Shane Liermann was appointed as deputy national legislative director for benefits, to oversee DAV’s advocacy efforts regarding benefits provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs and to advance legislation and policies critical to disabled veterans and their families. Liermann A Marine veteran, Liermann has served as an assistant national legislative director since 2017. He is a native of Nebraska who joined DAV’s professional staff as a national service officer apprentice in 1998. He served as a national service officer supervisor in multiple offices before heading to Washington, D.C., in 2011 to accept the role of assistant supervisor of the National Appeals Office at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals. Liermann is a life member and adjutant of Chapter 10 in Fairfax, Va. Burgess also announced Marine combat veteran Jeremy Villanueva’s appointment to assistant national legislative director. Villanueva will work to support and advance a broad range of federal legislative goals and policies to assist injured veterans and their families. Villanueva Villanueva was appointed associate national legislative director in November 2017 at DAV’s National Service and Legislative Headquarters Deputy National Legislative Director for Benefits in Washington, D.C. Villanueva served in the Marine Corps from 2000 to 2004 as an infantryman assigned to Raider Company, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines. In 2014, he began his DAV career as a national service officer apprentice in Los Angeles. He served as a national appeals officer in Washington, D.C., from 2016 until his current appointment. He is a member of Chapter 20 in Bakersfield, Calif., and is active with Chapter 10 in Fairfax, Va. Assistant National Legislative Director Additionally, Burgess announced the appointment of Marine veteran Steven Strodtbeck as assistant national human resources director. Strodtbeck will assist in directing, planning and supervising the implementation of all policies and activities relating to personnel recruitment, training, Strodtbeck retention, compensation, benefits, promotions, retirements and safety. Strodtbeck served as a field radio operator from 2003 until his discharge in 2007, spending nearly 18 months in Iraq. Prior to his current appointment, Strodtbeck served as a national area supervisor from April 2018 to present. Strodtbeck began his career as a national service officer apprentice in Cleveland in 2011. In 2013, he was promoted to assistant supervisor prior to his advancement to national service office supervisor in 2015. Strodtbeck is a life member of Chapter 49 in Elyria, Ohio. n Assistant National Human Resources Director Leadership in action... Wisconsin Benefits Protection Team Leader Al Labelle (left) presented DAV’s comprehensive report Women Veterans: The Journey Ahead to Wisconsin VA Secretary-designee Mary Kolar. Kolar served in the U.S. Navy and retired as a captain after 28 years. She is a DAV life member and received DAV claims assistance during her transition out of the military. Share Your News! Send your DAV or Auxiliary news to production@dav.org. Please provide a JPEG image (minimum 300 dpi), a description of the event and the names of those pictured. Submissions are subject to editing for clarity, style, accuracy, space and propriety. DAV | @DAVHQ | DAVHQ | COMPANY/DAVHQ | DAVETERANS | DISABLEDVETERANS 35