George Wallace 

Post Commander

George is a US Army Veteran and has been a member of the American Legion for over 10 years. 

He retired from the Army as a Chief Warrant Officer 4 after serving for 33 (1986 - 2019) and is the recipient of the Legion of Merit. 

His deployments include Operation Desert Shield/Storm, Operation Joint Forge, and Operation Enduring Freedom and has served in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bosnia, and Germany. 

George is the past Post Service Officer and Past Director of Post 8’s American Legion Riders Chapter. 

He is a “Quad-Member” with membership in the American Legion,

Sons of the American Legion, the American Legion Auxiliary and the American Legion Riders.

Dan Fiore

1st Vice Commander

Dan Fiore is a United States Marine Corps Combat Veteran who deployed to Somalia in 1993. 

He has been a member of the American Legion since 2020 and has been the Entertainment Coordinator since 2024. 

Dan has a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Saint Leo University. 

He is a Retired Police Officer from the Virginia Beach Police Department. 

Dan has a life-long commitment as a  Veteran advocacy, community service, and leadership.   

Jim Albright 

2nd Vice Commander

Gino Malin 

3rd Vice Commander

Gino, a Navy Veteran, has been a member of the American Legion for over 6 years. 

He completed Boot Camp in Orlando and was assigned to the Naval Base in Rota Spain. 

Gino’s next assignment was on the USS Independence CV62, an Aircraft Carrier based out of Norfolk, VA. 

Gino is also the Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms for Post 8’s American Legion Riders.

Ed McNulty 

Finance Officer

Ed is a US Navy Veteran who served from November 1959 – November 1961 on the USS Gyatt DDG1, the US Navy’s first Guided Missile Destroyer.  

He is the Finance Officer for Post 8 as well as the Captain of Post 8’s Honor Guard.  Ed is also a Past Post Commander. 

Cathy Smithmeyer 

Adjutant

Cathy is a US Navy Veteran and has been a member of the American Legion for over 8 years. 

She served in the Navy for 4 years, stationed at Commander Submarine Group Two in Groton, Connecticut. 

Cathy serves as Post 8’s America Legion Adjutant. 

Richard (Rick) Brown

Chaplain

Fred Wilson 

Sergeant At Arms

Ron Fraser 

Historian

Ron Fraser is a US Navy Veteran and has been a member of the American Legion for over 10 years. 

He has received numerous awards on behalf of Post 8 for his history books. 

Robert (Bob) Hardman

Executive Committee

Jordon Maxwell

Executive Committee

Fred Knippenberg 

Executive Committee

Fred Knippenberg is a US Army Veteran and a US Navy Veteran, having spent 5 years in the Navy Reserves from 1955-1960 and Active Army for 3 years from 1960-1963. 

He played the trumpet for the 113th 2nd Army Band.  Fred has been a member of the American Legion for over 33 years and is Paid Up For Life (PULF) .

Fred is also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) for over 33 years. 

He has been a member and the bugler of Post 8’s Honor Guard for over 14 years as well as serving as 1^st Lieutenant the past 4 years. 

Fred served as a police officer for the city of Fairview Park, Ohio, for 28 years, retiring as a Sergeant Detective. 

He has played the trumpet for over 75 years toured with several Road Big Bands. 

He currently plays with Polk State College’s Chain of Lakes Big Band as well as the Bartow Adult Community Band.

Craig "Red" Heun 

Service Officer

Ian Lilly 

Judge Advocate

Ian Lilly is an Army Veteran, having served as an Infantryman with the 4th Infantry Division during the 2003 invasion of Iraq.  He has been an American Legion member for over 14 years.

After the military, Ian worked as an entertainment rigger, handling pyrotechnics, building concert stages, and supporting live productions.

Ian served as an Assistant Administrator for the Soldiers Sailors Marines Fund, helping Wartime Veterans with emergency financial needs.

He has also worked as a Veterans district aide for the U.S. House of Representatives (115th Congress), assisting constituents with VA, Social Security, aging services, immigration, the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund, and the World Trade Center Health Program.

Ian has held several positions in the American Legion including Department of Connecticut Assistant Treasurer, member of the Homeless Veterans Task Force, and Post and District Senior Vice.

He currently serves as District 7 Judge Advocate, is active with Winter Haven Post 8, and chairs the Constitution and By-Laws Committee.

Mike O'Callaghan 

Past Post Commander

Mike is a US Army Paratrooper Veteran and has been a member of the American Legion for over 25 years. 

He is the Finance Officer for Post 8’s Sons of the American Legion and a founding member of Post 8’ American Legion Riders Chapter.