2016-2017 Candidates for National Office

The following information is intended to inform membership on the announced candidates for national office. Such use does not constitute an official endorsement or approval by DAV National Headquarters of any candidate to the exclusion of others who may stand for election. DAV members may announce their candidacy at any time, up to and including the time of election, at our National Convention in Atlanta, July 31– Aug. 3, 2016.

National Senior Vice Commander David Riley is an Army and Coast Guard veteran and life member of Chapter 7, Mobile, Ala. He has held a succession of Chapter and Department offices, including DAV Department of Alabama Commander. In 2010, DAV named Riley as the Outstanding Disabled Veteran of the Year for his dedication, commitment and inspiration to his fellow injured and ill veterans.

While serving as a Coast Guard helicopter rescue swimmer, Riley contracted septic shock pneumococcus sepsis, ultimately losing all four limbs to the infection. Riley now mentors fellow injured veterans and recently wounded service members in their recovery and rehabilitation at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and VA facilities across the country. He also serves as a Chapter and Department Service Officer.

Riley is seeking election to higher office.

National 1st Junior Vice Commander Delphine Metcalf- Foster is a retired Army first sergeant and combat veteran of the Gulf War. Metcalf-Foster retired from the Army Reserve in 1996. She continued her service for the Department of Defense as a civilian for 20 years as a quality assurance work leader for Naval Air Station Alameda, Calif.

After retirement, she earned a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies from Sonoma State University.

Metcalf-Foster has long been active in DAV at the Chapter, Department and National levels. In 2004, she was the first woman in the Department of California to be elected Commander. Metcalf-Foster is a life member of Chapter 21 in Vallejo, where she also serves as Adjutant.

At the national level, Metcalf-Foster’s service on the Board of Directors from 2010 to 2012 included one term as Treasurer. She also served as a member of the VA Advisory Committee on Women Veterans.

Metcalf-Foster is seeking election to higher office.

National 2nd Junior Vice Commander Dennis R. Nixon, of China Spring, Texas, is a combat-wounded veteran of the Vietnam War. After medical retirement from the Marine Corps in 1970, Nixon became a DAV National Service Officer (NSO) and dedicated 36 years to helping his fellow veterans.

Since retirement, Nixon has continued to serve as a volunteer, assisting in the certification training of Department and Chapter Service Officers, as well as mentoring the NSO Trainees in the Waco, Texas, National Service Office.

Nixon has served in various leadership capacities at both the Chapter and Department levels, including Adjutant. He has served on the National Executive Committee and was a member of the DAV Charitable Service Trust Board of Directors. He also serves as the Judge Advocate for the Department of Texas.

He is a life member of Chapter 20 in Fort Worth, Texas, and has been active in DAV for 43 years.

Nixon is seeking election to higher office.

National 3rd Junior Vice Commander Harmon L. Evans served in the Air Force and Army for more than 30 years, deploying to Korea, Germany and Vietnam. Evans earned many military awards during his long career, including the Vietnam Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters and the Cross of Gallantry with Palm.

Evans is a life member of Chapter 4, West Columbia, S.C. He has served in the Chapter, Department and District at all levels including Commander. He currently serves as the Department Chief of Staff and as a member of the Department Audit Team.

Evans is seeking election to higher office.

National 4th Junior Vice Commander, Stephen Whitehead is a service-connected disabled veteran who is still actively serving in the Minnesota Army National Guard at the rank of command sergeant major.

Whitehead became a DAV life member of Chapter 10 in Mankato, Minn., in 2012 and has since held leadership positions including DAV Department Adjutant and Executive Director of the Minnesota DAV Foundation. He currently serves as Junior Vice Commander for his Chapter.

Whitehead is seeking election to higher office.

Army veteran Ronald Cox is currently serving his second term as Commander of DAV Department of Arizona. Cox served during the Vietnam and Cold War eras, and was discharged from the military due to illness in 1982.

Cox has been a DAV life member of Chapter 26 in Benson, Ariz., since 1992. In addition to operating several successful businesses, Cox has spent the past 16 years serving DAV in numerous positions at the Chapter and Department levels. He was also instrumental in revamping Arizona’s Hospital Service Coordinator and Transportation Coordinator positions, making them more cost-effective and efficient.

