NY Congratulates New National Commander

New York Department Commander Ken Governor (left) congratulates new National Commander Dan Dellinger of Virginia after his election at the National Convention in Houston.

HOUSTON  – A U.S. Army veteran from Virginia has been elected national commander of the nation’s largest veterans organization. Delegates to The American Legion’s 95th National Convention here chose Dan Dellinger of Vienna, Va., on Aug. 29 to lead the 2.4 million-member organization of wartime veterans for a one-year term.

National Commander Dan Dellinger

He became an Army Infantry officer after graduating with a degree in criminology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He served at Fort Benning, Ga., during the Vietnam War and entered the U.S. Army Reserve in 1972, separating from the service in 1984 at the rank of captain.

A member of the Dyer-Gunnell American Legion Post 180 in Vienna since 1982, he was made a life member in 1990. He has served as post, district and department commander and chaired numerous committees. At the national level, he chaired the Legislative, National Security, and Economics commissions as well as the Aerospace Committee. He served as chairman of the Legislative Council and Membership and Post Activities Committee. He has been a member of the Foreign Relations Council, Policy Coordination, Veterans Planning and Coordinating committees as well as the Legislative Council.

Dellinger is a member of the Sons of the American Legion, Past Commanders and Adjutants Club, Past Department Commander’s Club, ANAVICUS and the Citizens Flag Alliance. He has served as a presidential appointee on the Federal Taskforce on SBA Hiring and as vice mayor of the Town of Vienna, Virginia as well as serving three terms as town councilman. He is a member of the Loyal Order of the Moose and the Loyal Order of the Kentucky Colonels.

He owned and operated a construction management and general contracting firm for twenty years specializing in commercial, institutional and industrial construction.

 Cmdr. Dellinger took the oath of office along with five other national officers. Serving as national vice commanders are Douglas Wooddell, Colo.; Robert Newman, Ind.; William Rakestraw, N.J.; Wayne Satrom, N.D.; and Paul Dillard, Texas.

 National Historian Charemon Dunham, S.D.; National Sergeant-at-Arms Ronald Miluszewski, Va.; and National Chaplain Dr. Daniel McClure, Ia., were appointed to their positions by Cmdr. Dellinger following the close of the national convention.