The following information is intended to inform membership about the announced candidates for national office. It doesn’t constitute an official endorsement of 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 the 2026 DAV and Auxiliary National Convention, which will be held Aug. 1–4 in Orlando, Florida.

 

John Donovan, a service-connected disabled Navy veteran and DAV life member of Chapter 10 in Conway, Arkansas, currently serves as DAV’s national senior vice commander. He served as the National Executive Committee representative of District 21 for both Arkansas and Oklahoma from 2019 to 2021 and served on the board of directors during the same period. He also serves as adjutant of the Department of Arkansas.

Donovan was honorably discharged from the Navy in 2004, after serving for 24 years. He went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in sociology and a master’s degree in organizational management with a minor in organizational leadership.

During his time with DAV, Donovan has actively supported and volunteered for veterans, including yard cleanups and ramp construction for wheelchair access. Donovan works with Arkansas’ national service officers at information seminars and with chapters conducting compensation claims events across the state to raise awareness of DAV programs. In November 2025, he was inducted into the Arkansas Military Veterans Hall of Fame.

Donovan is seeking election to higher national office.

 

James Procunier is a service-connected disabled Navy and Navy Reserve veteran who served from 1985 to 2013 and currently serves as DAV’s national first junior vice commander. During his enlistment, Procunier served in a number of billets as a hospital corpsman, retiring as a chief petty officer. As a civilian contractor, he served as a project officer for the Navy MRAP (Mine Resistant-Ambush Protected) vehicle program, which saved untold lives in Iraq and Afghanistan, and on other defense-related management programs. Additionally, Procunier served 34 years in law enforcement in Florida and Michigan and is a former firefighter and paramedic.

Procunier is a life member of Chapter 16 in Jacksonville, North Carolina. He previously served as a trustee for a DAV department and chapter. He has served in nearly every capacity at the state level in DAV, including commander of the Department of Virginia. For his service with Chapter 10 in Fairfax, Virginia, he was named the chapter’s Volunteer of the Year before being honored with the 2016 John Maki Distinguished Service Award. In 2017, he was recognized as the Department of Virginia Disabled American Veteran of the Year. On the national level, Procunier served for seven years on the National Interim Legislation Committee and five years on the Convention Committee for Legislation and Veterans Rights, with two years as the chair. He also served on the board of directors of the National Service Foundation.

Procunier is seeking election to higher national office.

 

Glenn Hohman, a service-connected disabled veteran who served in the Army from 1992 to 2013 with combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, is a life member of Chapter 14 in Sierra Vista, Arizona. He currently serves as DAV’s national second junior vice commander; Department of Arizona judge advocate and Benefits Protection Team leader; and treasurer and driver for Chapter 14. Additionally, Hohman serves as vice chair of Unified Arizona Veterans and on U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly’s Veteran Advisory Committee.

Hohman has earned a Bachelor of Applied Science in intelligence operations and a Master of Business Administration in management from Wayland Baptist University, Texas. He previously served as National Executive Committee 18th District representative, National Service Foundation director, National Interim Legislation and National Interim Constitution and Bylaws committee member. Hohman has also served in various other roles at the chapter and department level.

Hohman is seeking election to higher national office.

 

Brenda Reed is a service-connected disabled veteran who served in the Army from 1978 to 1983 and is a life member of Chapter 4 in New Port Richey, Florida. She currently serves as DAV’s national third junior vice commander and has been active at both the chapter and department levels, serving in nearly every capacity at those levels since becoming a DAV life member in 1992. She is the immediate past department commander of Florida and currently serves as the judge advocate of Chapter 4.

Reed has contributed to DAV in many ways, including as a dedicated volunteer. She has also participated in all three DAV women veterans reports, helped establish and serve on the Interim Women Veterans Committee, and assisted the national legislative staff with issues affecting women’s health and prosthetics.

She earned an associate degree in nursing from the University of Alabama at Birmingham Walker College and a Bachelor of Science in nursing at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.

Reed is seeking election to higher national office.

 

Adam Greathouse is a service-connected disabled Army veteran who has served in nearly every position at the chapter and department levels. He currently serves as DAV’s national fourth junior vice commander; Department of West Virginia adjutant; and commander of Chapter 2 in Huntington, West Virginia.

Greathouse enlisted in 1999 and deployed to Kosovo in 2001. During that deployment, he inhaled an unknown chemical substance, which severely damaged his lungs, causing him to fall into a two-month coma and sustain a traumatic brain injury. Following an arduous recovery at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, he was medically retired.

