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Undersecretary Roger Brautigan

Undersecretary Roger Brautigan

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Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Roger L. Brautigan as Undersecretary of the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CDVA) on June 21, 2004. He is a 33-year veteran of the U.S. Army, achieving the rank of Major General while serving in a variety of active and reserve command and staff positions in the United States, Vietnam and Germany. Most recently he served as deputy commanding general and chief of staff, I Corps and Fort Lewis in Fort Lewis, WA. Mr. Brautigan received his commission following his graduation from the University of Arizona in 1969 as a distinguished military graduate.

During his military career, Major General Brautigan’s staff assignments included service as a Platoon Leader, 22nd Replacement Battalion, Republic of Vietnam; Training, Operations, and Battalion Executive Officer assignments with the 91st Training Division; Mobilization Plans Officer, Fort Ord; Inspector General, 125th Army Reserve Command; and Chief of Training and Chief of Operations for the Office of the Chief, Army Reserve, in the Pentagon; Senior Reserve Advisor to the Commanding General, United States Army Europe and Seventh Army; and as the Director, Mobilization and Reserve Component Affairs, Headquarters, United States European Command, Stuttgart, Germany.

His command assignments included both company and battalion level commands while assigned to the 91st Training Division and command of the 7th United States Army Reserve Command and the United States Army Europe Mobilization Support Center for Operation JOINT ENDEAVOR/GUARD. During Operation JOINT ENDEAVOR/GUARD, 19 of his 22 7th ARCOM units were mobilized/deployed in support of United States Army Europe and its major subordinate commands, resulting in his unit being awarded the Army Superior Unit Award for Meritorious performance.

Mr. Brautigan's military awards and decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit (with oak leaf cluster), the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (with 3 oak leaf clusters), the Army Commendation Medal (with 3 oak leaf clusters), the Army Achievement Medal (with oak leaf cluster), various service and unit awards, and the Army General Staff Identification Badge.

As Undersecretary of CDVA, Mr. Brautigan, under the general direction of Secretary Tom Johnson, will assist in developing and implementing policies and procedures to facilitate the vision, mission and management objectives of the department. He will also be responsible for providing general administrative guidance to the executive staff and program managers of the department.

Mr. Brautigan holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Arizona at Tucson and a Master's degree from the University of the Pacific at Stockton, California. He is a graduate of the Armor, Infantry, and Adjutant General Officer Advanced Courses, Army Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College.

Mr. Brautigan and his wife, Arvie, reside in Stockton. They have one adult daughter and two grandsons.

As of January 19, 2007
Photo of Underecretary Roger Brautigan