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

Charles M. Pickett photo

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.

2025-2026 COA/SOI WorkNOT CONFIRMED!!!
28JUN2025 1000, Saturday5095 East HamptonVFW Casual; Picnic; 0900 Budget (Guiliano penciled in)
23AUG2025 1000, Saturday10201 BrookfieldVFW Casual (Kennedy penciled in)
07SEP2025 0900-1300, Sunday511 New BritainSOI; Pig Roast; VFW Casual (16Feb text with Lee-penciled in)
29OCT2025 1900, Wednesday~10004 Jewett CityVFW Casual
27DEC2025 1000, Saturday~9460 StratfordVFW Casual
11JAN2025 1400-1600, Saturday 2nd SaturdayMini-Winter Conference
28FEB2026 1000, Saturday~VFWCTHQ / District 5?VFW Casual
01MAY2026 1900, Friday ✅ 591 WallingfordVFW Casual
2025-2026 VFW CONNECTICUT
OFFICERS
MEMBERS NAMEPOST
COMMANDERCharles M. Pickett ✅12150
SR VICE COMMANDERJohn Kennedy ✅10201
JR VICE COMMANDEREarl S. Colella 🗳️
Steve Evangelista 🗳️
ADJUTANT/QUARTERMASTERDomenic M. Guiliano ✅5095
PAST COMMANDERStanley W. Borusiewicz Jr ✅201
SURGEONEarl S. Colella 🤔
Steve Evangelista 🤔
Mario Richards 🤔
Matthew J. Seebeck 🫥
603
CHAPLINRonnie L. Maebry 🗳️
Kenneth C. Hartline 🤔
Popeye 🤔
Eric Kropiwnicki  🤔
1265
INSPECTOR*Les Forbes ✅
Earl S. Colella 🤔
JUDGE ADVOCATERobert E. Bailey Jr 🗳️
Juan G. Rivas 🫥/🤔
Jen Williams 🤔
Karl Steiner 🤔
10153
CHIEF OF STAFFJuan G. Rivas ✅149
DISTRICT 1 CMDRSteve Evangelista 🤔
DISTRICT 2 CMDRJack LeBlanc 🤔201
DISTRICT 3 CMDRLee M. Wilson ✅511
DISTRICT 4 CMDRDick Mason 🤔
Earl S. Colella 🫥
594
DISTRICT 5 CMDRNorman Cote ✅5157
DISTRICT 6 CMDRSheldon J. Potesak ✅9918
COLOR GUARD CAPTAINCarlton H. Parsons 9965 🤔
Cynthia Riley 5095 🤔
NATIONAL COUNCIL MEMBERStanley W. Borusiewicz Jr 🗳️
Richard DiFederico 🗳️
Dave Greene 🫥
STATE SERVICE OFFICERRon “Rusko” Rusakiewicz 🤔
Lee M. Wilson 🤔
Bob Hoover 🤔 591
(203-710-7677)
9460
DH BenchKarl Steiner, 201;
Robert E. Bailey Jr 🗳️

Table if 2025 VFW Connecticut Bylaw Revision Passes

2025-2026 Committees
– Sub-Committees
EXECUTIVE
ChairpersonCMDR Charles M. Pickett ✅12150
Vice-ChairpersonJuan G. Rivas ✅149
– BudgetJohn Kennedy 🤔10201
– Bylaw & SOP ReviewRobert E. Bailey Jr 🤔
– Commander’s Special Project (VFW Foundation)
– Communications*Charles M. Pickett ✅12150
– ConventionStanley W. Borusiewicz Jr ✅201
– FinanceJohn C. Leblanc 🤔201
– Investment? John E Larensen 🤔
– Legislative, National*James Matthews ✅296
– Legislative, StateDomenic M. Guiliano 🤔
Emily Trudeau 🤔
Richard L Shaffer 🤔
East Hampton
5095
Cheshire


Emails about cemetery
– PersonnelDavid G. Greene, 10004 🤔6Feb phone call
* = National #=award
PROGRAMS
ChairpersonSVC 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 ✅9918phone 4Feb
– Youth Activities*#
– National Veterans & Military ServiceSherry Wozniak 🤔
– National Home#William D’Appollonio 🤔
– ROTCMario Richards 🤔
– Publications#
– VFW Riders
MEMBERSHIP
ChairpersonStanley W. Borusiewicz Jr ✅201
Vice-ChairpersonJVC TBD
– Legacy Life
– Life
– VFWCT Foundation Liaison
HEALTH & WELFARESurgeon
ChairpersonSurgeon TBD
Vice-Chairperson
– Homeless Veterans
– Hospital*#
– VAVS West Haven Ronnie L. Maebry 🤔10321
– VAVS NewingtonBruce E. Messenger 🤔6123
– POW / MIA*
– VFW Golf Tournament
ADMINISTRATION
ChairpersonDomenic M. Guiliano 🤔
Vice-ChairpersonJVC TBD
Service Office Supervisor Linda Ciccone 🤔/ ✅
Department Service OfficerRon “Rusko” Rusakiewicz 🤔
Lee M. Wilson 🤔 511
Bob Hoover 🤔 591
(203-710-7677)
Assistant Department Service Officer
Claims ConsultantLinda 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 NAMEPOST
AMERICANISMJoseph Razzaia7788
BYLAW REVIEWJohn C. Leblanc201
BUDDY POPPYJames Namnoum12150
BUDGET, FINANCE & PERSONNELJohn Kennedy10201
COMMANDERS’ SPECIAL PROJECTTravis Nelson9460
COMMUNITY SERVICESteve Evangelista9460
YOUTH ACTIVITIESBryan J. Standish12150
CONVENTIONStanley W. Borusiewicz Jr ✅7330
GOLFEarl S Colella594
INVESTMENTJohn E Larensen5095
LEGISLATIVE, NATIONALJames Matthews ✅296
LEGISLATIVE, STATEDomenic M. Guiliano5095
MEMBERSHIP, LEGACY LIFEpart of membership duties
MEMBERSHIP CO-CHAIRMANStanley W. Borusiewicz Jr ✅201
MEMBERSHIP CO-CHAIRMAN
NATIONAL HOMEWilliam D’Appollonio10688
NATIONAL VETERANS & MILITARY SERVICESherry Wozniak5446
POW/MIA / HOMELESS VETERANSJeffery R. Dewitt603
PUBLIC RELATIONS / SOCIAL MEDIA
SAFETY
SCOUTINGManuel Rodrigues10589
TEACHER OF THE YEAR
VAVS REPRESENTATIVE – NEWINGTONRobert Froelick8075
VAVS DEPUTIES – NEWINGTONBruce E. Messenger6123
VAVS REPRESENTATIVE – WEST HAVENRonnie L. Maebry10321
VAVS DEPUTIES – WEST HAVENAlfred H. Comeau201
VOD / YOUTH ESSAYRichard DiFederico 7330
HOSPITAL CHAIRMAN
Juan G. Rivas, 149
Johnathan L. Williams, 201
Phillip Lombardo, 308
Felix Santana, 189
Robert Arcone,