Albuquerque, New Mexico
Sonja Brown, a Most Valuable
New Mexico Resource
By Sandi K. Shelby
Sonja Brown is the Chief, Voluntary Service &
Public Affairs Operations and Acting Associate Director
at the Raymond G Murphy VA Healthcare System, in
Albuquerque, New Mexico. With 310 licensed beds,
it is the third largest health care facility in the state.
Ms. Brown began her career as a federal employee at
Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Later moving to Florida, Brown began working for the
Department of Veterans Affairs at the Miami VA Medical
Center. Less than a year later, Brown relocated to West
Palm Beach, Florida, where she was an integral part of
opening the new VA Medical Center.
In 1997, Brown came to Albuquerque for a one-
year assignment to manage the Volunteer services and
Public Affairs department. 20 years of dedicated service
and commitment has earned her the position of second in
command to a medical center that serves the American
Legion, the Disabled American Veterans and is also the
VA service Liaison.
Despite an ever-changing political climate,
Brown’s main concern has and always will be taking
care of the patients. “I have learned to prioritize based on
importance. The most important priority is our patients,
then staffing issues, budgets and equipment. The biggest
www.oaaa.state.nm.us
challenge I face on a daily basis is always staffing.” In
addition to all of the hats Ms. Brown juggles at the
Veterans Administration, she was also appointed by
Albuquerque Mayor Berry to serve as Chairperson
of the Personnel Board for the City of Albuquerque.
She, along with four other board members serve in an
advisory capacity in the administration of the city’s
Personnel Program. The board is designed to address
problems concerning personnel administration, and
recommend corrective action after consultation with
the Chief Administrative Officer. “It is my honor to
serve the community in this capacity. It is important to
remember that we are impacting people’s livelihoods.”
Ms. Brown’s most memorable accomplishment
thus far during her time with the Veterans Administration
is securing the funding for the installation of the
Raymond G. Murphy Memorial Statue at the front of
the facility. “Captain Raymond Gerald “Jerry” Murphy
(January 14, 1930 – April 6, 2007) was the Director of
Veteran Services until 1997, when he retired and became
Sonja Brown standing in front of Raymond G.
Murphy Memorial Statue
a volunteer for many years. Mr. Murphy was the 39th
United States Marine to receive the Medal of Honor
continued on page 33
20