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Meet the Military Veteran Legislators 2023 – 2024 Florida Legislature Series The FVF is proud to honor the military veterans serving in the 2023 Florida Legislature by kicking off the “Meet the Military Veteran Legislators 2023-2024 Florida Legislature Series.” We welcome the members of the 2023-2024 Legislature who have or are currently serving in the United State Military. We are especially gratified that six members are currently serving in uniform as Reservists or members of the Florida National Guard. We encourage you to share this background so that Floridians know the military heritage that exists in the Legislature and how some legislators are serving their country in two ways, by being a legislator and a service member. Bryan Av ila Florida Army National Guard, Currently Serving First Lieutenant READ BIO Joseph A. Casello United States Airforc e Noncommissioned Of fi cer READ BIO Mike Giallombardo Florida Army National Guard, Currently Serving Warrant Officer READ BIO Thomas Patterson "Pat" Maney United States Army Brigadier General READ BIO Michelle Salzman United States Army Specialist READ BIO Christopher Benjamin United States Army Reserve D-Miami Gardens ​ Dean Black United States Air Force 125th Fighter Wing, Florida Air National Guard ​ READ BIO READ BIO Jarrid "Jay" Collins United States Army Special Forces READ BIO Tommy Gregory United States Air Force (Retired) Lieutenant Colonel READ BIO Wyman Duggan United States Marine Corps Commissioned Office r READ BIO Jeff Holcomb United States Navy Reserve, 2006-Present Lieutenant READ BIO Fiona McFarland United States Navy Reserve Lieutenant, Drilling Reservist Paul Renner United States Navy Retired Commander READ BIO David Smith United States Marine Corps (Retired) Colonel READ BIO READ BIO John Snyder United States Marine Corps Corporal READ BIO Danny Burgess Florida Army National Guard Currently Serving Captain ​ READ BIO Lisa Dunkley United States Army Veteran READ BIO Sam Killebrew United States Navy FVF Current Board Member READ BIO Spencer Roach United States Coast Guard Commissioned Officer READ BIO Victor Torres United States Marine Corps FVF Current Board Members, Sergeant READ BIO Keith Truenow United States Air Force Airman READ BIO

Representative Keith Truenow United States Air Force Airman Representative Keith Truenow is the founder of Lake Jem Farms based in Mount Dora, in addition to being a farmer and rancher who focuses on producing sod sold throughout the State of Florida. ​ Following graduation from high school, Keith, at 17 and with parental consent, enlisted in the United States Air Force. He served his country from 1987 until honorably discharged in 1991. Following his military service, he returned home to Lake County and his agricultural roots. After being well-schooled in agri-business, he later founded Lake Jem Farms, based in Mount Dora. He is a farmer and rancher who focuses on producing sod sold throughout Florida. Rep Truenow serves on several local and statewide boards, including; Turfgrass Producers of Florida, Lake County Farm Bureau, and the Lake County Fair Association. He also serves on the Harris Chain of Lakes Restoration Council, appointed by Governor Rick Scott. ​ He is an entrepreneur in every sense of the word. As a longtime businessman and resident of the district, he clearly understands the challenges that constituents face and will take with him to Tallahassee a commonsense approach to problem-solving. ​ Rep Truenow reflected on his military service, “I bring a devotion to duty that was instilled in me first by my parents and then by the United States Air Force. Regarding my value to the legislative process, at a time when Florida’s economy and natural resources are at a critical stage. I believe my background will prove to be invaluable.” ​ Keith’s devotion to his wife of twenty years and their two sons serves as the foundation for his commitment to putting Florida families first. << Back to Veteran Legislators

Veteran Initiatives Veteran Relief Fund Collaboration with American Legion to Provide Relief Funds for Veterans in Need Mission of Mercy Teamed with Florida Dental Association and Mission of Mercy in a “Veterans First” event to provide dental services to over 166 Veterans, giving $1,100 worth of services to each Veteran. In all $182,000 worth of services were provided to Veterans first under the services and guidance of 1,800 Dental professionals. ​ Gadsden Flag License Plate Supporting the Gadsden Flag License Plate means supporting our Veterans. The proceeds from sales contribute to the foundation's efforts in assisting our Florida Veterans! ​ Raising Awareness The Florida Veterans Foundation is actively working on raising awareness through a remodeling of our website to provide a better online presence and engaging social media campaigns to reach a wider audience. We also work with creating mail-outs for mass distribution to our rural areas to ensure our Veterans know what resources are available to them. This includes the foundations involvement in the Florida Governor's Challenge Suicide Prevention Campaign. ​ Ashley's Cottage Teamed wi th Villager for Vet erans to provide homeless female Veterans with transitional housing. The cottage offers a soft-lau nch into civilian life by providing 90-day safe shelter and resources. ​ Veterans Treatment Courts On-going Support – Florida Veterans Legal Help Hotline – 1-866-486-6161 Serving Florida Veterans with consistent standards and structure throughout the state, which provides “best practices” and an infrastructure of proven Veteran Treatment Court operations in Florida.

