Department Commander
Jason Rue
740-362-7478 | commander@ohiolegion.com
Jason Rue was elected to serve as the 2023-2024 Department of Ohio Commander on Sunday July 2nd 2023. His eligibility stems from holding office in 2022-2023 as Department of Ohio 2nd Vice Commander in which he was elected to serve on Sunday July 3rd 2022 and also appointed to serve 2022-2023, as the Department of Ohio 1st Vice Commander by order of Executive Session decision on August 6th 2022.
Jason earned his eligibility by service in United States Marine Corps Reserves from January 1994 through January 2000 and the Ohio Army National Guard from June 2005 to December 2019, upon retiring and served a tour in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Local Level: Past Commander at Winnow-Arn Post 541 for two years. District Level: Jason served as The Great First District Commander for two years.
He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sport Marketing and Management. He also earned a Master’s in Business Administration.
Jason is married to Mindi Rue.
» COMMANDER’S CORNER
Arnold Whatley | 1st Vice Commander
The First Vice Commander serves under the Commander of the Department of Ohio. His responsibilities include being Membership Committee Chairman, ensuring that the Legion message is heard by all veterans, and providing the overall mission for the membership year.
Arnold Whatley was was elected to serve 2023-2024 as the Department of Ohio 1st Vice Commander on Sunday July 2nd 2023 and also appointed to serve 2022-2023, as the Department of Ohio 2nd Vice Commander by order of Executive Session decision on August 6th 2022.
Arnold is a member of Post 776 and served 22 ½ years of Active Duty in the United States Air Force (USAF) His past and current offices include; National American Legion Appointment, Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation (VA&R), National Cemetery Committee 2018 -Present, Department of Ohio American Legion Internal Commission Member -2021, Sgt at Arms -2017 – 2018, Assistant Sgt at Arms-2016.
His District Positions/Accomplishments include; 3rd District Commander-2014-2015, 1st Vice Commander -2013, 2nd Vice Commander -2012, Finance Officer-2011, Resolution -2016 -Present, Past Commander Committee -2016 -Present.
His Post Positions/Accomplishments include; Commander Post 776 – 2008-2010, 1st Vice Commander – 2007, 3 Year Trustee -2001, 2004, 2018, 2 Year Trustee -2002, 2005, 2019, 1 Year Trustee -2003, 2006, Present, Needy Family Committee Member 2011 -Present, & PUFL – Major Accomplishments as Commander: $21,000 donation towards Gifts for Yanks Program, 20 Candidates to Boys State, 100% Membership Quota Met.
His other affiliations include; Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge State of Ohio, Edward Dugger, Jr Military Lodge #123 Worshipful Master, Past Master 32° Degree, Miami Consistory #26, Worshipful Master of the Rose Corix, Order of the Eastern Star (OES), Prince Hall Affiliated (PHA), Inc., Past Patron – 2015-2017, Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Akbar Temple #41, Springfield, Ohio, Noble
Arnold is endorsed by Past Department Commanders:
Stanley Pleasant
Henry Long
Robert Steele
David Hilliard
Stan Oren | 2nd Vice Commander
The Second Vice Commander serves under the 1st Vice Commander and the Commander of the Department of Ohio. Their responsibilities include being Post Activities Chairman.
Stan Oren was was elected to serve 2023-2024 as the Department of Ohio 2nd Vice Commander on Sunday July 2nd 2023.
Stan earned his eligibility by serving in the United States Navy in 1969-1971.
Stan is a 40-year member of Harter-Williams Post 536 Gilboa, currently serving as Finance Officer. He is Past First District Commander 2017-2018 and Past Department Assistance Sergeant-at-Arms 2018-2019. He is a member of the Buckeye Boys State Staff 2021-2023. Stan has served on the Department Americanism, Oratorical, and POW-MIA commissions and is a National Appointee for Americanism Commission.
He serves the veteran community as President of Putnam County Veterans Service Commission and membership in veterans organizations, SAL, Forty & Eight, VFW, DAV, AMVETS and VVA.
