In addition to the national commander and vice commanders, six national constitutional officers are appointed annually by vote of the National Executive Committee. They are the adjutant, treasurer, judge advocate, historian, chaplain and sergeant-at-arms. Officers elected by the national convention take office upon adjournment and serve until the end of the next convention.
Responsibilities of national officers:


Shawn T. Long, CPA, National Treasurer
Shawn T. Long, Certified Public Accountant, was appointed national treasurer of The American Legion on Oct. 16, 2019, during the annual Fall Meetings at National Headquarters in Indianapolis. The national treasurer serves as the chief financial officer of The American Legion, and is responsible for the custody and management of the assets of the organization.
Long had served as American Legion finance director since October 2008, and had additionally undertaken the supervision of the Purchasing Department and the Information Technology Division.
Long is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, and a member of American Legion Post 252 in Greenwood, Ind. He earned a BS in accounting from Indiana State University in 1995; an MBA from the Kelley School of Business, Indiana University, in 2007; and a CPA license in 2000.
Mark Seavey, National Judge Advocate
Frank Carr, National Chaplain
Frank Carr was appointed national chaplain of The American Legion on Aug. 31, 2023, at the organization’s 104th national convention in Charlotte, N.C.
Carr is a retired veteran of the U.S. Air Force, Air Force Reserve and U.S. Army. He is a nine-time commander of American Legion Post 99 in Halifax, Va., and is a current co-pastor of Living Word of Christ Fellowship Church.
A 2006 graduate of American Legion College, Carr has been The American Legion National Recruiter of the Year four times. He has also earned the Gold Brigade membership recruiting award 19 times and has been District Commander of the Year for the Department of Virginia.
Carr has held offices at every level of The American Legion and was the director of Baptist Student Unit Ministries at Delaware State University. He is married to Rev. Mattie C. Carr. They have two children and two grandchildren.
Edward A. DeGumbia, National Historian
Edward “Ed” A. DeGumbia was appointed national historian of The American Legion on Aug. 31, 2023, at the organization’s 104th national convention in Charlotte, N.C.
DeGumbia was born and raised in Southington, Conn., and served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1965-1969. He is a member of American Legion Post 72 in Southington and has served as a post and district commander before being elected department commander in 2017.
A 2015 graduate of the National American Legion College, DeGumbia has overseen his department’s American Legion College, served as chairman for the department centennial gala celebrations, participated in Boys State as a counselor and State Police Youth Week, and volunteered with the oratorical contest as a judge and educated department individuals on how the contest was run. He is currently chairman of his department’s Internal Affairs Commission. On the national level, DeGumbia has been active in the National Security Council, Law and Order Homeland Security Committee and Americanism Commission. He currently serves on the Veterans Employment and Education Commission.
DeGumbia enjoys spending time with family and friends. He has been married to his wife, Lydia, for 50 years. He has four sons and 13 grandchildren.
James W. Kell, National Sergeant-at-Arms
James “Jim” W. Kell was appointed national sergeant-at-arms of The American Legion on Aug. 31, 2023, at the organization's 104th national convention in Charlotte, NC.
Kell served in the U.S. Navy from 1964-1968 where he was trained as an IC electrician. While in the Navy, he served one tour in Vietnam aboard the USS Kearsarge CVS-33. His years of service included the 1968 capture of the USS Pueblo in Korea, earning him the Navy Commendation Meritorious Service ribbon.
He has been a member of Horicon Post 157 in Horicon, Wis., since 1988 and has served as post commander, county commander, district sergeant-at-arms, district adjutant, district POW/MIA chairman and department sergeant-at-arms. He has served on the Department Convention & Activities Commission since 2017. Kell has also served on the National Convention Corporation committees in 2000 and 2010 when Wisconsin hosted the national conventions. He has a deep commitment to POW/MIAs and is passionate about raising awareness about the servicemembers still missing. He is known for his POW/MIA remembrance table ceremony and is asked to speak at various events throughout the state.
After losing both of their spouses, Kell and his wife, Karen, were united in marriage on April 14, 2012. Combined they have five children, 15 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.