About Us
ANSWERING THE CALL, AGAIN
Forged in the wake of sacrifice and service, the DAV Department of Louisiana has been a pillar of veteran support since 1922. With a mission rooted in empowering heroes and their families, we stand as a beacon of hope, delivering unmatched advocacy, benefits assistance, and community connections. Discover the legacy, leadership, and passion driving nearly a century of commitment to those who served.


Our Mission
DAV Louisiana is dedicated to a single purpose: empowering Louisiana’s disabled veterans to lead high‑quality lives with respect and dignity.
Each year, DAV Louisiana helps thousands of veterans and their families across the state obtain the benefits they have earned, through our network of DAV offices and local Chapters, including our Baton Rouge presence that assists roughly 12,000 veterans annually. We also reach into rural and smaller communities through Chapters and service officers so veterans don’t have to travel far to get help.
Through DAV’s Transportation Network, veterans in Louisiana receive tens of thousands of free rides every year to get to their scheduled VA medical appointments, including service to facilities such as the New Orleans VA Medical Center and other VA clinics across the state. These rides are provided by dedicated volunteer drivers at no cost to the veteran.
Every February, DAV leaders travel to Washington, D.C., to meet with members of Congress and ensure the promises made to the men and women who served—including those from Louisiana—are honored. We advocate for policies that improve health care, benefits, and quality of life for injured and ill veterans and their families.
Nationwide, DAV has more than 1 million members, and Louisiana proudly contributes to that strength through its own Department and Chapters that have been serving our state’s veterans for decades. DAV is a nonprofit organization founded in 1920 and chartered by Congress in 1932, and DAV Louisiana carries that legacy forward by standing beside our state’s disabled veterans every day.
Meet The Team
Line Officers

Robert Chapman
State Commander
Chapter #50

Pam Russell
Sr. Vice Commander
Chapter #21

Tony Plaisance
1st Jr. Vice Commander
Chapter #9

Robert Gros
2nd Jr. Vice Commander
Chapter #47

Beverly James
3rd Jr. Vice Commander
Chapter #23

Elton Strickland
Chaplain
Chapter #50

Charles "Tex" Stevenson
Judge Advocate
Chapter #50

Prentice Massey
Sergeant-At-Arms
Chapter #33

Al Leger
Jr. Past Department Commander
Chapter #19

Paul Hermann, Jr. - PDC
Adjutant
Chapter #50

Kevin Wenthe - PNEC/PDC
Treasurer
Chapter #20
Department Convention Committee

Matthew Shallington
Chapter #47

Eddie Figueron, PNEC/PDC
Chapter #7
Commander's Chief of Staff

Ernest Mitchel
Chapter #17
Commander's Advisors

G. Eddie Figueron - PNEC/PDC
Past National Executive Committee
Chapter #7

Jean Mitchel - PDC
Past Department Commander
Chapter #17

Kevin Wenthe - PNEC/PDC
Dept. Treasurer
Chapter #20

Belinda Hill - PDC
Past Department Commander
Chapter #23

Leo Aragon - PDC
Past Department Commander
Chapter #7

Paul Hermann, Jr. - PDC
Dept. Adjutant
Chapter #50

Charles "Tex" Stevenson
Dept. Judge Advocate
Chapter #50

Beverly James
NSO Supervisor
Chapter #23
Department Inspector

Belinda Hill, PDC
Chapter Adjutant
Chapter #23
Commander's Aide

George P. Mervin
Chapter #50
National Deputy Chief of Staff

Leo Aragon - PDC
Past Department Commander
Chapter #7

Joseph Menard - PDC
Past Department Commander
Chapter #2
Commander's Benefits Protection Team Leader

Mack Bailey
Chapter Adjutant
Chapter #50
Department Service Officer

Paul Hermann, Jr. - PDC
Dept. Adjutant
Chapter #50

Belinda Hill - PDC

Beverly James
Chapter #23
Chapter #23
NSO Supervisor
State VAVS Chairman

Shedrick J. Figaro - PDC
Past Department Commander
Chapter #23
Dept. Woman Veterans Representative

Sandy Franks
Chapter #30
LVAP Coordinator

Rhonda Sullivan
Chapter #17
Department Grievance Committee
Jerome Lastrapes
Chapter #17

Eddie Figueron - PNEC/PDC
Chapter #7

Charles "Tex" Stevenson
Chapter #50

Don Wilson
Chapter #30

Finance and Budget Committee

Pamela Russell
Chairman
Sr. Vice Commander
Chapter #21

G. Eddie Figueron - PNEC/PDC
Past National Executive Committee
Chapter #7

Ernest Mitchel
Chapter Commander
Chapter #17

Paul Hermann, Jr. - PDC
Dept. Adjutant
Chapter #50

Kevin Wenthe - PNEC/PDC
Dept. Treasurer
Chapter #20

Charles "Tex" Stevenson
Dept. Judge Advocate
Chapter #50

Belinda Hill - PDC
Chapter Adjutant
Chapter #23

Tony Plaisance
Dept. 1st Jr. Vice Commander
Chapter #9
Ways & Means Committee

Robbie Gros - Chairman
Chapter #47

Mason Causey - PDC
Chapter #20

Jason Hill
Chapter #2

Paul Hermann, Jr. - PDC
Chapter #50

Kevin Wenthe - PNEC/PDC
Chapter #20

Charles "Tex" Stevenson
Chapter #50

Beverly James
Chapter #23

Prentice E. Massey
Chapter #33
Membership Committee

Tony Plaisance - Chairman
Chapter #9

Darrell C. Adams
Chapter #17

L.C. Thomas
Chapter #5

Paul Herman - PDC
Chapter #50

Kevin Wenthe - PNEC/PDC
Chapter #20

Charles "Tex" Stevenson
Chapter #50
Awards and Recognition Committee

Robert Chapman - Chairman
Dept. Commander
Chapter #50

Pam Russell
Dept. Sr. Vice Commander
Chapter #21

Tony Plaisance
Dept. 1st Jr. Vice Commander
Chapter #9

Robbie Gros
Dept. 2nd Jr. Vice Commander
Chapter #47

Elton Strickland
Chaplain
Chapter #50

Beverly James
Dept. 3rd Jr. Vice Commander
Chapter #23

Paul Hermann, Jr. - PDC
Dept. Adjutant
Chapter #50

Kevin Wenthe - PNEC/PDC
Dept. Treasurer
Chapter #20

Charles "Tex" Stevenson
Dept. Judge Advocate
Chapter #50

Prentice Massey
Dept. Sgt-at-Arms
Chapter #33
Hospital Service Coodinator Commission

Kristy Buras - Chairman
Chapter 1st Jr. Vice Cmdr.
Chapter #23

Jerome LaStrapes
-
Chapter #17

Don Wilson
Chapter Commander
Chapter #30

Chuck Trenchard
Chapter Adjutant/Treasurer
Chapter #41

Beverly James - Advisor
NSO Supervisor
Chapter #20

Paul Hermann, Jr. - PDC
Dept. Adjutant
Chapter #50

Kevin Wenthe - PNEC/PDC
Dept. Treasurer
Chapter #20

Charles "Tex" Stevenson
Dept. Judge Advocate
Chapter #50