Jose L Rivera
Brewer-Tarasco Post 7 Wickliffe
Department Treasurer
![Department Treasurer - Jose Rivera Department Treasurer - Jose Rivera](https://www.ohiolegion.com/wp-content/uploads/Department-Treasurer-Jose-Rivera-174x207.jpeg)
James O Fast
Auglaize Post 330 Wapakoneta
Assistant Chaplain
![James Fast- Department Assistant Chaplain James Fast- Department Assistant Chaplain](https://www.ohiolegion.com/wp-content/uploads/James-Fast-Department-Assistant-Chaplain-174x207.jpeg)
Steve Masowick
Post 685 Streetsboro
Nat’l Executive Committeeman
![National Executive Committeeman - Steve Masowick National Executive Committeeman - Steve Masowick](https://www.ohiolegion.com/wp-content/uploads/National-Executive-Committeeman-Steve-Masowick-1-174x207.jpg)
Josh Brown
William R Schnug Memorial Post 614 Hilliard
Department Judge Advocate
![Josh Brown - Department Judge Advocate Josh Brown - Department Judge Advocate](https://www.ohiolegion.com/wp-content/uploads/Josh-Brown-Department-Judge-Advocate-174x207.jpeg)
Robert S White, PHD (Bob)
Brecksville-Excelsior Post 196 Brecksville
Department Asst. Historian
![Robert White - Department Assistant Historian Robert White - Department Assistant Historian](https://www.ohiolegion.com/wp-content/uploads/Robert-White-Department-Assistant-Historian-174x207.jpeg)
Michael J Blackwell (Mike)
Randolph Post 707 Englewood
Asst. Sergeant-At-Arms
![Mike Blackwell - Department Assistant Sergeant-At-Arms Mike Blackwell - Department Assistant Sergeant-At-Arms](https://www.ohiolegion.com/wp-content/uploads/Mike-Blackwell-Department-Assistant-Sergeant-At-Arms-174x207.jpeg)
Harold D Landis
Toledo Police Post 512 Toledo
“Great” First District Commander
![1st District Commander - Harold Landis 1st District Commander - Harold Landis](https://www.ohiolegion.com/wp-content/uploads/1st-District-Commander-Harold-Landis-174x207.jpeg)
Thomas W Tierney
Post 210 Celina
Second “To None” District Commander
![2nd District Commander - Thomas Tierney 2nd District Commander - Thomas Tierney](https://www.ohiolegion.com/wp-content/uploads/2nd-District-Commander-Thomas-Tierney-scaled-174x207.jpg)
Albert S Buxton (Al)
Yeager-Benson Memorial Post 199 Harrison
“Fabulous” Fourth District Commander
![4th District Commander - Al Buxton 4th District Commander - Al Buxton](https://www.ohiolegion.com/wp-content/uploads/4th-District-Commander-Al-Buxton-174x207.jpeg)
Martin H Moore
Elmer Johnson Post 118 Amherst
“Fighting” Fifth District Commander
![5th District Commander - Martin Moore 5th District Commander - Martin Moore](https://www.ohiolegion.com/wp-content/uploads/5th-District-Commander-Martin-Moore-174x207.jpeg)
Christopher Miller
Jenkins-Vaughan Post 97 Cardington
Sizzlin’ Sixth District Commander
6thDistCMDR@ohiolegion.com christophermiller7187@outlook.com
![6th District 1st Vice Commander - Christopher Miller 6th District 1st Vice Commander - Christopher Miller](https://www.ohiolegion.com/wp-content/uploads/6th-District-1st-Vice-Commander-Christopher-Miller-174x207.jpeg)
Lorena Nichols
Paul H Hughey Post 25 Washington Ct House
“Magnificent” Seventh District Commander
![7th District Commander - Lorena Nichols 7th District Commander - Lorena Nichols](https://www.ohiolegion.com/wp-content/uploads/7th-District-Commander-Lorena-Nichols-174x207.jpeg)
Donald N Capps
John Tague Post 188 New Lexington
“Great” Eighth District Commander
![8th District Commander - Donald Capps 8th District Commander - Donald Capps](https://www.ohiolegion.com/wp-content/uploads/8th-District-Commander-Donald-Capps-174x207.jpeg)
William Richard Dittebrand (Bill)
Palmer-Roberts Post 214 Willoughby
“Dynamic” Ninth District Commander
![9th District Commander - William Dittebrand 9th District Commander - William Dittebrand](https://www.ohiolegion.com/wp-content/uploads/9th-District-Commander-William-Dittebrand-174x207.jpeg)
Wesley A Crothers
Joe Williams Inc Post 131 Leetonia
“Great” Tenth District Commander
![10th District Commander - Wesley Crothers 10th District Commander - Wesley Crothers](https://www.ohiolegion.com/wp-content/uploads/10th-District-Commander-Wesley-Crothers-174x207.jpeg)
Thom Stan
Russell Chadwick Post 389 Beverly
“Elite” Eleventh District Commander
![11th District Commander - Thom Stan 11th District Commander - Thom Stan](https://www.ohiolegion.com/wp-content/uploads/11th-District-Commander-Thom-Stan-scaled-174x207.jpg)
Brad Beatty
Paschall Post 164 Grove City
“Capital” Twelfth District Commander
![12th District Commander - Brad Beatty 12th District Commander - Brad Beatty](https://www.ohiolegion.com/wp-content/uploads/12th-District-Commander-Brad-Beatty-174x207.jpeg)
Bertrand C Boyd Sr
Western Reserve Post 315 Cleveland
“Tenacious” Thirteenth District Commander
![13th District Commander - Bert Boyd 13th District Commander - Bert Boyd](https://www.ohiolegion.com/wp-content/uploads/13th-District-Commander-Bert-Boyd-174x207.jpeg)
Sharon L McClain
Charles Faust Post 281 Cuyahoga Falls
“Phenomenal” Fourteenth District Commander
![14th District Commander- Sharon McClain 14th District Commander- Sharon McClain](https://www.ohiolegion.com/wp-content/uploads/14th-District-Commander-Sharon-McClain-174x207.jpeg)