National Cemetery Administration (NCA) Market Research Report

Background

Overview

The National Cemetery Administration (NCA), a division of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, is dedicated to honoring Veterans, active-duty service members, and eligible family members by providing dignified burial services and maintaining national cemeteries as national shrines. Established in 1973, NCA manages 157 national cemeteries across 44 states and territories, including Puerto Rico, and maintains over 4.35 million gravesites.

Mission and Vision

Mission: NCA honors eligible Veterans, active-duty service members, and eligible family members with final resting places in national shrines and lasting tributes that commemorate their service and sacrifice to our nation.

Vision: To be the model of excellence for burial and memorials for our nation's Veterans and their families.

Primary Area of Focus

NCA's primary focus is to provide burial space for Veterans and their eligible family members, maintain national cemeteries as national shrines, and administer memorial programs, including the provision of headstones, markers, medallions, and Presidential Memorial Certificates.

Industry Significance

NCA plays a crucial role in honoring the service and sacrifice of Veterans and their families, ensuring they receive the respect and recognition they deserve. The administration's efforts contribute to the preservation of American history and heritage, providing a final resting place that reflects the nation's gratitude.

Key Strategic Focus

Core Objectives

Expansion of Burial Services: NCA aims to provide burial services to 95% of Veterans within a one-hour drive of their homes, enhancing accessibility and convenience.

Maintenance of National Shrines: Ensuring that national cemeteries are maintained as sacred grounds, reflecting the honor and memory of those interred or memorialized there.

Memorial Programs: Administering programs that provide headstones, markers, medallions, and Presidential Memorial Certificates to commemorate Veterans' service.

Specific Areas of Specialization

Veterans Cemetery Grants Program: Since 1978, NCA has awarded over $1.1 billion in grants to establish, expand, improve, operate, and maintain 124 Veterans cemeteries in 47 states and territories, including tribal trust lands, Guam, Saipan, and Puerto Rico.

Veterans Legacy Memorial: Launched in 2019, this digital platform honors nearly 10 million Veterans interred in VA National Cemeteries, VA grant-funded tribal, state, and territory Veteran cemeteries, DOD-managed cemeteries (including Arlington National Cemetery), and two U.S. Park Service National Cemeteries.

Key Technologies Utilized

Digital Platforms: The Veterans Legacy Memorial serves as the nation's largest digital platform dedicated to the memory of Veterans, allowing family and friends to post tributes, upload images, and share biographical information.

Customer Satisfaction Surveys: NCA utilizes the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) to measure and improve service quality, achieving a score of 97 in 2022, the highest ever recorded by any organization rated by the ACSI.

Primary Markets or Conditions Targeted

NCA primarily serves Veterans, active-duty service members, and eligible family members across the United States, ensuring they have access to dignified burial services and memorials that honor their service and sacrifice.

Financials and Funding

Funding History

NCA is funded through the federal budget allocated to the Department of Veterans Affairs, with additional support from the Veterans Cemetery Grants Program, which has awarded over $1.1 billion since 1978 to establish, expand, improve, operate, and maintain Veterans cemeteries in 47 states and territories.

Recent Funding Rounds

Specific details regarding recent funding rounds are not publicly disclosed.

Notable Investors

As a federal agency, NCA does not have investors in the traditional sense. Funding is provided by the federal government through the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Intended Utilization of Capital

The capital is utilized for the maintenance and operation of national cemeteries, expansion projects, memorial programs, and the administration of burial and memorial benefits for Veterans and their families.

Pipeline Development

Key Pipeline Candidates

NCA's pipeline focuses on the development and expansion of national cemeteries, including the establishment of new cemeteries and the expansion of existing ones to accommodate the growing number of Veterans and their families seeking burial services.

Stages of Clinical Trials or Product Development

As a federal agency, NCA does not engage in clinical trials or product development.

Target Conditions

NCA's services are targeted at providing dignified burial and memorial services for Veterans, active-duty service members, and eligible family members.

Relevant Timelines for Anticipated Milestones

Specific timelines for the development and expansion of national cemeteries are determined based on the needs of the Veteran community and available funding.

Technological Platform and Innovation

Proprietary Technologies

Veterans Legacy Memorial: A digital platform dedicated to honoring Veterans, allowing family and friends to post tributes, upload images, and share biographical information.

Significant Scientific Methods

Customer Satisfaction Surveys: Utilizing the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) to measure and improve service quality, achieving a score of 97 in 2022, the highest ever recorded by any organization rated by the ACSI.

Leadership Team

Key Executive Profiles

Sam Brown: Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs at the Department of Veterans Affairs since August 1, 2025. A combat-wounded Army veteran, Brown oversees the National Cemetery Administration, ensuring the dignified burial and memorialization of Veterans and their families.

Courtney Stecker: Chief of Staff of the National Cemetery Administration since August 10, 2025. Stecker serves as the senior advisor to the Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs, leading a team responsible for maintaining cemeteries as national shrines and overseeing memorial programs.

Competitor Profile

Market Insights and Dynamics

NCA operates in the public sector, providing services that are not directly comparable to private sector competitors. Its primary focus is on serving Veterans and their families, ensuring they receive the respect and recognition they deserve.

Competitor Analysis

As a federal agency, NCA does not have direct competitors in the traditional sense. Its services are unique and cater specifically to the needs of Veterans and their families.

Strategic Collaborations and Partnerships

Significant Collaborations

Veterans Cemetery Grants Program: NCA collaborates with state, territorial, and tribal governments to establish, expand, improve, operate, and maintain Veterans cemeteries through this program.

Veterans Legacy Program: NCA partners with local universities, secondary schools, and non-profits to use cemeteries as platforms for public education, engaging nearly 15,000 students and producing over 2,500 Veteran biographies.

Operational Insights

Strategic Considerations

NCA focuses on expanding burial services to ensure that 95% of Veterans have access to a burial site within a one-hour drive of their homes. This expansion includes the establishment of new cemeteries and the expansion of existing ones.

Major Competitors

As a federal agency, NCA does not have direct competitors. Its services are unique and cater specifically to the needs of Veterans and their families.

Strategic Opportunities and Future Directions

Strategic Roadmap

NCA's strategic roadmap includes the continued expansion of burial services, maintenance of national cemeteries as national shrines, and the administration of memorial programs. The goal is to provide dignified burial and memorial services to all eligible Veterans and their families, ensuring they receive the respect and recognition they deserve.

Future Business Directions

Future directions include enhancing digital platforms like the Veterans Legacy Memorial, expanding educational programs through the Veterans Legacy Program, and continuing to improve customer satisfaction to maintain the highest standards of service.