DAV Magazine — September/October 2016
MILESTONES
New staff appointments announced
National Adjutant Marc Burgess recently announced new appointments for DAV national staff.
“I take the work requirements of our professional ranks very seriously,” said Burgess. “When it comes time to consider individuals for appointments, I look for those who exemplify DAV’s commitment to serving veterans and show the highest professional and personal standards.”
National Commander David Riley echoed Burgess’ faith in the new appointments.
“Adjutant Burgess has high expectations of each and every member of the DAV staff,” Riley said. “I’m fully confident in the ability of these individuals to perform the duties asked of them to further serve our nation’s veterans with the skills and quality that the public has come to expect from DAV.”
The new appointments include Scott Hope as Deputy National Service Director for Training, Shane Liermann as Assistant National Service Director, Mary Dever and Bryan Lett as Assistant National Communications Directors, and James Killen as Associate National Communications Director.
Deputy National Service Director for Training
In his new role, Scott Hope will play a key part in carrying out essential operations and oversight for the National Service Program and will ensure stateof- the-art training is implemented across DAV.
A veteran of the war in Iraq, Hope served in the Army from 1997 to 2005. His DAV career began in 2007 as a trainee and National Service Officer in Pittsburgh. In 2009, he was promoted to Assistant Supervisor and subsequently advanced to Supervisor in 2011. He was promoted to National Area Supervisor for Area 3 in 2014, serving in Pittsburgh until his appointment to Assistant National Service Director in 2015. He is a Life Member of Chapter 76 in Pittsburgh.
Assistant National Service Director
As Assistant National Service Director, Shane Liermann’s responsibilities include providing coordination and logistical support for National Service Offices across the United States and in Puerto Rico.
A Marine Corps veteran, Liermann joined DAV’s professional staff as a National Service Officer Trainee in 1998. In 2003, he was promoted to Assistant Supervisor of the Denver National Service Office. Liermann served as Assistant Supervisor in Cleveland before receiving a promotion to Supervisor of the National Service Office in Fort Snelling, Minn. He also served as a Supervisor in Nashville, Tenn. In 2011, Liermann relocated to Washington, D.C., to accept the role of Assistant Supervisor of the National Appeals Office at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals, where he served until his current appointment. Liermann is a Life Member and Adjutant of Chapter 10 in Arlington, Va.
Assistant National Communications Director
Mary Dever, an Air Force veteran, served as a broadcast journalist and public affairs specialist for 10 years until separation in August 2015. Her service includes deployments in support of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Dever’s responsibilities as Assistant National Communications Director include producing a wide variety of written and multimedia projects for DAV’s internal and external communications. She joined the DAV national staff when she was appointed Associate National Director of Communications in 2015. She works at DAV National Service and Legislative Headquarters in Washington, D.C., and is a Life Member of Chapter 33 in Odenton, Md.
Assistant National Communications Director
As Assistant National Communications Director, Bryan Lett, a combat-disabled Marine Corps veteran of the war in Afghanistan, continues to broaden the reach of DAV’s mission and services through internal and external communications.
Lett joined DAV when he was appointed Associate National Director of Communications in 2015. He works at DAV National Headquarters in Cold Spring, Ky.
Lett served as a broadcast journalist and public affairs specialist for nine years before his medical retirement, which resulted from a combat injury, in April 2015. Among numerous multimedia awards, he was named Marine Corps Photojournalist of the Year in 2009. He is a Life Member of Chapter 144 in Grove City, Ohio.
Associate National Communications Director
James Killen joined the DAV national communications staff in June, taking on the role of social media manager. He is responsible for advising leaders about and managing DAV’s social networking efforts, where he brings more than eight years of experience.
Killen is a Marine Corps veteran whose service includes deployments to Iraq and Liberia, as well as support of humanitarian efforts following Hurricane Katrina. He continues his military service in the Kentucky Air National Guard, where he serves as a public affairs officer. Killen is a graduate of the University of Louisville and lives in his home state of Kentucky, where he is a Life Member of Chapter 3 in Elizabethtown.
Four decades of volunteerism...
The VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System recently recognized Norman Dan Smith, a member of DAV Chapter 7 in Leavenworth, Kan., for his 40 years of volunteer service and more than 15,400 volunteer hours in support of veterans. Pictured (left to right) are Kevin T. Arnhold, assistant director of the VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System; Charles Ramey, VAVS coordinator; Norman Dan Smith; and A. Rudy Klopfer, director of the VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System.
Operation: Cabin Fever...
Fred Hamel (left), Commander of DAV Chapter 17 in Oshkosh, Wisc., presents a check for more than $7,000 to Joe Aulik, director of Veterans Services of Winnebago County, at their recent county board supervisor meeting. The money raised was a result of a community event, “Operation: Cabin Fever.” The money will support the Veterans Emergency Situation Fund for veterans in need.
Share Your News! Send your latest DAV or Auxiliary news and photos to feedback@dav.org for consideration.