He is unanimously endorsed by the DAV Department of Arizona.

Cox is seeking election to national office.

Donald Day is a disabled Vietnamera veteran who served in the Marine Corps. During his time on active duty, he had tours in Europe and Southeast Asia.

Day is a life member of DAV Chapter 28 in Brooklyn, N.Y. He has been active with DAV at the Chapter, Department and National levels. Presently, he is Chapter Adjutant, Department Treasurer and serves on the National Interim Constitution and By-laws Committee. Day is the past New York Department Commander and served as Chairman of the National Convention Credentials Committee. Day is an inductee of the New York Senate Veterans Hall of Fame and has served as chief street marshal of the Kings County Memorial Day Parade. He is a certified court mentor at the Brooklyn Veterans Court and is a Department Service Officer. Day also has a bachelor’s degree from the College of New Rochelle in New York.

Day is seeking election to national office.

Richard Hogue currently serves as the DAV Department of Colorado Commander and Alternate National Executive Committee member for the 17th District. He is a combat veteran of the Vietnam War and was wounded when an enemy booby trap exploded near him, causing his medical retirement from the Army in October 1970.

Hogue went on to a career with the federal government and was awarded the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Civilian Service Award, the highest Defense Department civilian career award. Subsequently, Hogue authored a book, “We Were the Third Herd,” which catalogues his tour of duty in Vietnam.

He is a 40-year life member of DAV Chapter 21 in Denver. He has served his Chapter in most positions, including Commander.

Hogue is seeking election to national office.

Andy Marshall is a combat-disabled Army veteran of the Vietnam War. He has been a life member of DAV Chapter 4 in Tampa, Fla., since 1975.

Marshall, who recently retired from DAV as a National Service Office Supervisor in Tampa, was one of DAV’s original National Area Supervisors and has held multiple leadership positions during his 41 years with the organization, including the Department of Maryland Judge Advocate and Department of Florida Commander.

Marshall’s extensive experience in veterans benefits and law includes three years on the Florida Veterans Advisory Committee. One of only a few non-attorney practitioners to argue before the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims while assigned to the DAV Judicial Appeals Office, Marshall argued the case that resulted in the VA’s Duty to Assist requirements, a landmark decision positively affecting and protecting all veterans trying to obtain benefits from the VA.

Marshall is seeking election to national office.

Joe Parsetich is an Air Force combat veteran who served in Vietnam and is currently an elected member of the National Executive Committee for the 14th District.

He is a life member of DAV and has a passion for helping his fellow veterans. He has served in many positions within DAV, including the Department of Montana Commander from 2013 through 2015.

In addition to his various duties, he has also served as a DAV volunteer van driver and as a member of the Military Funeral Honor Guard in Great Falls, Mont.

Parsetich is seeking election to national office.

Michael E. Dobmeier has served as National Judge Advocate, advising the National Executive Committee (NEC) and Board of Directors, since 2002. He served as DAV National Commander in 1999 and as the 14th District NEC Representative in 1994.

Dobmeier enlisted in the Navy in 1969. He trained as an engineman, attended the Naval Submarine School in New London, Conn., and completed Navy Dive School in San Diego.

In April 1972, Dobmeier suffered severe burns on more than 30 percent of his body after an oil heater exploded aboard the submarine USS Trigger. He was discharged later that year and became a life member of Chapter 2 in Grand Forks, N.D. He has since been appointed or elected to nearly every Chapter and Department office and position, and was named the 1985 DAV Outstanding Member of the Department of North Dakota.

Dobmeier is seeking re-election as National Judge Advocate.

National Chaplain Michael Patrick Dover is a service-connected disabled veteran and life member who has served in a variety of capacities for Chapter 7, Columbus, Ga., including Adjutant, Service Officer and Chaplain. At the Department level, Dover has served as Commander and Chaplain.

He retired from the Army after 20 years of service. Since then, he has worked as a civilian military trainer and analyst while simultaneously serving as a counselor and chaplain. He also volunteers as president of the Homeless Veterans and Veterans Stand Down in Columbus, where he has assisted more than 3,000 homeless veterans since its inception.

An ordained minister, Dover received his Bachelor of Theology from Christian Life School and a Bachelor of Science in business management from Liberty University.

Dover is seeking re-election as National Chaplain.