National

Raphael Chavez-Fernandez, deputy assistant secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs: Raphael Chavez-Fernandez leads IGA which provides strategic advice, guidance and information to the VA Secretary, undersecretaries for Health, Benefits and Memorial Affairs, and all other VA staff offices by fostering and enhancing government partnerships and acting as liaison between VA and the White House, federal, state, county, municipal, tribal, insular and international governments, and faith-based communities. Before joining VA Chavez-Fernandez led the two New Jersey offices as state director for Senator Robert Menendez and was the New Jersey advisor and deputy campaign manager during Menendez’s run for Senate. At Mercury Public Affairs he served as senior associate providing legislative, regulatory and political action analysis. He also served as a legislative aide for New Jersey Assemblywoman Annette Quijano. 

Matthew Quinn, under secretary for Memorial Affairs, National Cemetry Administration - Quinn leads 155 VA national cemeteries and 119 VA grant funded state and tribal Veteran cemeteries in providing a dignified burial in national shrines for Veterans and eligible family members. His responsibilities include maintaining the cemeteries as national shrines; design and construction activities related to the establishment of new national cemeteries; overseeing memorial programs to honor the service of Veterans, including the provision of headstones, markers, medallions and Presidential Memorial Certificates; and administering federal grants to help states, territories and tribal governments establish Veterans cemeteries.

The Department of Veterans Affairs awarded $418 million in grants to more than 260 non-profit organizations in June, allowing low-income Veteran families around the nation to access services under the Supportive Services for Veteran Families program.

The Department of Veterans Affairs grows its PRIDE In All Who Served (PRIDE) program to include 10 additional VA locations across the country where classes are available. PRIDE is a 10-week health education program focused on reducing health care disparities among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Veterans.

Winners of the Department of Veterans Affairs 2020-2021 Artificial Intelligence Tech Sprint are six tech companies that created programs aimed at preventing Veteran suicide and improving their health care using the latest AI technology.