Joseph R. Chenelly was appointed national executive director of AMVETS in May 2016. In this capacity, he administers the policies of AMVETS, supervises its national headquarters operations and provides direction, as needed, to state and local components. Joe previously served as AMVETS’ national communications director. Joe became a veterans advocate, a journalist, & a political adviser after his time in uniform. He covered military & veterans matters on staff with Leatherneck magazine, the Military Timesnewspapers, USA TODAY and Gannet News, reporting on operations in the Middle East, Southwest Asia, Africa, as well as disaster relief in the United States. Joe was named one of the 100 “most influential journalists covering armed violence” by Action on Armed Violence in 2013. He was the first U.S. Marine combat correspondent to step into enemy territory after September 11, 2001, as a military reporter in Pakistan & Afghanistan.

Miles has served as the National Communications Officer for AMVETS National Headquarters for six years.