Florida Officers & Leadership
Meet the men and women that proudly serve the Florida Department of AMVETS
COMMANDER
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U.S. Navy Veteran and life member of AMVETS since 2008 and has been active at all levels. National District III Judge Advocate 2021-2023, National Membership Committee 2021-2022, Department Commander 2023-2024, 1st Vice Commander 2021-2023, 2nd Vice Commander 2020-2021, Department Judge Advocate 2015-2017. Other positions held at the Department level are Inspector General, Deputy Inspector General, member of the Constitution & Bylaws Committee, and member of the Grievance Committee. Served as Commander and Finance Officer of District XII. He has served as Commander 6 years, 1st Vice, Finance Officer and Judge Advocate of AMVETS Post 32. He was the Department Officer of the year 2015-2016 and Post 32 AMVET of the year 2012..
1st VICE COMMANDER
Dean Richards - Post 88
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.
2nd VICE COMMANDER
Kevin Butwill - Post 81
Kevin Butwill is a US Army Veteran. His Duty Stations were Schofield Barracks, Hi & Ft Polk, La after attending Basic Training and AIT at Ft Sill Ok. (Field Artillery)
Kevin is a 20-year member of New England Carpenters Union. His Positions have included Union Steward, Local #535 Trustee and Local #535 Recording Secretary. He continues his membership in Carpenters Union Local #1809 Miami, while self-employed in Property Maint. Prior to this position Kevin was Commander of Amvets Post 81, he has Proudly Served in many elected and appointed positions at Amvets Post, District and Department Levels
Kevin received a United States Congressional Citation and a Rhode Island House of Representation Citation for Volunteerism. Now he has dedicated his time in Supporting and Advancing the Aims and Purposes of Amvets Veterans Organization on behalf of all Veterans
HONORS AND AWARDS
- Veteran of US Army 1982 – 1985
- Life Member of Amvets
- fDept of Florida, Alt. Provost Marshal 2017- Present
- District 6 Florida, 1st Vice Commander 2019 - Present
- District 6 Florida, Provost Marshal 2017 - 2019
- Commander of Amvets Post FL- 81 NFT Myers 2018 – 2020
- 1st Vice CMDR Amvets Post FL- 81 NFT Myers 2016 – 2017
- Finance Officer Amvets Post FL – 81 NFT Myers 2017 – 2018
- of Florida Honor Guard Committee Member 2019 - Present
- Post 81 Honor Guard 2018 - Present
- Received a US Congressional Citation Volunteerism Sept. 2009
- Received a State of Rhode Island House of Representatives Citation Sept. 2009
. MAILING ADDRESS
551 Plaza Del Sol
NFT Myers, Fl 33917
JUDGE ADVOCATE
Pam Gerhard - Post 26
Served as Post Adjutant, JA, 2nd and 1st Vice Commanders
District JA, Finance Officer, and Commander
Co-Chair of Dept CBL committee for 2 years
FINANCE OFFICER
Richard A. McKern - Post 78
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 AWARDSInspector 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
MAILING ADDRESS
1598 Ruckel Drive,
Niceville, FL 32578
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Horace Johnson - Post 04
As a Life Member of AMVETS since 2006 I have been active at all levels of the organization. Currently a trustee and the Treasurer of the National Service Foundation. I am a Past Commander of AMVETS Department of Florida. The past Post 4 Commander Tampa, FL. I was the Department of Florida District III Commander 2 years. Past National District III Commander.(2015) I am a Viet Nam Veteran 1968/1969 where I was a Combat Medic. I spent 22 years in the Army (18 of them in the Ohio Army National Guard) where I retired as an Operations Sergeant Major of the 37th Armored Cavalry Division in 1998. I did 35 years in the US Postal Service where I elevated from a Letter Carrier to an Officer-In- Charge (Postmaster) of a Level 22 Post Office. I have completed all leadership courses required to manage the positions I have held; including annual Safety, Leadership, and Sexual Harassment courses. While in the Military I also completed Instructor Training courses. I accepted this position because I am a dedicated AMVET, willing to do what our Officer’s Manual and Bylaws defines that a member should do; help to make our Organization an Organization that cares about Veterans, our communities and its people.