Our special host this episode is SOFREP writer and former Special Forces operator, Steve Balestrieri. He interviews Stephen “Butch” Whitehead, the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) national commander. Whitehead is a combat-disabled veteran of the Iraq War, was elected national commander for the more than 1 million-member DAV at the organization’s 2019 national convention in Orlando, Florida.

A native of Trimont, Minnesota, Whitehead is a retired command sergeant major for 84th Troop Command Brigade in the Minnesota Army National Guard.

Whitehead joined the Army in 1991 and completed two overseas deployments, receiving the Bronze Star in 2007 for combat service in Iraq. In 2012, he was awarded the Veterans Voices Award by then-Gov. Mark Dayton of Minnesota. Other military awards include a Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, five Army Achievement Medals, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Medal and the Humanitarian Service Medal.

Currently, Whitehead serves as executive director of the Disabled American Veterans of Minnesota Foundation. He has served as adjutant for the DAV Department of Minnesota and is chair for multiple department-level committees. He was also recently appointed to the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center Consumer Advisory Board, where he will serve for three years.

If you haven’t already noticed, we have a ton of new SOFREP t-shirt designs and gear available in our store. As always, be sure to check out our Crate Club for Spec Ops grade gear hand picked by military professionals. See you all again next week!