John R. “Rob” Lewis, National Communications Director
Rob Lewis, a service-disabled Marine Corps veteran, was appointed national communications director of the nearly 1 million-member DAV in August 2019. He works at DAV National Headquarters in Erlanger, Kentucky.
He is responsible for directing the production of a wide range of written, electronic, photographic and digital media for DAV’s internal and external communications programs including DAV Magazine, the organization’s internet presence, media relations, social networking, public service announcements and campaigns that make American citizens and veterans aware of the service and sacrifices of our nation’s veterans and DAV’s no-cost services.
A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Lewis enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1994. Following boot camp at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, he attended the Defense Information School at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana, where he trained in print, photo and broadcast journalism.
After serving two years as a staff reporter at MCRD Parris Island, Lewis traveled abroad to provide award-winning media coverage for the Marine Corps and was honorably discharged in 1998.
Lewis joined the Ohio Army National Guard in 1999. He served as a photojournalist supporting Buckeye Guard Magazine, the Ohio Army National Guard quarterly information magazine, until his honorable discharge in February 2004.
He was hired as a senior communications specialist in 2002 at DAV National Headquarters. After appointments as an associate and assistant national communications director, he left the organization in 2012 and worked in both outreach and managed operations for sustainable agriculture programs assisting veterans. He returned to the staff in 2019 and served as an assistant national communications director until his current appointment.
Prior to his appointment with DAV, Lewis was employed by Cox Newspapers as a journalist and editor with Cox Publications, to include the Dayton Daily News in southwestern Ohio.
He is a graduate of Miami University where he earned his bachelor’s degree in English/journalism. Lewis, a life member of DAV Chapter 19 in Erlanger, Kentucky, currently resides in Indian Hill, Ohio.