DRAFT!!!VFW Department of Connecticut Officers, 2025-2026

Charles M. Pickett
Commander
Charlie is a three-time All-American Post Commander and the first Iraq / Afghanistan Veteran in Department of Connecticut senior leadership.

John Kennedy
Senior Vice Commander
John is an All-American District Commander and consistently one of the top VFW recruiters in the Department of Connecticut.

First Last Name
Past-Commander
Put new JR. Vice Commander’s bio here.
2025-2026 COA/SOI Work | NOT CONFIRMED!!! | |
28JUN2025 1000, Saturday | 5095 East Hampton | VFW Casual; Picnic; 0900 Budget (Guiliano penciled in) |
23AUG2025 1000, Saturday | 10201 Brookfield | VFW Casual (Kennedy penciled in) |
07SEP2025 0900-1300, Sunday | 511 New Britain | SOI; Pig Roast; VFW Casual (16Feb text with Lee-penciled in) |
29OCT2025 1900, Wednesday~ | 10004 Jewett City | VFW Casual |
27DEC2025 1000, Saturday~ | 9460 Stratford | VFW Casual |
11JAN2025 1400-1600, Saturday | 2nd Saturday | Mini-Winter Conference |
28FEB2026 1000, Saturday~ | VFWCTHQ / District 5? | VFW Casual |
01MAY2026 1900, Friday | ✅ 591 Wallingford | VFW Casual |
2025-2026 VFW CONNECTICUT OFFICERS | MEMBERS NAME | POST |
COMMANDER | Charles M. Pickett ✅ | 12150 |
SR VICE COMMANDER | John Kennedy ✅ | 10201 |
JR VICE COMMANDER | Earl S. Colella 🗳️ Steve Evangelista 🗳️ | |
ADJUTANT/QUARTERMASTER | Domenic M. Guiliano ✅ | 5095 |
PAST COMMANDER | Stanley W. Borusiewicz Jr ✅ | 201 |
SURGEON | Earl S. Colella 🤔 Steve Evangelista 🤔 Mario Richards 🤔 Matthew J. Seebeck 🫥 | 603 |
CHAPLIN | Ronnie L. Maebry 🗳️ Kenneth C. Hartline 🤔 Popeye 🤔 Eric Kropiwnicki 🤔 | 1265 |
INSPECTOR* | Les Forbes ✅ Earl S. Colella 🤔 | |
JUDGE ADVOCATE | Robert E. Bailey Jr 🗳️ Juan G. Rivas 🫥/🤔 Jen Williams 🤔 Karl Steiner 🤔 | 10153 |
CHIEF OF STAFF | Juan G. Rivas ✅ | 149 |
DISTRICT 1 CMDR | Steve Evangelista 🤔 | |
DISTRICT 2 CMDR | Jack LeBlanc 🤔 | 201 |
DISTRICT 3 CMDR | Lee M. Wilson ✅ | 511 |
DISTRICT 4 CMDR | Dick Mason 🤔 Earl S. Colella 🫥 | 594 |
DISTRICT 5 CMDR | Norman Cote ✅ | 5157 |
DISTRICT 6 CMDR | Sheldon J. Potesak ✅ | 9918 |
COLOR GUARD CAPTAIN | Carlton H. Parsons 9965 🤔 Cynthia Riley 5095 🤔 | |
NATIONAL COUNCIL MEMBER | Stanley W. Borusiewicz Jr 🗳️ Richard DiFederico 🗳️ Dave Greene 🫥 | |
STATE SERVICE OFFICER | Ron “Rusko” Rusakiewicz 🤔 Lee M. Wilson 🤔 Bob Hoover 🤔 591 (203-710-7677) | 9460 |
DH Bench | Karl Steiner, 201; Robert E. Bailey Jr 🗳️ |
Table if 2025 VFW Connecticut Bylaw Revision Passes
2025-2026 Committees – Sub-Committees | |||
EXECUTIVE | |||
Chairperson | CMDR Charles M. Pickett ✅ | 12150 | |
Vice-Chairperson | Juan G. Rivas ✅ | 149 | |
– Budget | John Kennedy 🤔 | 10201 | |
– Bylaw & SOP Review | Robert E. Bailey Jr 🤔 | ||
– Commander’s Special Project (VFW Foundation) | |||
– Communications* | Charles M. Pickett ✅ | 12150 | |
– Convention | Stanley W. Borusiewicz Jr ✅ | 201 | |
– Finance | John C. Leblanc 🤔 | 201 | |
– Investment | ? John E Larensen 🤔 | ||
– Legislative, National* | James Matthews ✅ | 296 | |
– Legislative, State | Domenic M. Guiliano 🤔 Emily Trudeau 🤔 Richard L Shaffer 🤔 | East Hampton 5095 Cheshire | Emails about cemetery |
