Dean is a Florida native, born in St. Petersburg, FL. Being an Air Force brat Dean grew up all over the United States and Germany. He enlisted in the Army in 1984. His duty stations in order include 3rd Ranger Battalion Ft Benning, 2nd Infantry Division Camp Hovey Korea, 7th Infantry Division 3rd 27th Ft Ord, 5th 87th Infantry at Ft Davis Panama and Ft Sill Training Brigade. He earned his Expert Infantry Badge at 3rd Ranger Bat and his Combat Infantry Badge during Operation Just Cause in Panama. He graduated from Ranger School Class 3rd of 91 at the age of 30. He was on active duty just shy of 10 years and achieved the rank of E6.He has four daughters, three granddaughters, and one grandson. Dean is currently employed as a maintenance supervisor at a high-end apartment complex and lives with his two dogs Dixie and Cash.
HONORS AND AWARDS
Post Commander of the Year Post of the Year – two years in a row under his command
MAILING ADDRESS:
6531 NE 131st Ave Williston, FL 32696
1st VICE COMMANDER
Kevin Butwill – Post 81
508-369-8618
Kevin Butwill is a US Army Veteran. Proud Life Member of AMVETS. His duty stations were Scofield Barracks, Hawaii and Ft Polk, La. He attended basic training and AIT at Fort Sill, Oklahoma as a 13F-Fire Support Specialist (Field Artillery) attached to Infantry units. Kevin was a 20-year member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters Union Local #535 & #1809. He has served as Trustee, Recording Secretary and Union Steward. Today he is currently employed with Lee Health Hospital System as a Construction Superintendent. He has dedicated his time in Supporting and Advancing the Aims and Purposes of the AMVETS Veterans Organization in his many elected and appointed positions.
HONORS AND AWARDS
Veteran US Army 1982-1985 Life Member AMVETS Dept of Florida 1st Vice Commander – Currently Dept of Florida 2nd Vice Commander -2 terms Dept of Florida Provost Marshal – 3 terms Dept of Florida Deputy Provost Marshal 4-terms National Deputy Provost Marshal- 4-terms currently National Honor Guard Committee Chairman-Currently National Honor Guard Committee Member-4 terms National POW/MIA Committee Member- 2 terms Dept of Florida AMVET of the Year Award 2019-2020 Dept of Florida Officer of the Year Award 2024 Dept of Florida Membership Committee – Currently Dept of Florida Programs Committee 4-terms Dept of Florida Personnel Committee- Currently Dept of Florida Honor Guard Committee-Currently Florida District VI Commander -2 terms Florida District VI 1st Vice Commander 2-terms Florida District VI 2nd Vice Commander Florida District VI Provost Marshall- 2 terms Post FL-81 Commander -2-terms Post FL-81 1st Vice Commander Post FL-81 Finance Officer- 2-terms Currently Post FL-81 Building Committee Member Post FL-81 Building Committee Member US Congressional Citation Sept 2009 Rhode Island House of Representative Citation Sept 2009
MAILING ADDRESS:
551 Plaza Del Sol North Ft. Myers, FL 33917
2nd VICE COMMANDER
Dave Baca- Post 26
813-352-8590
David “Dave” Baca is a proud United States Marine Corps veteran and a dedicated lifetime member of AMVETS. He graduated from Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California, in 1992 and went on to serve at several notable duty stations, including MWCS-28 in Cherry Point, North Carolina; JCSE at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida; and the 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion in Tampa, Florida.
Dave joined AMVETS Post 26 in 2015 and quickly became a respected leader at the Post, District, and Department levels. His service includes holding the positions of Provost Marshal, 1st Vice Commander, and Commander for both Post 26 and District III. At the Department of Florida level, he served on the Membership and Personal Committees, acted as Department Deputy Provost Marshal for four years, and later served two years as the elected Department Provost Marshal. He currently serves as the elected Department 2nd Vice Commander.
Professionally, Dave brings more than 20 years of leadership and management experience from his career with Fastenal Company, where he previously served as a General Manager, leading teams, managing operations, and overseeing day-to-day business performance. He has since transitioned to SSC (Services for Education), where he works as a Procurement and Warehouse Manager at the University of South Florida. In this role, he runs a department and leads a team of employees, overseeing a full warehouse and procurement operation.
