Robin Higgins
Encyclopedia
Robin L. Higgins was nominated by President George W. Bush
to be Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs
in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on April 30, 2001 and confirmed by the Senate May 24, 2001.
In this role, she was responsible for the National Cemetery Administration, directing the operation and maintenance of 120 national cemeteries and overseeing other memorial-related programs, including providing headstones and gravesite markers, administering a federal grants program to states to establish state veterans cemeteries, and issuing Presidential Memorial Certificates to survivors of honorably discharged veterans.
Prior to her nomination, Mrs. Higgins served as Executive Director of the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs
, appointed by Governor Jeb Bush
in January 1999. As the Governor’s chief advisor on veterans’ issues, she led the state agency responsible for providing Florida veterans and their dependents with access to federal and state benefits to which they may be entitled.
A native of the Bronx, N.Y., Mrs. Higgins graduated from North Shore High School in Glen Head, NY, and earned her bachelor’s degree from State University of New York at Oneonta
, and a master’s from C.W. Post College of Long Island University
. She also studied at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. In May 2003 she was granted an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the State University of NY. Mrs. Higgins is a 20-year veteran of the Marine Corps, retiring as a lieutenant colonel.
Under the President George H.W. Bush Administration, she served as Deputy Assistant Secretary and Acting Assistant Secretary for Veterans’ Employment and Training at the U.S. Department of Labor. While there, she served on the Department of Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee on Women Veterans and the Department of Defense’s Defense Conversion Commission.
Mrs. Higgins is the widow of Colonel William R. (Rich) Higgins
, a Marine officer taken captive by terrorists in Lebanon in 1988, and later murdered. Since then, she has become an internationally known speaker on surviving adversity and terrorism. Her book, Patriot Dreams - The Murder of Colonel Rich Higgins was published in time for the commissioning of the , a Navy destroyer named for her husband.
Mrs. Higgins' awards include the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs Exceptional Service Award, Marine Corps League’s Dickey Chapelle Award, American Legion Auxiliary’s Public Spirit Award, and American Academy of Physician Assistants Veterans Caucus Award.
In September 2002, Mrs. Higgins left government service to pursue family and personal interests.
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
to be Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs
Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs
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 128 national cemeteries and provides burial services for veterans of the United States military and eligible...
in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on April 30, 2001 and confirmed by the Senate May 24, 2001.
In this role, she was responsible for the National Cemetery Administration, directing the operation and maintenance of 120 national cemeteries and overseeing other memorial-related programs, including providing headstones and gravesite markers, administering a federal grants program to states to establish state veterans cemeteries, and issuing Presidential Memorial Certificates to survivors of honorably discharged veterans.
Prior to her nomination, Mrs. Higgins served as Executive Director of the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs
Florida Department of Veterans Affairs
The Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs is a government agency of the state of Florida under the authority of the Governor of Florida charged with helping veterans and their families to receive all benefits they are legally entitled to....
, appointed by Governor Jeb Bush
Jeb Bush
John Ellis "Jeb" Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd Governor of Florida from 1999 to 2007. He is a prominent member of the Bush family: the second son of former President George H. W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush; the younger brother of former President George W...
in January 1999. As the Governor’s chief advisor on veterans’ issues, she led the state agency responsible for providing Florida veterans and their dependents with access to federal and state benefits to which they may be entitled.
A native of the Bronx, N.Y., Mrs. Higgins graduated from North Shore High School in Glen Head, NY, and earned her bachelor’s degree from State University of New York at Oneonta
State University of New York at Oneonta
The State University of New York College at Oneonta is a four-year liberal arts college in Oneonta, New York, United States, with approximately 5,800 students. The College offers many bachelor's degrees and a number of graduate degrees...
, and a master’s from C.W. Post College of Long Island University
Long Island University
Long Island University is a private, coeducational, nonsectarian institution of higher education in the U.S. state of New York.-History:...
. She also studied at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. In May 2003 she was granted an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the State University of NY. Mrs. Higgins is a 20-year veteran of the Marine Corps, retiring as a lieutenant colonel.
Under the President George H.W. Bush Administration, she served as Deputy Assistant Secretary and Acting Assistant Secretary for Veterans’ Employment and Training at the U.S. Department of Labor. While there, she served on the Department of Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee on Women Veterans and the Department of Defense’s Defense Conversion Commission.
Mrs. Higgins is the widow of Colonel William R. (Rich) Higgins
William R. Higgins
William Richard "Rich" Higgins was a United States Marine Corps colonel who was captured in 1988 while serving on a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon. He was held hostage, tortured and eventually murdered by his captors.-Biography:William Higgins was born in Danville, Kentucky on...
, a Marine officer taken captive by terrorists in Lebanon in 1988, and later murdered. Since then, she has become an internationally known speaker on surviving adversity and terrorism. Her book, Patriot Dreams - The Murder of Colonel Rich Higgins was published in time for the commissioning of the , a Navy destroyer named for her husband.
Mrs. Higgins' awards include the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs Exceptional Service Award, Marine Corps League’s Dickey Chapelle Award, American Legion Auxiliary’s Public Spirit Award, and American Academy of Physician Assistants Veterans Caucus Award.
In September 2002, Mrs. Higgins left government service to pursue family and personal interests.