Jim Marszalek Named Executive Director of DAV's Washington Headquarters
#250FOR250, Nex-finityNews

DAV’s New Voice on Capitol Hill: Marine Veteran Jim Marszalek Takes Over the Washington Headquarters

June 9, 2026June 9, 2026By Dominick Bianco, Editor-in-Chief
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Jim Marszalek Named Executive Director of DAV's Washington Headquarters
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WASHINGTON — In January 2026, Jim Marszalek, a Gulf War-era Marine veteran and nationally recognized expert on veterans benefits law, became executive director of the Washington headquarters of Disabled American Veterans (DAV), the organization’s chief advocate before Congress, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the White House.

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. Marszalek is honored for translating frontline benefits expertise into advocacy that wins real policy gains for disabled veterans.

A Marine and a Benefits Expert

A native of Pittsburgh, Marszalek entered the U.S. Marine Corps in 1996 and was honorably discharged in 2000, making him a Gulf War-era veteran. He joined DAV’s professional staff in 2001 as a member of a class at the organization’s National Service Officer Training Academy in Denver, beginning as a service-officer apprentice in Cleveland.

Rising Through the Service Program

Marszalek held supervisory roles across the country before being named deputy national service director in 2012 and national service director in 2013. In that role he managed DAV’s National Service Program, the corps of professional service officers who represent veterans in claims before the VA and Defense Department.

In August 2025 he was appointed assistant executive director of DAV’s Washington headquarters, and in January 2026 he stepped up to executive director, the organization announcing the move on Jan. 5.

The Job

As executive director, Marszalek directs DAV’s legislative and service programs, which provide free benefits assistance to more than 200,000 veterans, survivors, and family members each year. Between the Washington headquarters and DAV’s national network of offices, he oversees more than 400 professional and support staff, and serves as the organization’s principal spokesperson before Congress, the VA, and the White House.

Announcing the appointment, DAV National Adjutant and CEO Barry Jesinoski said Marszalek is “exceptionally well positioned to lead Washington Headquarters forward.”

A Record on VA Claims Reform

Marszalek built his reputation on the technical work of veterans benefits law. He was instrumental in advancing reforms to the VA’s claims and appeals systems, including DAV’s advocacy surrounding the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017, a law that restructured how the VA processes benefit appeals. He has testified numerous times before the Senate and House Veterans’ Affairs committees. In simple terms, he is one of the people DAV sends to Capitol Hill when the details of benefits law are on the line.

He moved quickly to press DAV’s priorities. In early 2026, DAV and the VFW jointly released funding recommendations urging Congress and the VA to fully fund veterans’ health care — including roughly $191.5 billion for the Veterans Health Administration — and to address unmet needs such as long-term care, dental care, and emergency services. Marszalek framed the appeal as a matter of national obligation to ensure veterans receive timely access to the care and benefits they have earned.

The Organization

Founded in 1920 and chartered by Congress in 1932, DAV has nearly one million members and focuses on helping veterans access the benefits they have earned. Its Washington headquarters is the arm that translates the experiences of DAV’s field service officers into legislative and policy advocacy.

Analysis

Marszalek’s appointment reflects DAV’s preference for promoting subject-matter experts who have come up through its service ranks rather than recruiting outside figures. His decades inside the claims-and-appeals system give him a granular understanding of where the VA succeeds and fails, an asset in an era of recurring debate over claims backlogs, toxic-exposure benefits, and VA staffing.

Conclusion

Marszalek inherits DAV’s advocacy operation at a moment of sustained pressure on the VA budget and benefits system. His task is to convert the organization’s frontline experience into durable policy wins for the disabled veterans DAV represents.

Key Takeaways

  • Jim Marszalek became executive director of DAV’s Washington headquarters in January 2026 (announced Jan. 5).
  • A Gulf War-era Marine veteran from Pittsburgh, he joined DAV in 2001 and served as national service director from 2013 to 2025.
  • He directs DAV’s legislative and service programs, which assist more than 200,000 veterans and family members a year, and oversees 400-plus staff.
  • Marszalek is a recognized expert on veterans benefits law and helped advance the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017.
  • He serves as DAV’s principal spokesperson before Congress, the VA, and the White House.

Sources

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