A compassionate volunteer, Greathouse has donated thousands of hours at his local Department of Veterans Affairs medical center. He also serves as a spokesman and public service announcement ambassador for DAV and the National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic. He was the recipient of the DAV Freedom Award at the 2017 National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic and was named the 2020 Disabled American Veteran of the Year.

Greathouse is seeking election to higher national office.

 

Jerry Estes, a service-connected disabled Air Force veteran, is a life member of Chapter 14 in Layton, Utah, where he has served in nearly all positions, including DAV Department of Utah commander. He is currently the department’s treasurer and Benefits Protection Team leader. Estes served on the National Executive Committee from 2023 to 2025 for District 17 and as treasurer on the board of directors for a term.

Estes served as an Air Reserve technician from 1980 to 2010, with combat deployments to Saudi Arabia; two tours in Kuwait in support of the Gulf War; four tours to İncirlik, Turkey, in support of Operation Provide Comfort; and two tours in Iraq.

Estes received the Outstanding Performance in Advocacy award as the Benefit Protection Team leader for Division V from 2021 to 2022, and Department of Utah awards for Disabled American Veteran of the Year in 2020 and 2025, Volunteer of the Year in 2023, Service Officer of the Year in 2019 and 2022, and Distinguished Service Award in 2019 and 2021. He was also appointed to Utah’s World War ll Memorial Commission in 2019.

Estes is seeking election to national office.

 

Denice T. Williams, a service-connected disabled Marine veteran, is a life member of DAV Chapter 22 in Portsmouth, Virginia, where she has served as a chapter commander. She has also served as DAV Department of Virginia commander, senior vice commander, first junior vice commander and inspector. She has also served on the board of directors of the DAV Charitable Service Trust since 2015.

Williams joined the Marine Corps in 1976 and served nearly 30 years before retiring at the rank of lieutenant colonel in 2005.

Williams received her master’s degree in international studies from Old Dominion University. Additionally, she earned a certificate of completion in military strategy and policy from the Naval War College. She is an advocate for women veterans by serving in the Women Marines Association and the Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation. In addition, she is a life member of the National Naval Officers Association and the Montford Point Marines Association.

Williams is seeking election to national office.

 

Brian Wilner, a service-connected disabled Army veteran, is a DAV life member of Chapter 18 in Augusta, Georgia, and Chapter 44 in North Augusta, South Carolina, where he currently serves as adjutant. He has served in nearly every capacity at the state level in both Georgia and South Carolina. He was named Chapter Service Officer of the Year for the Department of Georgia for five years in a row and Department of South Carolina Officer of the Year in 2017 and 2022.

Wilner served as a Department of South Carolina Benefits Protection Team leader for six years and received the Division II Outstanding Performance in Advocacy award for 2019–2020 and 2020–2021. He also received the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024 for his advocacy on behalf of veterans and their families. He was elected and served as the District 9 National Executive Committee representative from 2012 to 2013.

Wilner is a past president of the DAV Commanders and Adjutants Association. He has also served as vice president and chaplain and on the executive committee. Additionally, Wilner has been a judge advocate for the Aiken County Veterans Council since 2015 and has served as the president of the South Carolina Veterans Advisory Council since 2020.

Wilner is seeking election to national office.

 

Michael 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 after graduating from high school. He trained as an engineman; attended the Naval Submarine School in New London, Connecticut; and completed Navy Dive School in San Diego. In 1972, Dobmeier suffered severe burns on more than 30% 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, North Dakota. 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 election to another term as national judge advocate.

 

Debra Varner Dancer, a service-connected disabled Army veteran, currently serves as DAV’s national chaplain. She has been a life member of Chapter 4 in Birmingham, Alabama, since 2013.

Dancer joined the Army in 1972 and served as a medic. After her military service, she earned bachelor’s degrees in business administration from Southern Business College and in theology from Lomax Hannon Bible College in Alabama.

After college, she began working for the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital, where she has enjoyed a career as a women’s service coordinator. She has continued her service there as a resource support specialist in the Veterans Service/Student Affairs office, where she’s assisted more than 3,700 veterans and family members requiring assistance with education benefits.

She also serves as a hospital service coordinator for the Birmingham Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, where she helps veterans and their families find resources and learn about earned benefits.

Dancer has more than 30 years of experience in pastoral ministry and support, including serving as a chaplain for the DAV Department of Alabama.

Dancer is seeking election to another term as national chaplain.