Members of the King County Veterans' Program Advisory Board

King County Veterans' Program Advisory Board members are elected at the annual general meeting in February. Board members must be officially selected representatives from veterans' organizations in King County, including American Legion (AL), Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), and National Association for Black Veterans (NABVETS).

King County Veteran's Program Advisory Board Members

Harry Brown, AL

Arthur Dammkoehler, Disabled American Veterans #43 - Served in the United States Army during World War II as a rifleman. He went overseas and into combat in Europe with the 75^th Infantry Division. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge and was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. He attended college under the G.I. Bill and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology. His first position in government was in charge of Engineering for the Department of Air Pollution Control, City of Chicago. In 1967, he was appointed Director of the newly formed Puget Sound Air Pollution Control Agency. The Agency received national recognition for its aggressive and comprehensive air pollution control program. After retirement he became active with the Disabled American Veterans Organization and is now the Chapter Past Commander. He brings to the Board experience in administering effective government programs and is committed to improving the quality of life for active duty, veterans, National Guard, Reserve and their families.

Stanley Gunno, Disabled American Veterans #43.  Mr. Gunno served in the U.S. Air Force from 1977 until his retirement in 1996. He received numerous awards and recognitions, including the Meritorious Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal. He is a self-employed general contractor and volunteers with disabled veterans and their families. He is serving his third term on the King County Veterans' Program Advisory Board and also serves as a member of the Veterans and Human Services Levy Veterans Citizen Levy Oversight Board.  Mr. Gunno is.the treasurer for Pack Parachute Charity, a nonprofit organization aiding Military Sexual Trauma Victims. He is the State Commander for the Disabled American Veterans Department of Washington, and is a lifetime member of the Air Force Association.

Douglas Hoople, VFW #2995, Vice Chair - Lieutenant Commander Hoople served with the U.S. Navy from 1960-1980, and upon leaving the Navy, was employed by the Boeing Commercial Airplane Company until his retirement in 2001. He worked with the Boeing Employees Good Neighbor Fund for 20 years, and was a loaned executive to United Way during two United Way annual campaigns.  He is also a Human Services Commissioner for the City of Bellevue. In addition to serving as a member of the King County Veterans' Program Advisory Board, he is the past chair of the Veterans and Human Services Levy Veterans Citizen Levy Oversight Board.  Lt. Commander Hoople is a lifetime member of both Vietnam Veterans of America and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Eddie Jensen, DAV #43 - Served in the U.S. Army from 1964–1967 and was stationed in Germany and Vietnam. While serving in Vietnam, he received combat wounds resulting in a severe life-long disability. He is a member of both the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and the American Legion, and is currently the Senior Vice Commander for the DAV Chapter 43 in Bellevue, WA. Along with his military experience., he brings to the board a 29-year career as an Operations Manager and a Program Manager for a Fortune 100 defense contractor. Eddie currently holds a real estate broker license in the states of Washington and California. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Information Systems from California Lutheran University.

Thomas C (Tom) Leonard, VFW #2886 - Mr. Leonard has been a member or the Veterans Advisory Board since 2001. He has been a volunteer at the Seattle VA Hospital as a Disabled American Veterans’ van driver and as an Information Desk Volunteer. He is a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, a member or The American Legion and the Air Force Sergeant’s Association. Mr. Leonard is an Air Force retiree, having served 27 years during the Cold War, Viet Nam War and Korean Defense, for which he received numerous awards.

Bill Metcalf, AL #40

Lyle Stevenson, AL #40

Ray Tomlinson - Mr. Tomlinson served in the U.S. Army from 1967-1970, including service in Vietnam from 1968-1969. He is a past member of the Federal Way City Council. He has worked in the insurance business for 40 years. Mr. Tomlinson's goal as a current member of the King County Veterans' Program Advisory Board is to improve the quality of service to all veterans and their families.

