Department Commander
Arnold Whatley
740-362-7478 | commander@ohiolegion.com
Arnold Whatley was elected to serve as the 2024-2025 Department of Ohio Commander on Sunday July 14th 2024. His eligibility stems from holding office in 2023-2024 as the Department of Ohio 1st Vice Commander and was elected to serve this high office on Sunday July 2nd 2023 and also appointed to serve 2022-2023 as the Department of Ohio 2nd Vice Commander by order of Executive Session decision on August 6th 2022.
Arnold also earns his eligibility by serving 22 years in the United States Air Force as a retiring Master Sergeant with four tours of duty (Clovis, Mexico, Lajas Field, Azores, Montgomery, Ala, Special duty to South Korea and special duty to Dayton, Ohio).
Arnold joined the American Legion in 1990 and soon thereafter became a paid up for life member with 34 continuous years of service at General Daniel “Chappie” James Post 776 located in Dayton, Ohio. Offices held at the Post level include; Post Commander (quota commander), 1st Vice Commander, 2nd Vice Commander, and 9 years as Trustee. At the District level; District Commander (quota commander), 1st Vice Commander, 2nd Vice Commander, Finance Officer, and served on the Past District Commander Committee. At the Department level; 1st Vice Commander, 2nd Vice Commander, Sergeant at Arms, and Assistant Sergeant at Arms. Arnold “AJ” Whatley also served on the National Cemetery Committee, Standing Commissions, and the Internal Affairs Commission.
Arnold obtained an Associates Degree in Structural Tech, Certification of Law Enforcement at Sinclair Community College, Dayton, Ohio, and a Certificate in Human Communications at Chapman College, Dayton, Ohio.
He has one daughter who resides in Miami, Florida.
» COMMANDER’S CORNER
Stan Oren | 1st Vice Commander
The First Vice Commander serves under the Commander of the Department of Ohio. His responsibilities include being Membership Committee Chairman, ensuring that the Legion message is heard by all veterans, and providing the overall mission for the membership year.
Stan Oren was was elected to serve 2024-2025 as the Department of Ohio 1st Vice Commander on Sunday July 14th 2024 at the 105th Department of Ohio Convention. He was also elected to serve 2023-2024 as the Department of Ohio 2nd Vice Commander on Sunday July 2nd 2023.
Stan earned his eligibility by serving in the United States Navy in 1969-1971.
Stan is a 41-year member of Harter-Williams Post 536 Gilboa, currently serving as Finance Officer, Membership Chairman, and Post Adjutant. He is Past First District Commander 2017-2018 and Past Department Assistance Sergeant-at-Arms 2018-2019. He is a member of the Buckeye Boys State Staff 2021-2023. Stan has served on the Department Americanism, Oratorical, and POW-MIA commissions and is a National Appointee for Americanism Commission.
He serves the veteran community as President of Putnam County Veterans Service Commission and membership in veterans organizations, SAL, Forty & Eight, VFW, DAV, AMVETS and VVA.
Stan is married to his long time partner, Ruth.
Gary Cox Jr. | 2nd Vice Commander
The Second Vice Commander serves under the 1st Vice Commander and the Commander of the Department of Ohio. Their responsibilities include being Post Activities Chairman.
Gary Cox Jr. was was elected to serve 2024-2025 as the Department of Ohio 2nd Vice Commander on Sunday, July 14th, 2024.
Gary Jr. earned his eligibility by serving in the United States Marine Corps from 2002-2010, including a tour in Afghanistan from 2004-2005.
Gary Jr. is a PUFL 23-year member of Harold Bradley Post 584 in Marion, Ohio. He is a past 2-time 6th District Commander from 2021-2023. He is an 8-year member of Buckeye Boys State staff serving as a trustee. Gary Jr has also served on Gifts for Yanks, and National Security commissions along with a National appointee for the National Security Council.
He is a 33-year Charter member of Squadron 584 Marion, Ohio. A member of the Legion Riders 254, 40/8, Marine Corps League, and Wounded Warrior Project. He is also a lifetime member of the VFW, DAV, and CVMA.