– Personnel | David G. Greene, 10004 🤔 | 6Feb phone call | |
* = National #=award | |||
PROGRAMS | |||
Chairperson | SVC John Kennedy ✅ | 10201 | |
Vice-Chairperson | |||
– Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen*# | |||
– Teacher Award*# | Robert Arcone 🤔 | ||
– Scouting* | Manuel Rodrigues ✅ | 10589 | |
– Buddy Poppy* | James Namnoum 🤔 | ||
– Americanism# | |||
– Safety*# | Earl S Colella 🤔 | ||
– Community Activities and Citizenship Education*# | Sheldon J. Potesak ✅ | 9918 | phone 4Feb |
– Youth Activities*# | |||
– National Veterans & Military Service | Sherry Wozniak 🤔 | ||
– National Home# | William D’Appollonio 🤔 | ||
– ROTC | Mario Richards 🤔 | ||
– Publications# | |||
– VFW Riders | |||
MEMBERSHIP | |||
Chairperson | Stanley W. Borusiewicz Jr ✅ | 201 | |
Vice-Chairperson | JVC TBD | ||
– Legacy Life | |||
– Life | |||
– VFWCT Foundation Liaison | |||
HEALTH & WELFARE | Surgeon | ||
Chairperson | Surgeon TBD | ||
Vice-Chairperson | |||
– Homeless Veterans | |||
– Hospital*# | |||
– VAVS West Haven | Ronnie L. Maebry 🤔 | 10321 | |
– VAVS Newington | Bruce E. Messenger 🤔 | 6123 | |
– POW / MIA* | |||
– VFW Golf Tournament | |||
ADMINISTRATION | |||
Chairperson | Domenic M. Guiliano 🤔 | ||
Vice-Chairperson | JVC TBD | ||
Service Office Supervisor | Linda Ciccone 🤔/ ✅ | ||
Department Service Officer | Ron “Rusko” Rusakiewicz 🤔 Lee M. Wilson 🤔 511 Bob Hoover 🤔 591 (203-710-7677) | ||
Assistant Department Service Officer | |||
Claims Consultant | Linda Ciccone ✅ |
In most service offices, a Department Service Officer is the office supervisor. Unless superseded by written Department policies, supervisory duties are the responsibility of the DSO.
2024-2025 VFW CONNECTICUT CHAIRPERSONS | MEMBERS NAME | POST |
AMERICANISM | Joseph Razzaia | 7788 |
BYLAW REVIEW | John C. Leblanc | 201 |
BUDDY POPPY | James Namnoum | 12150 |
BUDGET, FINANCE & PERSONNEL | John Kennedy | 10201 |
COMMANDERS’ SPECIAL PROJECT | Travis Nelson | 9460 |
COMMUNITY SERVICE | Steve Evangelista | 9460 |
YOUTH ACTIVITIES | Bryan J. Standish | 12150 |
CONVENTION | Stanley W. Borusiewicz Jr ✅ | 7330 |
GOLF | Earl S Colella | 594 |
INVESTMENT | John E Larensen | 5095 |
LEGISLATIVE, NATIONAL | James Matthews ✅ | 296 |
LEGISLATIVE, STATE | Domenic M. Guiliano | 5095 |
MEMBERSHIP, LEGACY LIFE | part of membership duties | |
MEMBERSHIP CO-CHAIRMAN | Stanley W. Borusiewicz Jr ✅ | 201 |
MEMBERSHIP CO-CHAIRMAN | ||
NATIONAL HOME | William D’Appollonio | 10688 |
NATIONAL VETERANS & MILITARY SERVICE | Sherry Wozniak | 5446 |
POW/MIA / HOMELESS VETERANS | Jeffery R. Dewitt | 603 |
PUBLIC RELATIONS / SOCIAL MEDIA | ||
SAFETY | ||
SCOUTING | Manuel Rodrigues | 10589 |
TEACHER OF THE YEAR | ||
VAVS REPRESENTATIVE – NEWINGTON | Robert Froelick | 8075 |
VAVS DEPUTIES – NEWINGTON | Bruce E. Messenger | 6123 |
VAVS REPRESENTATIVE – WEST HAVEN | Ronnie L. Maebry | 10321 |
VAVS DEPUTIES – WEST HAVEN | Alfred H. Comeau | 201 |
VOD / YOUTH ESSAY | Richard DiFederico | 7330 |
HOSPITAL CHAIRMAN | ||
Juan G. Rivas, 149 Johnathan L. Williams, 201 Phillip Lombardo, 308 Felix Santana, 189 Robert Arcone, | ||