Commissions and Committees

The mission of The American Legion Child Welfare Foundation is to contribute to the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual welfare of children. The foundation corresponds with the mission of the Commission on Children and Youth in the areas of child health, safety and family support.

Americanism is an unfailing love of country, loyalty to its institutions and ideals, eagerness to defend it against all enemies, individual allegiance to the flag, and a desire to secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.

The Commission on Children and Youth strives to strengthen families, supports organizations that help young people, and maintains programs that meet the physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual needs of minors facing challenges. The Legion has been a strong advocate for the children and youth of our nation since its founding in 1919.

The National Convention Commission conducts regular meetings during the year to review materials and choose future Legion national convention cities from those that submit requests for proposals. This process provides an equal opportunity for all cities to be judged the same way during the initial review and site-visit process.

The Economic Commission and its two standing subcommittees are responsible for ensuring that U.S. veterans have the opportunity to provide, with honor and dignity, the economic necessities of life for themselves and their families. To achieve this goal, the commission and committees work closely with government agencies, nonprofit organizations and industry.

The primary responsibilities of the Finance Commission are to prepare yearly budgets for the National Executive Committee, handle funds under those budgets, and exercise reasonable oversight to see that various divisions and departments of the organization operate within appropriations. The commission also directs the work of the Finance Division.

The Foreign Relations Commission is dedicated to the full accounting of POWs and MIAs, the defense of human rights and freedom, the promotion of peace, and the care of veterans and their families who live abroad. The commission works diligently to advance resolutions that speak to key foreign-relations issues concerning national interests of the United States.

The Internal Affairs Commission is charged with formulating and recommending policies, and with overseeing the implementation of adopted policies, relating to activities conducted within The American Legion organization.

The purpose of the Legislative Commission is to promote the legislative mandates of the Legion before Congress. These mandates are dictated by resolutions adopted at a national convention or any meeting of the National Executive Committee. Neither the Legislative Commission nor its staff can make policy decisions.

The National Security Commission is responsible for developing and maintaining the Legion’s positions and policies relevant to national defense, homeland security, and the well-being of the members of our military, as well as their families. National security is regarded as one of the four pillars of the Legion.

The Public Relations Commission communicates the organizational image, goals, programs and legislative positions of the Legion to national, regional and specialized media, corporate America, and the public.

The Magazine Commission oversees a variety of media, including The American Legion Magazine, the national website, the Dispatch leadership newspaper, The American Legion Online Update e-newsletter, and many other information products. The division continues to clock all-time highs in website visitation and social-media participation. With a circulation of nearly 2.3 million, the magazine is still the most influential media channel for the organization, but the website is gaining ground; and the Online Update has a rapidly growing weekly-subscriber list.

As one of the four pillars upon which the Legion was founded, the Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation (VA&R) Commission actively advocates for, and exercises independent oversight over, hundreds of benefits, programs and opportunities that aim to compensate and care for U.S. military veterans and their dependents.

Executive Director Jeff Brown performs duties assigned by the national adjutant, and fills in for him whenever he is out of the office. He also oversees the Indianapolis-based divisions, including Americanism, The American Legion Magazine, Public Relations, Internal Affairs, Human Resources, Maintenance, The American Legion Library and the Emil A. Blackmore Museum; and serves on any committees assigned.

Executive Director Peter Gaytan manages the work of the several divisions that deal regularly with the administration, Congress and agencies of the federal government. Four divisions are housed at this office: Economic, Legislative, Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation and National Security/Foreign Relations.

Executive Director Richard D. Holmes oversees operations of the commercial and technical-support divisions of the Legion’s facility on the east side of Indianapolis, and is responsible for the performance of Emblem Sales, Information Technology, Fundraising and Membership Support Services.