August 4, 2026
The Department of Veterans Affairs and Arlington National Cemetery are demonstrating how long-term collaboration can accelerate modernization across government. Renea Yates, Director of the Office of Army Cemeteries at Arlington National Cemetery, and Mike Bowers, Acting Deputy Under Secretary for the National Cemetery Administration at the Department of Veterans Affairs, explain how their organizations are working together to implement a modern cemetery management system that improves operations while enhancing service for veterans and their families.
Yates says Arlington National Cemetery began its modernization journey following a significant management review in 2010 and 2011. The organization transitioned from paper-based processes to what has evolved into the Enterprise Interment Services System (EISS), a collection of integrated technologies that manages burial operations through a geospatial platform and connected data systems.
The platform provides what Yates describes as complete burial accountability by accurately identifying each veteran or family member, managing cemetery inventory, and allowing customers to locate gravesites through the ANC Explorer application and online mapping tools. The technology also supports Army cemeteries beyond Arlington, as well as cemeteries operated by the Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard.
Building the system was not without challenges. Yates explains that one priority was avoiding duplicate work by integrating with existing systems already used by the National Cemetery Administration, including the headstone ordering process. Rather than creating entirely separate workflows, Arlington mirrored the necessary data infrastructure so information could move efficiently between organizations.
For the VA, Bowers says years of collaboration with Arlington National Cemetery naturally led to evaluating whether the Army's platform could address challenges within the National Cemetery Administration. After reviewing existing systems, agency leadership determined that operating multiple legacy platforms was creating unnecessary friction throughout the organization.
Instead of attempting another integration between aging systems, the VA decides to transition entirely to the Enterprise Interment Services System. Bowers says the move allows the agency to simplify operations while learning directly from Arlington's experience implementing and operating the platform.
A major theme throughout the discussion is change management. Bowers emphasizes that the National Cemetery Administration is adapting its business processes to fit the proven technology rather than modifying the software to match legacy workflows. He says that approach helps avoid costly customization while allowing the organization to benefit from lessons Arlington has already learned.
That collaboration extends well beyond sharing software. Yates explains that her team works closely with the VA to help cleanse and organize data, explain the system's architecture, conduct training sessions, and prepare employees to use the platform effectively. Years of sharing best practices have created a foundation that makes the current modernization effort more efficient.
Bowers says seeing Arlington personnel demonstrate the system firsthand has become one of the strongest elements of the VA's change management strategy. Live demonstrations, hands-on visits, and direct collaboration help employees understand both how the technology works and why it improves operations.
Looking ahead, Yates says Arlington continues exploring new capabilities, including a family portal that would allow relatives to initiate burial requests electronically rather than relying on phone calls or emails. She also envisions stronger connections with military service records and personnel databases to simplify documentation for families.
Bowers says the National Cemetery Administration shares that commitment to continuous improvement. As both organizations continue developing the platform together, each expects to benefit from future innovations while strengthening the services they provide to veterans and their families.