National Adjutant Marc Burgess recently announced new appointments for DAV national staff.
“I take the work requirements of our professional ranks very seriously,” said Burgess. “When it comes time to consider individuals for appointments, I look for those who exemplify DAV’s commitment to serving veterans and show the highest professional and personal standards.”
National Commander David Riley echoed Burgess’ faith in the new appointments.
“Adjutant Burgess has high expectations of each and every member of the DAV staff,” Riley said. “I’m fully confident in the ability of these individuals to perform the duties asked of them to further serve our nation’s veterans with the skills and quality that the public has come to expect from DAV.”
The new appointments include Scott Hope as Deputy National Service Director for Training, Shane Liermann as Assistant National Service Director, Mary Dever and Bryan Lett as Assistant National Communications Directors, and James Killen as Associate National Communications Director.
Deputy National Service Director for Training
In his new role, Scott Hope will play a key part in carrying out essential operations and oversight for the National Service Program and will ensure stateof- the-art training is implemented across DAV.
A veteran of the war in Iraq, Hope served in the Army from 1997 to 2005. His DAV career began in 2007 as a trainee and National Service Officer in Pittsburgh. In 2009, he was promoted to Assistant Supervisor and subsequently advanced to Supervisor in 2011. He was promoted to National Area Supervisor for Area 3 in 2014, serving in Pittsburgh until his appointment to Assistant National Service Director in 2015. He is a Life Member of Chapter 76 in Pittsburgh.
Assistant National Service Director
As Assistant National Service Director, Shane Liermann’s responsibilities include providing coordination and logistical support for National Service Offices across the United States and in Puerto Rico.
A Marine Corps veteran, Liermann joined DAV’s professional staff as a National Service Officer Trainee in 1998. In 2003, he was promoted to Assistant Supervisor of the Denver National Service Office. Liermann served as Assistant Supervisor in Cleveland before receiving a promotion to Supervisor of the National Service Office in Fort Snelling, Minn. He also served as a Supervisor in Nashville, Tenn. In 2011, Liermann relocated to Washington, D.C., to accept the role of Assistant Supervisor of the National Appeals Office at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals, where he served until his current appointment. Liermann is a Life Member and Adjutant of Chapter 10 in Arlington, Va.
Assistant National Communications Director
Mary Dever, an Air Force veteran, served as a broadcast journalist and public affairs specialist for 10 years until separation in August 2015. Her service includes deployments in support of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Dever’s responsibilities as Assistant National Communications Director include producing a wide variety of written and multimedia projects for DAV’s internal and external communications. She joined the DAV national staff when she was appointed Associate National Director of Communications in 2015. She works at DAV National Service and Legislative Headquarters in Washington, D.C., and is a Life Member of Chapter 33 in Odenton, Md.
Assistant National Communications Director
As Assistant National Communications Director, Bryan Lett, a combat-disabled Marine Corps veteran of the war in Afghanistan, continues to broaden the reach of DAV’s mission and services through internal and external communications.
Lett joined DAV when he was appointed Associate National Director of Communications in 2015. He works at DAV National Headquarters in Cold Spring, Ky.
Lett served as a broadcast journalist and public affairs specialist for nine years before his medical retirement, which resulted from a combat injury, in April 2015. Among numerous multimedia awards, he was named Marine Corps Photojournalist of the Year in 2009. He is a Life Member of Chapter 144 in Grove City, Ohio.
Associate National Communications Director
James Killen joined the DAV national communications staff in June, taking on the role of social media manager. He is responsible for advising leaders about and managing DAV’s social networking efforts, where he brings more than eight years of experience.
Killen is a Marine Corps veteran whose service includes deployments to Iraq and Liberia, as well as support of humanitarian efforts following Hurricane Katrina. He continues his military service in the Kentucky Air National Guard, where he serves as a public affairs officer. Killen is a graduate of the University of Louisville and lives in his home state of Kentucky, where he is a Life Member of Chapter 3 in Elizabethtown.
Four decades of volunteerism...
The VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System recently recognized Norman Dan Smith, a member of DAV Chapter 7 in Leavenworth, Kan., for his 40 years of volunteer service and more than 15,400 volunteer hours in support of veterans. Pictured (left to right) are Kevin T. Arnhold, assistant director of the VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System; Charles Ramey, VAVS coordinator; Norman Dan Smith; and A. Rudy Klopfer, director of the VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System.
Operation: Cabin Fever...
Fred Hamel (left), Commander of DAV Chapter 17 in Oshkosh, Wisc., presents a check for more than $7,000 to Joe Aulik, director of Veterans Services of Winnebago County, at their recent county board supervisor meeting. The money raised was a result of a community event, “Operation: Cabin Fever.” The money will support the Veterans Emergency Situation Fund for veterans in need.
Share Your News! Send your latest DAV or Auxiliary news and photos to feedback@dav.org for consideration.
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