RICHMOND, Va. — Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger today announced the first cabinet secretary appointment of her administration, Marvin Figueroa, to serve as Virginia’s next Secretary of Health and Human Resources.
“Virginia’s Department of Health and Human Resources oversees 12 state agencies and supports some of the most vulnerable communities across our Commonwealth — including children, senior citizens, and Virginians with disabilities. As Governor, I am committed to making sure our neighbors have access to safe, reliable healthcare and are served by leaders who are ready to tackle the tough challenges ahead,” said Governor-elect Spanberger. “I know that Mr. Figueroa will always put the health and safety of Virginians first — and I look forward to working alongside him to deliver affordable, accessible care for every Virginian.”
“I am honored to join Governor-elect Spanberger’s administration and to serve the people of Virginia as Secretary of Health and Human Resources. The challenges are real. Families are feeling the strain of rising costs, uneven access to care, and systems that are too often hard to navigate,” said Figueroa. “I share the Governor-elect’s commitment to meet these issues with the urgency Virginians deserve. I am ready to work with the General Assembly, our agencies, and partners across the Commonwealth to strengthen the systems communities rely on and to deliver progress people can feel in their daily lives.”
BIOGRAPHY
Marvin B. Figueroa, Secretary of Health & Human Resources
Marvin B. Figueroa serves as Vice President at BGR Group, where he leads work on federal and state health policy. Across the private and public sectors, he has focused on expanding access to affordable care, strengthening programs that support families, and improving the way government meets the needs of communities. His career has been guided by a core belief that policy should widen opportunity and give people a fair shot.
Figueroa has held senior roles across the federal government, advancing bipartisan efforts to improve health outcomes and modernize national policy. As a senior official at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, he worked with governors, state agencies, and local leaders to carry out national priorities and strengthen the delivery of essential services. During his time as Health Policy Advisor to U.S. Senator Mark Warner, he helped craft and pass the CHRONIC Care Act, a law that improved care for individuals with complex medical needs and strengthened Medicare’s ability to support people living with chronic conditions. He later became a Chief of Staff in the U.S. Senate.
A long time Virginian, Figueroa served as Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Resources under Governor Ralph Northam. He collaborated with agency leaders, health systems, and community partners to expand Medicaid, broaden behavioral health supports, strengthen social services, and improve public health operations. These efforts expanded the Commonwealth’s capacity to deliver services across rural and urban communities and helped ensure that programs were dependable and aligned with the needs of residents.
Figueroa shares Governor-elect Spanberger’s commitment to solutions that matter at the kitchen table. Throughout his career, he has worked across party lines to improve access to care, respond to community challenges, and ensure that government delivers meaningful progress. His approach to public service emphasizes listening first, building strong partnerships, and focusing on results that people can see and feel.
Figueroa is a graduate of the University of Virginia Sorensen Political Leaders Program and Lead Virginia. Originally from La Ceiba, Honduras, and a POSSE Foundation Scholar, Figueroa earned degrees from Vanderbilt University and Harvard University.
He lives in Arlington, where he remains committed to serving the Commonwealth he has long called home.
