Commander Candidates
Paula Jansen
Candidate for: Department Commander
Campaign Website: https://www.jansen-campaign.com/
Senior Vice Commander
Post 7907 Adjutant
Grand of CA Ways-n-Means
Founder of Pup Tent 79, Hungry Cootie
Vice President - Golden State Guardians Foundation
All-State Post Commander (5 years)
All-American Post Commander (3 years)
All-State & All-American District 1 Commander
W: www.vfwca.org VFW Email: Jansen@vfwca.org
Guy McDermott
Candidate for: Department Commander
Campaign Website: https://www.guymcdermott.com/
WHY GUY IS YOUR FUTURE COMMANDER
Calm Under Pressure: 30 years as a SEAL and firefighter
Trusted to lead when it matters most
Team-first leadership
Builds Unity, Sets standards, takes care of members, delivers results
Gets things done.
Integrity & Accountability
THE PLAN
Keep post open
Unify VFW CA
Deliver Results
FLYER: Flyer
Senior Vice Commander Candidates
John Hernandez
Candidate for: Department Senior Vice Commander
Campaign Website: Hernandez.vet
CURRENT STATE JUNIOR VICE COMMANDER
District 3 Commander (2023-2025) All-American
Temecula Valley Post 4089 - Commander 2016-2019 All-American/All-State
National & State Veterans & Military Support Chairman, 2021-2025
Military Order of the Cootie Member - Pup Tent 44
Riverside County Veterans Advisory Committee - District 3 Chairman
American Legion - Life Member
Disabled American Veterans - Life Member
Navy League - Life Member
Marine Corps League - Life Member
Rick Linares
Candidate for: Department Senior Vice Commander
Commander (1999-2000) - Post 1487
Post 4647 - All-State / All-American (2017-2019)
District 17 - All-State / All-American (2020-2022)
Department CA - Surgeon (2024-2025)
Cooties Pup Tent 69 - Life Member
National Home - Life Member
Roseville Host Lions
Moose Lodge 1293
FLYER: Flyer
Junior Vice Commander Candidates
Paragon
Candidate for: Department Junior Vice Commander
Campaign Website: https://www.paragon-campaign.com/
Commander District 7
VFWCA - Student Veterans Association Chairman
VFWCA - Deputy Inspector
National Deputy Chief of Staff 2025-2026
Seam Squirrel PT77 2026-2027
Executive Director - Golden State Guardians Foundation
P: 805.585.7040 M: 805.666.9738
W: www.vfwca.org VFW Email: Paragon@vfwca.onmicrosoft.com
W: www.gsg-foundation.org GSG Email: Paragon@gsg-foundation.org
Wendy Calderon
Candidate for: Department Junior Vice Commander
District 1 Commander (2024-2026)
All-American District 1 Commander (2024-2025)
All-State District 1 Commander (2024-2025)
All-American Post 5867 Commander (2023-2025)
All-State Post 5867 Commander (2023-2025)
Post 5867 Commander (2022-Present)
PT 66 Blanket Bum (SVC)
VFW National Aide-de-Camp (2023-2024)
VFW CA POW/MIA Chairperson (2023-2024)
Endorsement video from Past District Commander Alexis Henshaw
Quartermaster Candidates
Deborah Johnson
Candidate for: Department Quartermaster
All-State Post Commander 2011-2013
All-State & All-American Post Quartermaster
All-State & All-American District Commander 16-17
All-State & All-American Quartermaster
State Quartermaster - Current
All-American State Commander 24-25
State SVC 23-24
State JVC 22-23
State Surgeon 14-16, 21-22
Western Conference Treasurer - Current
VFW National Legislative Chair
VFW National Inspection Team - Current
VFW National Aide de Camp
VFW National Deputy Chief of Staff
More...
FLYER: Flyer
Chaplain Candidates
Frank Correa
Candidate for: Department Chaplain
Western Conference Chaplin
VFW Dept. of CA Chaplain
VFW District 3 Chaplain
VFW Post 4089 Chaplain
University Chief Academic Officer
Professor of Theology, Chaplaincy, Counseling
Highest Degree Earned: Doctorate
Pastorate 20 years; Ordained
Hospital Chaplain
Critical Incident Stress Debriefing Team LAFD
FLYER: Flyer
