee Program. Mr. Muro completed this intensive training program at Riverside National Cemetery and upon his graduation he was assigned as Assistant to the Director, Los Angeles National Cemetery. He has held positions of increasing responsibility to include Director, Baton Rouge and Port Hudson National Cemeteries; Assistant Director and Director, Long Island National Cemetery; Assistant Director, Riverside National Cemetery; Director, Fort Snelling National Cemetery; and Acting Director, Golden Gate and San Francisco National Cemeteries. Mr. Muro was assigned to the newly formed Memorial Service Network V, where he served as its Director from 2001 through 2002.

Mr. Muro served in the U.S. Navy from 1968 to 1972, including two tours of duty in Viet Nam: one on board the USS Benjamin Stoddert (DDG-22) and one with a mobile construction (Seabee) battalion.

Mr. Muro graduated from Mt. San Antonio Junior College with an associate’s degree. He is a graduate of Leadership VA Class of 1996 and graduated from the Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program in August 2004.

January 2009