Duane Sarmiento was elected Commander-in-Chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars
of the U.S. on July 27, 2023, at the 124th VFW National Convention in Phoenix, AZ.
He served in the United States Navy from 1988 to 1997,
and the United States Naval Reserve from 2002 to 2006,
earning his VFW eligibility by serving in Operations Desert
Shield/Storm. In recognition of his service, he received the
Navy Achievement Medal, Navy Combat Action Ribbon,
Navy Good Conduct Medal, the Southwest Asia Service
Medal with three campaign stars, the Saudi Arabian Medal
for the Liberation of Kuwait, Kuwait Medal for the
Liberation of Kuwait and numerous other medals and
ribbons. In 2003, he earned the title of the Naval Reserve
Center Sailor of the Year at Fort Dix.
Duane joined the VFW in 1990 at Post 5579 in Gibbstown,
New Jersey, where he maintains his Gold Legacy Life
membership. He has served in elected and appointed
positions at the Post, District and Department levels,
culminating with his election as the VFW Department of New Jersey Commander from 2018 to
2019. On the national level, he served as the VFW Inspector General from 2019 to 2020, and
served on the National Security and Foreign Affairs Committee, General Resolutions
Committee, and as Special Aide-de-Camp.
He retired as a police officer with the Greenwich Township Police Department and Gloucester
County Sheriff’s Department in New Jersey. Duane was the director of Veterans Affairs in
Gloucester County, New Jersey, retiring after 10 years of service.
He is a life member of the Military Order of the Cootie, at Ky-Yi Pup Tent #1 in Delaware, and a
member of the Fleet Reserve Association, Branch 57.
Duane and his wife, Ellen, reside in Gibbstown, New Jersey.