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:

Daniel S. Wheeler, National Adjutant

Daniel S. Wheeler, National Adjutant

The administrative head of the organization, the adjutant oversees National Headquarters and all other national offices. He is charged in the Legion by-laws with administering the policies and mandates of the national convention and the National Executive Committee.

Daniel S. Wheeler is the national adjutant of The American Legion, a post he has held since October 2008. Prior to becoming national adjutant, he served as executive director of National Headquarters in Indianapolis (1995-2008). He joined the National Headquarters staff in 1979, during which time he served as The American Legion Magazine assistant editor (1979-1980), managing editor (1980-1981), assistant publisher/editor (1981-1985), publisher/editor in chief (1985-1995) and (2001-2007).

From 1994-2009, Wheeler also served as president of the Citizens Flag Alliance, devoting significant time to managing and administering this not-for-profit, nonpartisan coalition of civic, fraternal, veteran, business and labor organizations. The Citizens Flag Alliance's goal is to pass a constitutional amendment returning to Congress the power to protect the U.S. flag from intentional acts of physical desecration.

Wheeler was a U.S. Navy sonarman and journalist during the Vietnam War. His previous professional positions include staff writer for the U.S. Navy magazine All Hands; editor of the Navy Editorial Service; and staff member of Direction magazine.

Wheeler, a native of Richmond, Va., lives in Indianapolis with his wife, Kathy. He is a past president of the Veterans Day Council of Indianapolis, and a member of American Legion Post 137 in Virginia, the Indianapolis Rotary Club, and Mensa. 

 

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 

Mark Seavey was appointed national judge advocate of The American Legion on Oct. 7, 2021. A member of Mathews American Legion Post 83 in Virginia, Seavey began his career with the national organization 27 years ago. In The American Legion's Washington, D.C., office he served as an appeals representative where he represented veterans with claims pending before the Board of Veterans Appeals, and as an assistant director and grassroots coordinator in the Legislative Division. Upon his return home from a deployment in Afghanistan, Seavey moved to the National Headquarters office in Indianapolis where he served as a war reporter and military blogger in the Media & Communications Division.   

Seavey served on active duty in the U.S. Army, the Army Reserve, and the Virginia Army National Guard. As an infantry squad leader with the Virginia Army National Guard, he was activated for service in Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1997 as part of the first callup of National Guard combat arms units since the Vietnam War. In 2004, he deployed to Afghanistan for one year where he performed a variety of tasks. He served as squad leader on combat patrols, monitored presidential elections, and provided security for Afghans. Seavey is a recipient of the Combat Infantryman's Badge, two Armed Forces Expeditionary medals, the NATO medal, two Army Achievement Medals, and other medals from his military service. 

Seavey is a graduate of The Citadel, the military college of South Carolina, and a graduate of George Mason University of Law where he received a Juris doctorate degree. He has been a member of the Indiana State Bar Association for 12 years, and lives with his wife and three young children in Brownsburg, Ind.

 

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.