Elected at the national convention, five vice commanders act as representatives of the national commander. They may preside over meetings of the National Executive Committee or the national convention, and perform other duties for the commander. No two vice commanders can be chosen from the same department during the same year.
To contact an American Legion national vice commander, contact Jennifer Norton at National Headquarters by calling (317) 630-1234 or via e-mail.
Current national vice commanders:
Paul L. Espinoza
A member of American Legion Post 13 in Albuquerque, N.M.,. Espinoza served in the U.S. Army in the 82nd Airborne Division and an additional 18 years in the New Mexico Army National Guard. He has held various offices at every level in The American Legion, including Department of New Mexico commander He is a 2011 graduate of American Legion College.
Paul Martel
A member of American Legion Post 120 in Holly Hill, Fla., Martel served in the U.S. Army. He has held various positions at every level of The American Legion, including Department of Florida commander. At the national level he served as a member of the National Security Commission and National Legislative Council. And was national sergeant-at-arms from 2009-2010.
Vincent J. Troiola
A life member of American Legion Post 1682 in New City, N.Y., Troiola served in the U.S. Navy. He has held various positions at every level of The American Legion, including Department of New York commander. He is the current chairman of the Department of New York American Legion Centennial Task Force for the Future and is a member of the faculty of The American Legion College of New York. At the national level he served as a member of the Membership and Post Activities Committee and the National Security Commission.
Douglas L. Boldt
A 40-year continuous member of American Legion Post 59 in Callaway, Neb., Boldt served in the U.S. Navy. He has held various offices at all levels of The American Legion, including Department of Nebraska commander from 2003-2004. As department commander, Boldt implemented a program called “Operation School Talk” where he shared about his time in the military. At the national level, he served as a member of National Executive Committee, as an alternate NECman, and he served as a member of the National Security Commission and Homeland Security and Law Enforcement sub-committee.
Fae Casper
A member of American Legion Post 145 in Douglasville, Ga., Casper joined the Women's Army Corps and served at the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. and Fort Bragg, N.C. She has held various positions at the post, department and national levels of The American Legion. She served as the Department of Georgia commander from 2008-2009, as national historian from 2001-2002, and she attended National Legion College in 2001. In 1995, she was selected as her department’s Fourth District Legionnaire of the Year.
