The American Legion elected retired judge and Air Force veteran Dan Wiley of Leavenworth, Kan., as the veterans organization’s new national commander on Thursday. File Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo
Retired Kansas First Judicial District Court Judge Dan Wiley has been elected the American Legion’s national commander, the veterans organization announced on Thursday.
Wiley is a U.S. Air Force veteran and presided over the First Judicial District Court for Leavenworth and Atchison counties in northeast Kansas for 28 years.
“As national commander, Wiley is a strong advocate for the American Legion’s ‘Be the One’ outreach mission to prevent veteran suicide,” the American Legion said in a news release.
“He emphasizes inclusivity in the American Legion family through the theme, ‘better together.'”
Wiley, who owns a cattle ranch in Leavenworth, Kan., was the Kansas American Legion’s commander.
The American Legion held its 106th national convention in Tampa Bay on Thursday, during which Wiley was voted its national commander.
He is a life member of the Byron H. Mehl American Legion Post 23 and has served the American Legion in many offices at every level within the veterans organization, including as a member of its National Executive Committee.
He helped establish and presided over the Leavenworth County Veterans Treatment Court, was president of the Leavenworth/Lansing Chamber of Commerce, chaired the Leavenworth County Day Parade Committee and was a member of the school board for the Unified School District 453.
After serving in the Air Force, Wiley obtained a bachelor’s from the College of Great Falls in Montana and a law degree from the University of Kansas.
Wiley and his wife, Sonia, have two children, Austin and Christy, and one grandson.
Wiley and Austin are charter members of Sons of the American Legion Squadron 36 in Oskaloosa, Kan.
Sonia and Christy are members of the American Legion Auxiliary.
Congress created the American Legion in 1919, with its mission being to advocate for veterans.
