Maryann R. Enciso is a retired Chief Master Sergeant of the California Air National Guard, a retired Senior Executive with the Internal Revenue Service, and a lifelong advocate for veterans, military families, and community service. She brings more than four decades of leadership experience spanning military service, federal executive leadership, and veteran service organizations. Throughout her career, she has remained committed to servant leadership, mentorship, and leaving every organization stronger than she found it.

 

Maryann currently serves as District Commander for District 9, Department of California, Veterans of Foreign Wars, representing 17 VFW Posts throughout California’s Central Valley and mountain communities. She also serves as Commander of VFW Post 8743 in Ahwahnee, California, where she became the first female commander in the Post’s history. Her vision is to build strong, sustainable Posts through mentorship, leadership development, legislative advocacy, and servant leadership while ensuring every veteran and their family has a place to turn for support and camaraderie.

 

As District Commander, Maryann has focused on strengthening struggling Posts, mentoring current and future leaders, expanding leadership education, increasing membership, promoting legislative advocacy, and building self-sustaining organizations that will continue serving veterans for generations to come. She believes the VFW’s greatest strength is its people and that investing in leaders today ensures a stronger organization tomorrow.

 

Maryann enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in April 1982 at the age of 17. Before beginning her military career, she was already a nationally recognized athlete. As a sophomore in high school, she was ranked fourth in the nation in the two-mile run. In 1981, she earned the Silver Medal at the National Speed Skating Championships. While anchoring her high school’s Distance Medley Relay team at the prestigious Penn Relays, she was recruited by the United States Marine Corps to compete on the All-Marine Corps Track & Field, Cross Country, and Marathon Teams.

 

During her ten years on active duty, Maryann served as an Administration and Payroll/Finance Specialist, attaining the rank of Sergeant (E-5) while proudly representing the Marine Corps as one of its premier distance runners. She established multiple long-distance running records and distinguished herself both as a Marine and as an elite military athlete.

 

Following her active-duty Marine Corps service, Maryann continued serving her country for more than 20 years in the California Air National Guard. She served nine years as a First Sergeant before being selected as a Chief Master Sergeant and Senior Human Resource Advisor, overseeing force development, diversity, and human resource initiatives. She deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and multiple overseas assignments to the Republic of Korea.

 

Maryann continued her competitive running career while serving in the California Air National Guard. She was a member of the California Air National Guard All-State Marathon Team and, in 1994, was selected to compete on the National Guard Marathon Team, representing the National Guard in long-distance competition. In recognition of her military service, leadership, and athletic accomplishments, she was selected as an Olympic Torchbearer for the 2002 Winter Olympic Torch Relay.

 

While continuing her military service in the California Air National Guard, Maryann simultaneously built a distinguished career with the Internal Revenue Service. She began her federal career in 1992 as a Customer Service Representative after leaving active duty in the Marine Corps. In 1994, she was competitively selected to become an IRS Revenue Officer and completed a rigorous one-year training program in Laguna Niguel, California. As a Revenue Officer, she investigated complex tax cases involving individuals and multi-million-dollar corporations that failed to comply with federal tax laws. Her leadership and performance led to successive promotions as Supervisory Revenue Officer, Program Manager, Area Director for Field Assistance for the Western United States, and ultimately Acting National Director of Stakeholder Partnerships, Education and Communication (SPEC).

 

In October 2017, Maryann graduated from the prestigious Senior Executive Service (SES) Candidate Development Program, preparing her for executive leadership within the federal government. Following her graduation, she was selected as the IRS Area Director for Field Assistance for the Western United States, providing executive leadership for 85 Taxpayer Assistance Centers across 16 western states. In 2018, she graduated from the prestigious George Washington University Center for Excellence in Public Leadership Executive Leaders Program, further strengthening her expertise in executive leadership, organizational transformation, and public service.

 

During the final 18 months of her federal career, Maryann served as the Acting National Director of Stakeholder Partnerships, Education and Communication (SPEC). In that role, she provided executive leadership for more than 8,200 volunteer tax preparation sites worldwide, supported over 65,000 volunteers, administered approximately $51 million in grant funding, and provided executive oversight for more than 300 IRS offices before retiring in 2024 after 42 years of federal service.

 

Maryann earned a Bachelor of Science in Workforce Education and Training, graduating Magna Cum Laude, and a Master of Science in Human Resource Management from Southern Illinois University. She is also a graduate of the Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program, the George Washington University Center for Excellence in Public Leadership Executive Leaders Program, the Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, and the First Sergeant Academy.

 

Within the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Maryann has served with distinction at the Post, District, Department, and National levels. She is a Gold Legacy Life Member and currently serves on the VFW National Legislative Team, representing the Veterans of Foreign Wars before members of Congress in Washington, D.C., and before the California State Legislature. She advocates for legislation that improves veterans’ healthcare, earned benefits, military readiness, mental health services, and quality of life for veterans, service members, and their families. She previously served on the VFW National Women Veterans Committee (2024–2025) and as a National Aide-de-Camp (2024–2025).

 

Maryann believes that the greatest accomplishments are achieved by empowering others. Throughout her career, she has focused on developing leaders, fostering teamwork, and building organizations that will thrive long after her tenure ends.

 

In addition to her VFW service, Maryann serves as Commandant of Marine Corps League Detachment 1121, continuing her lifelong commitment to serving veterans, preserving the traditions of the Marine Corps, and strengthening partnerships throughout the veteran community.

 

Her military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (with two oak leaf clusters), Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, California Commendation Medal, and numerous additional federal and state military awards recognizing more than three decades of honorable service.

 

Maryann and her husband, Tony, reside in Oakhurst, California. Together they enjoy hiking, home improvement projects, and serving veterans throughout their community.

 

 

Chief Master Sergeant, California Air National Guard (Retired)

Retired Senior Executive, Internal Revenue Service

District Commander, District 9

Department of California, Veterans of Foreign Wars

Member, VFW National Legislative Team

Commandant, Marine Corps League Detachment 1121