Who We Are
The American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic, mutual-help, war-time veterans organization. A community-service organization which now numbers nearly 3 million members -- men and women -- in nearly 15,000 American Legion Posts worldwide. These Posts are organized into 55 Departments -- one each for the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, France, Mexico, and the Philippines.
The American Legion's national headquarters is in Indianapolis, Indiana, with additional offices in Washington, DC. In addition to thousands of volunteers serving in leadership and program implementation capacities in local communities to the Legion's standing national commissions and committees, the national organization has a regular full-time staff of about 300 employees.
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Our National Commander
Dave Rehbein
National Commander
The American Legion
2008 - 2009
Dave Rehbein of Ames, Iowa, was elected National Commander of the 2.7 million-member American Legion on Aug. 28, 2008 in Phoenix during the 90th National Convention of the nation’s largest veterans organization.
A U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam era, Rehbein served as an infantryman with the 4th and 1st Armored Divisions in Germany from 1970 to 1971. After leaving the Army, he attended Wayne State College and Iowa State University, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in physics and a master’s degree in metallurgy. Following graduation, he accepted a position as research metallurgist at the Ames Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, where he remained until his retirement in July 2008.
Nat. Cmdr. Rehbein is a member of Ames Post #37 where he served as commander and adjutant as well as 12 years as finance officer and 16 years as newsletter editor. He has been district commander and state vice-commander and represented Iowa on The American Legion’s National Executive Committee. He served on many department committees, including Membership, Oratorical, Strategic Planning and Junior Shooting Sports. During his term as department membership chairman, Iowa achieved target membership three times in 1991, 1992, and 1993. He was appointed by Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack to a position on the Iowa Commission on Veterans Affairs.
Rehbein served on the National Americanism Commission 1989-99, with service as an instructor on the National Information Conference staff, conducting the judge’s briefing for the National Oratorical Contests and as Match Director of the Junior Shooting Sports national finals. He has served as chairman of the National Foreign Relations Commission, Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Commission and the Legislative commission.
Cmdr. Rehbein resides in Ames with his wife, Ann. His son Chris, daughter-in-law Beth, and daughter, Jennifer, are all active members of The American Legion family. Ann is a past department president of Iowa; Chris is a past squadron commander and Jennifer is the current Unit President and holds dual membership in The American Legion and The American Legion Auxiliary. The commander and his wife have three grandchildren, Greyson, Devin and Camille.
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Our Department Commander
Gene McVay
Department Commander
The American Legion
2009 - 2010
Branch of Service: United States Air Force
Length of Service: 35 Years
Era: Combat Veteran - Vietnam
Veterans Organizations: Life member of the VFW, National Guard Association and the Vietnam Veterans of America
Offices, Committees & Appointments: He has served as 2nd Vice Commander, 1st Vice Commander and Commander of Post 31 Fort Smith, Chaplain and Commander of District 13, Department Vice Commander for the Northwest Area, Department Budget and Finance Committee, Department Legislative Chairman, and National Distinguished Guests Committee.
Contact our Commander: 1-877-243-9799 (toll free): Department Headquarters
1-501-375-1104: Department Headquarters
1-501-375-4236: Fax
Address:
Gene McVay, Commander
The American Legion
Department of Arkansas
P.O. Box 3280
Little Rock, AR 72203-3280