Representative Sam Killebrew United States Navy FVF Current Board Member, Elected 2016 Rep. Killebrew entered the Navy after graduating from Auburndale High School in 1963. He served three years, much of it attached to Naval Aviation, at overseas duty stations included Okinawa. “I was always attached to aviation, so I was never on a ship,” Rep Killebrew said. “I enjoyed my tour — glad I went. After serving in the U.S. Navy, a lifelong Florida and Polk County resident, Rep. Killebrew owned and operated multiple construction and manufacturing companies, including; Killebrew Manufacturing Company, Imperial Trailer Service, Killebrew Inc., and Rotational Molding Company. He is also a former partner of the Florida Strategic Group, LLC. Sam is actively involved in the progress and expansion of New Beginnings High School, aiming to help students who have dropped out to earn a high school diploma. Rep. Killebrew was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2016 and was just elected to a third term. He served as Vice-Chair for the House PreK-12 Innovation Subcommittee and a member of the Florida Veterans and Military Families Caucus. The Representative also sits on numerous boards and civic organizations throughout the state. He regularly sponsors legislation to protect Veterans, animals, and children and families. He has played an influential role in bringing over $10 million to Polk County for various road/highway projects, water quality preservation and restoration, educational programs, and other projects around the district. Notable Veteran legislation that Rep. Killebrew has sponsored or co-sponsored include: Ad Valorem Tax Discount for Spouses of Certain Deceased Veterans Who Had Permanent, Combat-Related Disabilities: Will allow the surviving spouse of a combat-wounded veteran to keep their ad valorem tax discount after the veteran dies; and Enrollment of Dependent Children of Active Duty Military Personnel in the Florida Virtual School: Allows students of active-duty military personnel stationed abroad but claim Florida has their resident state to attend Florida virtual school. He is married to Eileen Killebrew of Lake Wales, and they have five children, seven grandchildren, five dogs, and an avid supporter of Hope Equine Rescue. << Back to Veteran Legislators

Volunteer Opportunities With Veterans Servers4Heroe s If you are a veteran or family member of a veteran, we are looking for you to volunteer in our Servers4Heroes Program where you get to assist i n preparation or serve meals to the heroes w ho reside in Florida’s Veterans Nursing Homes. Servers4Heroes is a program run through the state' s nursing home facilities. Click Here for more information State Veterans' Homes, National Cemeteries, and VA Hospital + Clinic Volunteer Opportunities Below is a map of the state nursing homes, national cemeteries, and VA medical centers in the state of Florida. If you are interested in volunteering type in your zip code below to view possible locations near you, and access the infor mation for your chosen facilities Volunteer C oordinat or. ​ The VA State Veterans' Homes are the locations for the Servers4Hero es Program previously mentioned. To learn more see above or click h e re. ​ VA Clinic/Hospital Main Line Contact Information and Addresses: 2021 VISN 8 Service Area Map (va.gov) ​ Please note: The email and phone number linked to each marker connect s interested volunteers to the facilities designated Volunteer Coordinator, NOT to the facilities main line s for health care, burial, or ho using purpose s. To access the contact information for the facilities main lines, please view their linked websites. Local Organization Opportunities To access volunteer opportunities at local o rganizations in your area, please visit Volu nteerFlorida OR VolunteerMatch.org and enter your zip-code. To pinpoint veteran-related volunteer opportunities, input "veteran" in the "Search by Keyword" filed. ​ Additional Volunteer Opportuniti es Florida State Parks To access a full list of all the available volunteer oppor tunities in the Florida State Parks please visit their Volunteer Portal . Make a difference by assisting with park maint enance, management, and hospitality. ​ Keep Florida Beautiful Keep Florida Beautiful works with 40 county and city affiliates— All who are dedicated to impr oving Florida through litter prevention, increased recyc ling, education, and beautification efforts. Visit their v olunteer page to find out about upcoming events and volunteer opportunities near you . ​ ​ Green Your Routine Explore volunteer opportunities with our Florida sea turtles. May include release, nest monitoring, etc. To learn more visit their volunteer page. ​ ​ American Red Cross The American Red Cross is always looking for volunteers! Positions will vary based on locatio n and experience. Visit their v olunteer page to view their most-needed Volunteer opportunities. If none of these volunteer opportunities interest you, you may enter your zip-code to find more, and even take a short quiz to find which position you may be best suited for.

