Barry Jesinoski: The Marine Who Rose to Lead DAV
#250FOR250, Nex-finityNews

From Marine Sergeant to DAV Chief Executive: The Quiet Rise of Barry A. Jesinoski

June 9, 2026June 9, 2026By Dominick Bianco, Editor-in-Chief
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Barry Jesinoski: The Marine Who Rose to Lead DAV
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ERLANGER, Ky. — When Barry A. Jesinoski became national adjutant and chief executive officer of Disabled American Veterans (DAV) on June 1, 2023, he reached the top of an organization he had served for nearly three decades, having risen from an entry-level service officer to its highest appointed post.

This profile is part of #250for250, a NexfinityNews series marking America’s 250th anniversary in 2026 by recognizing 250 veterans and the leaders who serve them — Americans whose commitment to country did not end when they left the uniform. Jesinoski is honored for nearly three decades spent ensuring disabled veterans receive the benefits they earned.

A Marine’s Start

A native of Ottertail County, Minnesota, Jesinoski is a service-connected veteran of the Persian Gulf War era who was medically discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps in 1993. His route into the veterans-service world was not through elite credentials; he has spoken publicly about not holding a college degree, an uncommon background for the chief executive of a nonprofit of DAV’s size.

Climbing Through the Ranks

Jesinoski joined DAV’s professional staff in 1995 as a member of one of the early classes at the organization’s National Service Officer Training Academy, run in association with the University of Colorado at Denver. He apprenticed in Seattle, then took charge of one of DAV’s largest offices in San Diego within two years, before overseeing benefits advocacy across a multi-state western region.

His career then alternated between field service and national leadership. He was appointed deputy human-resources director in 2007 and director in 2009, then moved to Washington in 2011 to lead DAV’s service and legislative efforts as executive director of the Washington headquarters. In 2013 he became executive director of DAV’s National Headquarters and the organization’s chief financial officer, a role he held until his 2023 appointment as national adjutant.

Becoming CEO

Jesinoski’s elevation was approved by DAV’s National Executive Committee, and he succeeded Marc Burgess, who had held the post for more than a decade. As national adjutant and CEO, Jesinoski exercises day-to-day control of the organization’s staff and operations.

What DAV Does, and at What Scale

Founded in 1920 by World War I veterans and chartered by Congress in 1932, DAV is one of the nation’s oldest and largest veterans service organizations, with roughly one million members. Its core work is hands-on benefits advocacy: DAV employs a national corps of service officers who help veterans and their families file claims with the Department of Veterans Affairs. The organization assists hundreds of thousands of veterans each year and files well over 151,000 new benefit claims annually.

DAV is also notable for its political restraint. The organization describes itself as strictly nonpartisan and, by its own account, devotes only about one percent of its budget to lobbying, focusing instead on direct services and legislative testimony. In simple terms, it tries to influence policy through expertise rather than electioneering.

Beyond claims work, DAV operates one of the country’s largest volunteer transportation networks, providing free rides to veterans traveling to VA medical appointments, and runs employment programs and job fairs for transitioning service members. Its reach extends across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

A Modernizer’s Agenda

During his years in senior management, Jesinoski championed efficiency and modernization. He helped launch DAV’s transition service program and its employment and entrepreneurship departments, oversaw what the organization calls the largest information-technology project in its history, and led the site selection and construction of DAV’s new national headquarters. He also expanded staff benefits, from flexible scheduling to expanded leave policies.

Analysis

Jesinoski’s profile stands apart from the retired-general model common at other large veterans organizations. Rather than arriving with stars on his shoulders, he advanced from within over nearly 30 years. Supporters argue that institutional knowledge of how benefits claims actually move through the VA is precisely what a service-focused organization like DAV needs at the top.

Conclusion

Jesinoski’s tenure is built on continuity rather than disruption: a career service officer now responsible for the machinery that helps disabled veterans claim what they are owed. His challenge is to keep that machinery modern as the veteran population and its needs evolve.

Key Takeaways

  • Barry A. Jesinoski became DAV national adjutant and CEO on June 1, 2023, succeeding Marc Burgess.
  • A former Marine medically discharged in 1993, he rose through DAV over nearly 30 years, beginning as a service officer in 1995.
  • He previously led both DAV’s Washington headquarters (2011–2013) and its National Headquarters (2013–2023).
  • DAV, founded in 1920 and chartered by Congress in 1932, has about one million members and files more than 151,000 new VA claims a year.
  • Jesinoski has emphasized modernization, including a new national headquarters and major IT upgrades.

Sources

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