Plum native named Arlington National Cemetery superintendent

John G. Knapp has a long history of serving his country.

His next act of service will be as superintendent of Arlington National Cemetery, a final resting place for many of America’s fallen heroes and prominent figures, symbolizing the nation’s history and honoring those who served.

“Arlington National Cemetery serves as a testament to our nation’s history, a place where we honor, remember and explore the profound sacrifices made to secure our freedoms,” Knapp said. “I am honored to lead the team dedicated to honoring our service members, veterans, and their families and preserving their legacies.”

Knapp is a Plum native who graduated from Plum High School in 1981 and Edinboro University in 1985.

“My Western Pennsylvania roots continue to have a significant impact on my life of public service, both in the military and now as a civil servant,” Knapp said in an email. “The values modeled to me during my formative years — hard work, dedication and sense of community — are essential to upholding Arlington’s sacred mission. It is deeply meaningful to extend those values on a national scale and in such an important place.”

He served more than four years in the Army Reserve in New Kensington and over 27 years as an officer in the Marine Corps, in both the active and reserve components.

Knapp has years of experience in professional cemetery care. Before being appointed superintendent on July 22, he served for more than a decade with the National Cemetery Administration as director and deputy director for the Department of Veterans Affairs cemeteries in the Midwest and Florida, with additional oversight responsibilities at numerous VA cemeteries nationwide.

“In this role, my priorities are taking care of families, preserving the grave sites and honoring the stories of our nation’s heroes, ensuring their sacrifices are remembered with the utmost dignity,” Knapp said.

Knapp’s responsibilities at Arlington — where more than 430,000 U.S. military veterans and eligible dependents have been laid to rest — will include directing hundreds of employees, managing a $100 million budget, overseeing more than 5,000 annual funeral services and maintaining over 650 acres across Army National Military Cemeteries in the Washington, D.C., area.

He said the cemetery sees around 3 million visitors a year.

According to a 2014 article from the National Guard, the first superitendent of the cemetery was Col. Montgomery Meigs, the Union Army quartermaster general, who took over the position after the cemetery’s founding in 1864. More than a century and a half later, Knapp intends to keep the history alive as he fills the role.

“I envision Arlington National Cemetery as a place where all Americans feel connected to our history and the courage of those who served,” Knapp said. “I also see it as our duty to balance the innovation of the future with the preservation of the past.

“The focus must always remain on the meaningful work we accomplish together, the challenges we overcome and the opportunities we create to honor those who serve our nation in uniform.”