Deb Johnson was elected Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of California on June  22, 2024 in Orange, California.

She served in the Wisconsin Army National Guard from Feb 1985 – Nov 1994 as a Production Control Specialist with the 107th Maintenance Company, Sparta/Tomah, WI where she achieved the rank of SGT (E5). In Aug. 1990 her unit was deployed in support of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia where she earned her eligibility to the VFW. She received the Southwest Asia Service Medal, Liberation of Kuwait Medal and the Army Accommodation Medal.

Deb joined the VFW in 1993 at Post 2112 in Sparta, Wisconsin and is a Gold Legacy Life Member of Post 10859 in Bakersfield, California. She serves in elected and appointed positions at the Post, District and Department level and recently served as the Chairman of the National Legislative Committee. Deb is also a Life Member of the Military Order of the Cooties, VFW Auxiliary, and the VFW National Home.

Deb is the President/CEO of the California Veterans Assistance Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides transitional and permanent housing for homeless veterans throughout Kern County, CA. She serves on the Board of Directors for several local and state nonprofit and homeless advisory organizations.

Deb has two stepdaughters and one grandson. She and her husband Steve reside in Bakersfield, CA.