A United States Marine Corps veteran has been tapped to lead the Paralyzed Veterans of America.
Charles Brown, who previously served as the PVA’s national senior vice president, has been elected the group’s new national president, a release states.
Brown was elected by PVA's Board of Directors during its 75th annual Convention, which wrapped up May 22.
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A native of Missouri, Brown joined the military in 1985 and was trained in aviation ordnance. Just one year later, he sustained a spinal cord injury during a diving accident while serving in Cherry Point, N.C.
During his rehabilitation at the Department of Veterans Affairs Spinal Cord Injury Center in Augusta, GA, Brown became a member of PVA's Southeastern Chapter and has remained active with the veteran service organization ever since.
"Since my introduction to PVA at my bedside more than three decades ago, I remain steadfast in my efforts to lead this organization and to help it grow and become even better."
Since his injury, Brown has worked with PVA at both the local and national levels. He has served as PVA Gateway Chapter's Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator, advocacy director, treasurer, and vice president; PVA Florida Chapter's hospital committee chair, secretary, hospital liaison, national director, and president; and PVA executive committee's national vice president and senior national vice president.
He has also served on numerous PVA national committees, including strategic planning, planned giving, and resolution.
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"I've had countless PVA mentors throughout my life – those who helped me get up after my injury, pushed me to get active at the chapter levels, and encouraged me to be involved with the national office," continued Brown.
Also elected to PVA’s executive committee were:
U.S. Army veteran Robert Thomas, national senior vice president
U.S. Air Force veteran Marcus Murray, national secretary
U.S. Navy veteran Tom Wheaton, national treasurer
U.S. Marine Corps veteran Hack Albertson, national vice president
U.S. Air Force veteran Josue Cordova, national vice president
U.S. Air Force veteran Tammy Jones, national vice president
U.S. Army veteran Michael Negrete, national vice president
With the election of Brown, U.S. Air Force veteran David Zurfluh will now serve the organization as its immediate past president. Brown, along with PVA's new executive committee, will begin their one-year term on July 1.
To learn more about PVA, visit here.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.
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