Duane Sarmiento was elected Commander-in-Chief of the Veterans of
Foreign Wars of the U.S. on July 27, 2023, at the 124th VFW National
Convention in Phoenix, Arizona.
He served in the United States Navy from 1988 to 1997, and the
United States Naval Reserve from 2002 to 2006, earning his VFW
eligibility by serving in Operations Desert Shield/Storm. In recognition
of his service, he received the Navy Achievement Medal, Navy Combat
Action Ribbon, Navy Good Conduct Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal
with three campaign stars, the Saudi Arabian Medal for the Liberation
of Kuwait, Kuwait Medal for the Liberation of Kuwait and numerous other
medals and ribbons. In 2003, he earned the title of the Naval Reserve
Center Sailor of the Year at Fort Dix.
Duane joined the VFW in 1990 at Post 5579 in Gibbstown, New Jersey,
where he maintains his Gold Legacy Life membership. He has served in
elected and appointed positions at the Post, District and Department
levels, culminating with his election as the VFW Department of New
Jersey Commander from 2018 to 2019. On the national level, he served as
the VFW Inspector General from 2019 to 2020, and has served on the
National Security and Foreign Affairs Committee, General Resolutions
Committee, and as Special Aide-de-Camp.
He retired as a police officer with the Greenwich Township Police
Department and Gloucester County Sheriff’s Department in New Jersey.
Duane was the director of Veterans Affairs in Gloucester County, New
Jersey, prior to being elected as a VFW National Officer.
He is a life member of the Military Order of the Cootie, at Mighty
Pinatubo Pup Tent #15 in Angeles City, Philippines, and a life member of
the VFW National Home.
Duane and his wife, Ellen, reside in Gibbstown, New Jersey, and have three children and one grandchild.