1st Junior Vice Commander
Elizabeth Cesario-Oliver
U.S. Marine Corps
Bio coming soon.
2nd Junior Vice Commander
T. Kearny Vertner, III
U.S. Air Force
T. Kearny Vertner, III grew up in Richmond, VA, joined the U.S. Air Force in 2005, and initially qualified onboard the RC-135V/W RIVET JOINT as an airborne cryptologic language analyst. Later, he volunteered to become part of the initial cadre for the then-new airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operator career field where he flew on a wide range of aircraft. He served in multiple joint leadership positions at Ft. Bragg, NC, Hurlburt Field, FL, Will Rogers Air National Guard Base, OK, and Offutt AFB, NE and across 11 deployments in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, NEW DAWN, ENDURING FREEDOM, and other special operations contingencies. He retired in 2025 after 20 years and proudly continues his service with the DAV in this role as well as a Chapter Service Officer.
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Adjutant
Kenneth "Ken" Hermanson
U.S. Navy
Ken served in the U.S. Navy from 1971 to 2005. At sea, he served aboard two Ballistic Missile Submarines and three Submarine Tenders. His shore assignments included duty a Submarine Weapons Depots and on staffs at the Squadron, Group and Type Commander Level. Ken worked as a Civil Servant at U.S. Strategic Command until 2022.
Ken serves as our Chapter Adjutant/CEO and as a Chapter Service Officer. Ken and Dottie have been married for 50 years and they enjoy spending time with their two daughters and six grandchildren.
Treasurer
Rhonda Kodad
U.S. Air Force
Rhonda grew up as an Air Force dependent, primarily in Hampton, Virginia, and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1977 as an administrative specialist.
She served at bases in Georgia, Okinawa, and New Mexico, and later became NCOIC of the Headquarters Squadron Section at Langley AFB, where she served for six years and met her husband, Darell.
In 1991, she moved to Alaska and helped establish the 11th Tactical Air Support Squadron (TASS), an A-10 unit integrating maintenance and flight operations.
She retired in 1994 after 17 years of service. Her and her husband have two children and 4 grandchildren.
Chaplain
Mike Horton
U.S. Marine Corps
Bio coming soon.
Benefits Protection Lead
Ean Bell
U.S. Army
Bio coming soon.
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Bill Brooks came home from Midway and the Solomon Islands a decorated WWII aviator, then gave six decades to our community. Your donation carries his spirit forward — for disabled veterans in Bellevue and across the nation.
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