Eugene J. Vojir - Mr. Vojir is a member of the VFW and American Legion.  He served in the U.S. Navy from 1965-1969, including service on the U.S.S. Ranger and on Whidbey Island.  He is a Seattle native and graduate of Chief Sealth High School and the University of Washington. He worked for Pacific Northwest Bell for 25 years.  A member of the UW Alumni Club, he supports the Huskies and the Storm.

David Waggoner - Retired from active duty in the U.S. Army in 1993 as a Lieutenant Colonel with 26 years of service.  David is in his second two-year term on the King County Veterans Advisory Board. He has been a Life Member of the VFW for 19 years and has served as Commander of Post #3436 in Issaquah from 2004 to 2008. David works full time for King County Metro Transit as a transit operator and is in his 46th year of driving busses part time and full time (even during his Army career). David is married to Roberta Waggoner, and they have a grown son. They also have two “very spoiled” kitty cats – Freckles and Socks. David also volunteers as a Docent for the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery (F.I.S.H. = Friends of Issaquah Salmon Hatchery) and serves as Chairperson for the City of Issaquah Cemetery Board.  David also serves as a board member for Freedom Fighters Honor Flight, which flies WWII Veterans back to Washington, D.C. to visit the WWII Monument dedicated to all WWII Vets.

Roger Welles, WA #102 - Mr. Welles served in the U.S. Navy as a medical corpsman from 1968-71, including service in Vietnam. He is a four-year member of the King County Veterans' Program Advisory Board, and also serves as a member of the Veterans and Human Services Levy Veterans Citizen Levy Oversight Board. Mr. Welles has served as Vice President, Chapter Delegate, and Chapter Service Officer of the Seattle Chapter 102 of Vietnam Veterans of America. He has volunteered with American Legion Post 160, the Northwest Wheelchair Games, the Veterans' Legislative Coalition, as a sponsor at McNeill Island Corrections Center, and is a charter member of the Tahoma National Cemetary Support Group. After serving in the military, Mr. Welles worked for Anheuser-Busch and as a studio mechanic/stage hand.

Debra Wood, WA #102.  Ms. Wood is a Vietnam-era veteran who joined the Army in 1972. She trained as a nurse and served at Brooke Army Medical Center in the burn unit and then was stationed at Madigan Hospital where she worked as a nurse in both men's surgical ward and newborn/intensive care nursery. She has been involved in veterans’ affairs since 1990 as an advocate for veterans and their families. She is president of the Jim Hinde Memorial Chapter 102, Vietnam Veterans of America and the Executive Director of the Veterans Service Foundation of Washington. Ms Wood has served on the Advisory Board since 1991, is currently the longest serving member and the only woman veteran.

William Wood, WA #102 - Mr. Wood served in the U.S. Army from 1967 to 1971. During his tour of duty, he was Chief Warrant Officer and a helicopter pilot in Vietnam for two years, and was an observation pilot along the East/West German border for the next two years. Mr. Wood has served as a member of the King County Veterans' Program Advisory Board for the past ten years and is a former chair., and he serves as vice-chair of the Veterans and Human Services Levy Veterans Citizen Levy Oversight Board.  He is a member of Seattle Chapter 102 of Vietnam Veterans of America and the Veterans Service Foundation of Washington (a non-profit organization that works to improve the condition and social welfare of veterans). Mr. Wood earned an MBA degree following his military service, and before retiring, had 21 years experience in banking and finance, focusing on international and investment banking.

Rick Woodruff, American Legion #124, Chair.  Mr. Woodruff served in the United States Army from 1963-1967 and is a Vietnam Veteran. For more than 10 years, he has been working and involved with the American Legion Post #124 where he is currently Post Commander. Rick has served on the King County Veteran’s Advisory Board for the last eight years and served as chairman of the Veterans Advisory Board from 2006-2009. His goal is to continue offering his expertise and experience to fellow veterans and pursuing opportunities to serve the veterans of King County.