Jose L Rivera
Brewer-Tarasco Post 7 Wickliffe
Department Treasurer
![Department Treasurer - Jose Rivera Department Treasurer - Jose Rivera](https://www.ohiolegion.com/wp-content/uploads/Department-Treasurer-Jose-Rivera-174x207.jpeg)
James O Fast
Auglaize Post 330 Wapakoneta
Assistant Chaplain
![James Fast- Department Assistant Chaplain James Fast- Department Assistant Chaplain](https://www.ohiolegion.com/wp-content/uploads/James-Fast-Department-Assistant-Chaplain-174x207.jpeg)
Steve Masowick
Post 685 Streetsboro
Nat’l Executive Committeeman
![National Executive Committeeman - Steve Masowick National Executive Committeeman - Steve Masowick](https://www.ohiolegion.com/wp-content/uploads/National-Executive-Committeeman-Steve-Masowick-1-174x207.jpg)
Josh Brown
William R Schnug Memorial Post 614 Hilliard
Department Judge Advocate
![Josh Brown - Department Judge Advocate Josh Brown - Department Judge Advocate](https://www.ohiolegion.com/wp-content/uploads/Josh-Brown-Department-Judge-Advocate-174x207.jpeg)
Robert S White, PHD (Bob)
Brecksville-Excelsior Post 196 Brecksville
Department Asst. Historian
![Robert White - Department Assistant Historian Robert White - Department Assistant Historian](https://www.ohiolegion.com/wp-content/uploads/Robert-White-Department-Assistant-Historian-174x207.jpeg)
Michael J Blackwell (Mike)
Randolph Post 707 Englewood
Asst. Sergeant-At-Arms
![Mike Blackwell - Department Assistant Sergeant-At-Arms Mike Blackwell - Department Assistant Sergeant-At-Arms](https://www.ohiolegion.com/wp-content/uploads/Mike-Blackwell-Department-Assistant-Sergeant-At-Arms-174x207.jpeg)
Harold D Landis
Toledo Police Post 512 Toledo
“Great” First District Commander
![1st District Commander - Harold Landis 1st District Commander - Harold Landis](https://www.ohiolegion.com/wp-content/uploads/1st-District-Commander-Harold-Landis-174x207.jpeg)
Thomas W Tierney
Post 210 Celina
Second “To None” District Commander
![2nd District Commander - Thomas Tierney 2nd District Commander - Thomas Tierney](https://www.ohiolegion.com/wp-content/uploads/2nd-District-Commander-Thomas-Tierney-scaled-174x207.jpg)
Albert S Buxton (Al)
Yeager-Benson Memorial Post 199 Harrison
“Fabulous” Fourth District Commander
![4th District Commander - Al Buxton 4th District Commander - Al Buxton](https://www.ohiolegion.com/wp-content/uploads/4th-District-Commander-Al-Buxton-174x207.jpeg)
Martin H Moore
Elmer Johnson Post 118 Amherst
“Fighting” Fifth District Commander
![5th District Commander - Martin Moore 5th District Commander - Martin Moore](https://www.ohiolegion.com/wp-content/uploads/5th-District-Commander-Martin-Moore-174x207.jpeg)
Christopher Miller
Jenkins-Vaughan Post 97 Cardington
Sizzlin’ Sixth District Commander
6thDistCMDR@ohiolegion.com christophermiller7187@outlook.com
![6th District 1st Vice Commander - Christopher Miller 6th District 1st Vice Commander - Christopher Miller](https://www.ohiolegion.com/wp-content/uploads/6th-District-1st-Vice-Commander-Christopher-Miller-174x207.jpeg)
Lorena Nichols
Paul H Hughey Post 25 Washington Ct House
“Magnificent” Seventh District Commander
![7th District Commander - Lorena Nichols 7th District Commander - Lorena Nichols](https://www.ohiolegion.com/wp-content/uploads/7th-District-Commander-Lorena-Nichols-174x207.jpeg)
Donald N Capps
John Tague Post 188 New Lexington
“Great” Eighth District Commander
![8th District Commander - Donald Capps 8th District Commander - Donald Capps](https://www.ohiolegion.com/wp-content/uploads/8th-District-Commander-Donald-Capps-174x207.jpeg)
William Richard Dittebrand (Bill)
Palmer-Roberts Post 214 Willoughby
“Dynamic” Ninth District Commander
![9th District Commander - William Dittebrand 9th District Commander - William Dittebrand](https://www.ohiolegion.com/wp-content/uploads/9th-District-Commander-William-Dittebrand-174x207.jpeg)
Wesley A Crothers
Joe Williams Inc Post 131 Leetonia
“Great” Tenth District Commander
![10th District Commander - Wesley Crothers 10th District Commander - Wesley Crothers](https://www.ohiolegion.com/wp-content/uploads/10th-District-Commander-Wesley-Crothers-174x207.jpeg)
Thom Stan
Russell Chadwick Post 389 Beverly
“Elite” Eleventh District Commander
![11th District Commander - Thom Stan 11th District Commander - Thom Stan](https://www.ohiolegion.com/wp-content/uploads/11th-District-Commander-Thom-Stan-scaled-174x207.jpg)
Brad Beatty
Paschall Post 164 Grove City
“Capital” Twelfth District Commander
![12th District Commander - Brad Beatty 12th District Commander - Brad Beatty](https://www.ohiolegion.com/wp-content/uploads/12th-District-Commander-Brad-Beatty-174x207.jpeg)
Bertrand C Boyd Sr
Western Reserve Post 315 Cleveland
“Tenacious” Thirteenth District Commander
![13th District Commander - Bert Boyd 13th District Commander - Bert Boyd](https://www.ohiolegion.com/wp-content/uploads/13th-District-Commander-Bert-Boyd-174x207.jpeg)
Sharon L McClain
Charles Faust Post 281 Cuyahoga Falls
“Phenomenal” Fourteenth District Commander
![14th District Commander- Sharon McClain 14th District Commander- Sharon McClain](https://www.ohiolegion.com/wp-content/uploads/14th-District-Commander-Sharon-McClain-174x207.jpeg)