Dave’s commitment to AMVETS is a true family journey. He has been married to his wife, Sarah Baca, for 17 years, and together they have three children: Mia, David, and Makenzie. As a family, they are active in AMVETS Auxiliary and Juniors, reflecting their shared dedication to veterans, community service, and the core values of AMVETS.
HONORS AND AWARDS
2023-2024 Dept of Florida Commander of the Year
2023-2024 Dept of Florida Post of the Year – under his Command
2020-2021 Dept of Florida AMVET of the Year
2024 Veterans Council of Hillsborough County Walt Raysick Patriotic Spirit Award
2018-2019 Elected District Officer of the Year
2018-2019 Post 26 AMVET of the Year
Department 2nd Vice Commander – 2025–Current
Department Provost Marshal – 2023–2025
Department Deputy Provost Marshal – 2019–2023
Department Personal Committee – 2021–Current
Department Membership Committee – 2018–2019
District III Commander – 2021–2023
District III 1st Vice Commander – 2019–2021
District III Provost Marshal – 2017–2019
Post 26 Commander – 2021–2024
Post 26 1st Vice Commander – 2019–2021
Post 26 Provost Marshal – 2017–2019
MAILING ADDRESS:
P.O. Box 2231 Valrico, FL 33595
JUDGE ADVOCATE
Sharon Davis – Post 04
813-748-4650
Service has been a cornerstone of Sharon’s life. She was born into the Air Force, married an Air Force Sergeant, and later joined the Air Force, serving on active duty. After 20 years of dedicated military service, she retired from Columbus Air Force Base in Mississippi in 1999.
Following her retirement, she relocated to Tampa, Florida, where she transitioned into the legal field as the Director of Compliance for a local Dental Service Organization.
In 2019, she proudly joined AMVETS under the mentorship of Past Post Commander/Past Department Commander/Past National Commander—Horace Johnson. Since then, she has been deeply involved in leadership at both the post and district levels. Her roles have included:
Post Positions:
Chairman of the Board of Trustees
Adjutant
2nd Vice Commander
Current Director of the Food Bank
Current 1st Vice Commander
District Leadership:
Current 1st Vice Commander.
District Provost,
2nd Vice Commander
Department-Level Contributions:
Current Judge Advocate
Past Department Adjutant
Current Scholarship Chair
With her extensive military background, legal experience, and commitment to serving veterans, she manages her role as an American Veteran with integrity, dedication, and a deep respect for our mission.
HONORS AND AWARDS
2024-2025 Elected Post Officer of the year
MAILING ADDRESS:
5710 N 22nd St Tampa, FL 33610
FINANCE OFFICER
Dr. Jondexter Toombs, DM – Post 4
813-210-0973
Dr. Jondexter Toombs: A Legacy of Service, Leadership, and Excellence
Dr. Jondexter Toombs is a distinguished United States Air Force veteran whose career reflects an unwavering commitment to service, education, and leadership. His professional journey is marked by exceptional achievements in both military and civilian spheres, underscoring his dedication to advancing organizational excellence and societal progress.
Dr. Toombs is a multifaceted professional—researcher, scholar, practitioner, leader, educator, activist, published author, and idealist. His academic credentials are a testament to his intellectual rigor and pursuit of lifelong learning. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Management, followed by a Master of Business Administration (MBA). Recognizing the growing importance of cybersecurity in national and organizational security, he obtained a Master of Science in Cybersecurity with a specialization in Cyber Intelligence. His academic journey culminated in a Doctor of Management in Organizational Leadership, positioning him as a thought leader in strategic leadership and organizational development.
Beyond his academic accomplishments, Dr. Toombs has demonstrated exemplary leadership within the AMVETS organization, a national veterans service organization dedicated to advocating for those who have served. His tenure includes pivotal roles such as Judge Advocate and First Vice Commander of AMVETS Post 4. Currently, he serves as Commander of AMVETS Post 4 and District III, where his vision and leadership have strengthened programs that support veterans and their families. Additionally, Dr. Toombs holds the position of Chief Financial Officer for the AMVETS Department of Florida and chairs the department’s finance committee, ensuring fiscal responsibility and transparency across the organization.
