WASHINGTON — Ryan M. Gallucci, an Army veteran of the Iraq War, became executive director of the Veterans of Foreign Wars’ Washington Office on March 1, 2023 — the first post-9/11 veteran to lead the organization’s Capitol Hill operation. This profile is part of #250for250, a NexfinityNews series marking America’s 250th anniversary in 2026 by recognizing 250 veterans and the...
August 25, 2026
‘Follow Me’: Al Lipphardt’s Year Leading the VFW
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Alfred J. “Al” Lipphardt, a decorated Vietnam combat veteran from Georgia, served as the 116th Commander-in-Chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) from 2024 to 2025, leading the nation’s largest organization of combat veterans before handing the post to his successor. This profile is part of #250for250, a NexfinityNews series marking America’s 250th anniversary in 2026...
A Historic First: Carol Whitmore Becomes the VFW’s First Woman Commander-in-Chief
COLUMBUS, Ohio — On August 13, 2025, Carol Whitmore was elected the 117th Commander-in-Chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), becoming the first woman — and the first Iowan — to lead the 126-year-old organization. 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...
PVA’s Elected Leader: U.S. Army Veteran Robert Thomas
WASHINGTON — Robert Thomas, a U.S. Army veteran from Cleveland who lives with a spinal cord injury, serves as national president and chairman of the board of Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), the organization’s highest elected office. This profile is part of #250for250, a NexfinityNews series marking America’s 250th anniversary in 2026 by recognizing 250 veterans and the leaders who...
West Point to Wheelchair Advocacy: Carl Blake Leads Paralyzed Veterans of America
WASHINGTON — Carl Blake, a West Point graduate and Army officer whose own spinal cord injury ended his military career, now serves as chief executive officer of Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), the only congressionally chartered veterans organization dedicated solely to veterans with spinal cord injuries and diseases. This profile is part of #250for250, a NexfinityNews series marking America’s 250th...
On the Front Lines in Houston: Marine Veteran David Traxler Leads U.S.VETS’ Texas Effort
HOUSTON — David Traxler, a 20-year Marine Corps veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and once led investigations for the Marine Corps Inspector General, now directs U.S.VETS Houston, the local arm of the nation’s largest effort to end veteran homelessness. This profile is part of #250for250, a NexfinityNews series marking America’s 250th anniversary in 2026 by recognizing 250 veterans...
The Filmmaker Who Fought Veteran Homelessness: Stephen Peck’s 28 Years at U.S.VETS
LOS ANGELES — Stephen J. Peck, a Marine officer who served in Vietnam and later became a documentary filmmaker, spent nearly three decades at U.S.VETS — 14 of them as chief executive — building it into the nation’s largest nonprofit dedicated to ending veteran homelessness before retiring at the end of 2024. This profile is part of #250for250, a NexfinityNews...
U.S.VETS’ New Leader: Marine Veteran Darryl Vincent Takes On Veteran Homelessness
LOS ANGELES — On January 1, 2025, Darryl J. Vincent became president and chief executive officer of U.S.VETS, the nation’s largest nonprofit dedicated to preventing and ending veteran homelessness, after more than two decades climbing the organization’s ranks. This profile is part of #250for250, a NexfinityNews series marking America’s 250th anniversary in 2026 by recognizing 250 veterans and the leaders...
From Assistant Commandant to Wounded-Warrior Advocate: Gen. John M. Paxton Jr.
Gen. John M. Paxton Jr., who served as the 33rd Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps — the service’s second-highest-ranking officer — now serves on the board of directors of the Semper Fi & America’s Fund, a charity for wounded, ill, and injured service members and their families. This profile is part of #250for250, a NexfinityNews series marking America’s 250th...
The Corps’ Top Enlisted Marine on a Mission of Care: Sgt. Maj. Carlton W. Kent
As the 16th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, Carlton W. Kent held the highest enlisted position in the service. Today, the retired sergeant major serves on the board of directors of the Semper Fi & America’s Fund, bringing an enlisted Marine’s perspective to a charity for the nation’s wounded, ill, and injured. This profile is part of #250for250, a...