National Commander Message
Daniel Contreras, Commander
The heart of a medic and a lifetime of compassion
When I enlisted in the United States Army in 1980, I knew that I wanted to be a part of something bigger than myself.
The Army’s new slogan—“Be all that you can be”—captivated me at the time. And as someone who lived to care for others, I became a medic.
It was not just a job to me but a call to serve. So when I took the Expert Field Medical Test and fell short the first time around, I was heartbroken.
Instead of letting that failure consume me, I used it as motivation to push myself harder at my next opportunity, and as a result, I was among the 12 who graduated out of a starting class of 500 to earn my Expert Field Medical Badge.
That experience taught me many invaluable lessons, but the most valuable one to me was learning how to become a servant leader.
As a servant leader, you prioritize the needs of others over your own. You encourage growth by teaching others to lead and hold yourself accountable for your actions, just as you would for anyone under your command.
When my Army career ended short of the 20-year goal, I thought I might not have the opportunity to be a servant leader again.
But then an old friend and a fellow soldier, Jay Main, reached out to me to see if I needed help with my VA benefits. That encounter reconnected me to the veteran community and reminded me of the sense of camaraderie I experienced in the Army.
Jay offered to help with more than just my VA benefits. He extended the opportunity to serve again, this time under the banner of DAV. In that moment, I rediscovered my sense of purpose and once again was called upon to serve.
An act of service empowers others to lead high-quality lives with respect and dignity, and that’s exactly what DAV does for veterans, their families and their survivors.
As a proud DAV member and former service officer, I consider it an honor and privilege to serve alongside all of you as your national commander. I promise that I will be a powerful voice for all DAV programs and services and, most importantly, our devoted members.
As I did in the Army, I promise to honor the legacy of something bigger than myself—our beloved organization. I look forward to making a tremendous impact on veterans and their families with all of you in this coming year.
If you want to find out more about the National Commander, you can find his biography here.