Leadership, Service, and Continued Mission
Meet the Chapter 82 Team
Chapter 82 is led and supported by veterans who continue serving through chapter leadership, VA benefits assistance, training, outreach, and local advocacy.
Our officers, appointees, service officers, and trainees work together to maintain the chapter, assist veterans and their families, and strengthen the veteran community throughout Charlotte County and Southwest Florida.
Elected Chapter Leadership
Line Officers
Chapter 82’s elected line officers provide executive leadership, organizational direction, and oversight of the chapter’s mission.
- CEO / Commander Dave Grant
- Senior Vice Commander Annamarie Remmel
- Junior Vice Commander Jeff Largent
Executive Committee and Chapter Administration
Appointed Officers
Appointed officers and executive committee members support chapter administration, operations, training, service delivery, communications, and member welfare.
- CFO / Treasurer Gus Peligrino
- COO / Adjutant Roger Nichols
- Executive Committee, First Year Joe Rapley
- Executive Committee, Second Year Brian Roman
- Executive Committee, Third Year Mike Schmitz
- Chief of Staff Donnie Head
- Judge Advocate Jim Sessa
- Chief Service Officer Pete Whisenant
- Chief Training Officer Joe Rapley
- Public Relations Ashley Abbott
- Chaplain Dave Smeltz
Veteran Benefits Assistance
Veteran Service Officers
Chapter 82’s service officers help veterans and eligible family members understand VA benefits, claims requirements, evidence, forms, decisions, and available next steps.
The veteran service team includes Department Service Officers, Chapter Service Officers, and Chapter Service Officer trainees. Service Officer Leadership provides direction, training, and support across the team.
- VA benefits information
- Claims and forms guidance
- Evidence and decision review
- Service officer training
Service Team Leadership
Service Officer Leadership
These officers oversee service-team operations, coordination, training, and professional development.
- Chief Service Officer Pete Whisenant
- Chief Training Officer Joe Rapley
Chapter 82 Service Officer Resources
Access Service Officer Tools
Open the Chapter 82 Service Officer Tools page to use the VA Combined Rating Calculator and future claims-review and training resources.
Department-Level Benefits Assistance
Department Service Officers
Department Service Officers provide benefits assistance through the DAV Department of Florida and support veterans with claims, evidence, decisions, and available review options.
Current Department Service Team
Department Service Officer Roster
- Dave Grant
- Joe Rapley
Local Veteran Benefits Assistance
Chapter Service Officers
Chapter Service Officers provide local benefits information and help veterans and eligible family members understand claims requirements, evidence, forms, decisions, and available next steps.
Current Chapter Service Team
Chapter Service Officer Roster
- Rob Olson
- T. Pete Whisenant
- Buzz Lewandowski
- Annamarie Remmel
- Brian Roman
- Dan Phillips
- Jeff Largent
- Jim Sessa
- DJ Currington
- Pat Leverty
- Bob Smith
- Mike Mullins
- Mike Schmitz
- Summer McClung
- Torrence White
- Steve White
- Steve Copeland
- Dave Smeltz
Training and Professional Development
Chapter Service Officer Trainees
Chapter Service Officer trainees are developing the knowledge and practical skills needed to assist veterans and eligible family members with VA benefits information, claims requirements, evidence, forms, and decisions.
Current Training Roster
Chapter Service Officer Trainees
- Tim Ireland
- John Miller
- John Lafferty
- Nick Holly
- Dawn Wedel
- Keith Zimmerman
- Mike Myers