Dr. Toombs is widely respected for his integrity and adherence to the core values of accountability, dignity, and honor. His steadfast commitment to the Constitution of the United States and the principles outlined in the AMVETS preamble reflects his deep sense of duty and patriotism. Through his leadership, he has championed initiatives that promote self-improvement, community engagement, and service to others, paving the way for a stronger and more inclusive future for veterans nationwide.
As a published author and advocate for leadership development, Dr. Toombs continues to inspire individuals and organizations to embrace excellence, ethical governance, and transformative change. His work exemplifies the belief that true leadership is rooted in service, and his contributions stand as a beacon of hope and progress for generations to come.
HONORS AND AWARDS
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MAILING ADDRESS:
160 West Tyler Street Unit 109 Tampa, FL 33602
PROVOST MARSHAL
Andre Hardy – Post 4
813-600-7612
I am a Navy veteran who proudly served during Operation Desert Storm as a Naval Shipboard Electricians Mate Petty Officer 3rd Class (EM3) and a shipboard Firefighter. I served for a total of eight years with four years active and four years reserve duty. After completing my military service, I started my career with the City of Tampa Parks and Recreation Department in an entry level position. Through hard work and dedication, I worked my way up to middle management and have restored and improved more than 64 parks in the city.
When I joined AMVETS, National Commander Horace Johnson saw something in me and encouraged me to do more at our post. I learned a great deal from him and quickly started moving up in leadership. My first position was Trustee, and within a year I was elected Second Vice Commander. I continued through the chairs until I became Commander of AMVETS Post 4.
Wanting to grow even further, I moved on to District III where I was elected Second Vice Commander. I worked through all the district chairs and eventually became District III Commander.
Over the past five years I have had the chance to learn from many leaders in AMVETS, and I value the knowledge they have shared with me. For the past two years I have served as Deputy Provost Marshal for the Department of Florida. I love this organization, and I respect and appreciate all the veterans who are part of it. My goal is to continue growing and serving in AMVETS for many years to come.
HONORS AND AWARDS
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MAILING ADDRESS:
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ADJUTANT
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813- —-
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HONORS AND AWARDS
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MAILING ADDRESS:
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Richard A. McKern – Post 78
850-855-0474
Richard A. McKern, was born in Omaha, Nebraska, and is a lifetime fan of the Nebraska Cornhuskers (GO BIG RED). He graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School and entered the Army National Guard in 1976 as a Recovery Specialist. In 1979, he transferred into the Air Force on active duty as a Armament System Specialist. He later became a Weapons Safety officer, retiring in April of 2000 at Eglin AFB, Florida. Rick went to work for Nortel Networks upon retirement from the USAF until returning back to Eglin AFB as a contractor working for the 96th Test Wing again as an Explosive Safety officer. He also started his college degree with Troy University in Finance and Personnel Management, graduating with his BS in 2007. In 2006, Rick converted from a Contractor to Civil Service for the 96th Test Wing until his final retirement in April of 2020 with over 40-years of service working for the Government and Department of Defense.
Richard McKern was introduced to Amvets in late 2001 while attending a military retirement at Amvets Post 78. He was impressed by the camaraderie and just being around veterans, becoming a member of the Post in 2002 and a life member in 2003. He has held numerous positions within the Post since including Trustee, Chairman of the Board, 2st Vice Commander, Finance Officer for 5-years, and currently in his 2nd year as Post Commander. Rick also is currently the District Commander for District IV, the largest District in the State of Florida with eleven Posts, soon to be twelve.
Richard McKern was asked to become part of the Finance Committee which he did and really enjoyed as he did in his previous duty as Finance Officer for Post 78, one of the largest Posts in Florida. Rick was nominated for the Finance Officer position, accepted, and was elected as the Finance Officer for the Department of Florida in June 2022.
Richard McKern has been married to his wife Mary since 1977 and both have enjoyed tours of duty in California, Louisiana, 9-years in the United Kingdom, settling down in Niceville, Florida which they have been a resident of since 1993. They have two sons, Chadwick and Jay.
HONORS AND AWARDS
Inspector General USAF Asst First Sergeant, USAF Instructor, USAF Post 78 Trustee Post 78 2nd Vice Commander Post 78 Chairman of the Board Post 78 Finance Officer District IV Finance Committee District IV Commander Department Finance Committee