Representative Mike Giallombardo Florida Army National Guard, Currently Serving Warrant Officer Representative Mike Giallombardo is a husband, father, combat veteran, and businessman dedicated to serving his community. His military roots run deep. His father, Robert, was stationed in South Korea with the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division when he met a Korean woman named Sun. When his deployment ended, Sun decided to leave South Korea and move to the United States with Robert. Their son, Mike Giallombardo, was born in 1982. Rep. Giallombardo grew up in Cape Coral, where he attended Pelican Elementary, Gulf Middle School, and attended both Mariner and North Ft. Myers High Schools. At an early age, he developed a love for playing football and was a standout player throughout high school, which ultimately led to college scholarships. He earned an Associates in Science degree from Georgia Military College, a Bachelors in Criminal Justice from Florida Atlantic University, and a Master’s Degree in International Relations with a concentration in Conflict Resolution from American Military University. After college, the Representative enlisted in the United States Army and was deployed to Iraq to support Operation Iraqi Freedom. During his deployment, he served with the 4th Infantry Division and supported special operation missions. Mike played a significant role as a liaison to the Iraqi military and other coalition forces supporting Iraq’s counterinsurgency effort. Highly decorated from operations, he was awarded numerous medals, including the Army Commendation and Army Achievement Medals for his operational roles in Iraq, leading to the capture of various targets. Rep. Giallombardo currently serves as a Warrant Officer in the Florida National Guard, where he serves as a State Emergency Response Team liaison for Florida. He was activated for multiple hurricanes working with multiple counties to ensure that the citizens receive support from the Florida National Guard. When not on active duty, he owns and operates businesses that specialize in cybersecurity, technology development, commercialization of new technology, and education. He specializes in assisting law enforcement, assisting veteran-owned companies, and helping veterans transition to civilian life. The Representative is a member of the Military Officers Association in Cape Coral, Veterans of Foreign Wars in Cape Coral, Southwest Florida Military Museum, ESGR, South Florida Defense Alliance, and serves as a mentor to more than a dozen women and veteran-owned businesses. Reflecting on his service Rep. Giallombardo said, “Serving in this nation has been the honor of my lifetime, whether with the Army in Iraq or with the National Guard testing for potential COVID patients in the U.S. I’m looking forward to building on this record of service in the Florida House!” He and his wife Wendi have been married for 11 years. They have a son Luca (7), daughter Presley (4), and help raise their niece Ivey (8). << Back to Veteran Legislators

10th Anniversary Gala with Bobby Bowden Load More >> Back to Galleries

Order Your Gadsden Flag License Plate The license plate has reached its required voucher sales, and are now available for purchase at your local DMV. Floridians who purchased presale vouchers for the specialty plate are able to redeem them at their local tax collector office or license plate agency, and those who wish to purchase the new plate are advised to contact their local office prior to visiting to ensure stock is available. Follow the link below to be redirected to The Florida Dept. of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles Speciality License Plate portal. CLICK HERE Plate sales go to supporting Veterans in need. The license plate has reached its required voucher sales limit and is now in stock near you. You will receive a letter from FLHSMV with redemption instructions once the license plate ships to tax collector locations. Specialty license plates cost a set fee (annually) above the standard Florida license plate. The fees vary based on the type of license plate. These additional funds go to support the cause for which the specialty license plate was designed. ​ There are no additional fees when paying by eCheck. When paying with debit or credit card, a service fee will apply. An agent will contact you within three business days to complete your purchase . Please be prepared to make payment when our agent contacts you. FLORIDA HIGHWAY SAFETY & MOTOR VEHICLE LOCATIONS

Contact Us First Name Last Name Email Message Thanks for submitting! Send Office Location The Capitol, Suite 2107 400 South Monroe Street Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001 Phone: (850) 488-4181; ext: 1 ​ fvf@fdva.fl.gov

About Florida Veterans Foundatio n Misson Statement To serve, support, and advocate for Florida veterans to improve their quality of Life! The Florida Veterans Foundation serves as the statewide lead organization for Florida veterans and their families by providing direct services and partnering with state and local governments, veteran service organizations, and educational institutions to improve their physical, financial, mental, emotional, and social well-being. ​ Supports the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs’ mission of advocacy; and, advocates for Florida veterans through local and statewide outreach to educate the public and governmental entities, increasing awareness on veteran-related issues. CODE OF ETHICS TEAMWORK The Florida Veterans Foundation team is one of the hardest working veteran advocate teams in the state of Florida. We are composed of a volunteer Chairman and Board of Directors. ​ The majority of the Foundation Directors are retired, military disabled veterans who donate over 40 hours per week of their time to assist and help guide Florida’s veterans through a myriad of issues veterans face today. Whether it’s access to healthcare, education, jobs, VA benefits or the like, our Directors are here to help. ​ Several Directors are trained Veteran Service Officers who know the extent, the meaning and the application of laws that have been passed by Congress in the interests of veterans and their dependents. Our Directors know the rules and regulations adopted by the Department of Veterans Affairs to clarify and implement those laws. ​ Chief Operating Officer – Raymond Miller USMC Veteran Latest News Florida Governor's Challenge Suicide Prevention- Gary Littrell & Rick Monday Symbology Behind Our Veterans Medal PACT ACT FINANCIALS The Florida Veterans Foundation was founded in 2008 by the Florida Legislature and is supported by individual and corporate donations, grants, fundraisers and direct public support to help us faithfully execute our mission of providing emergency and support services and programs for Veterans and their families across the state of Florida. VIEW REPORTS FLORIDA VETERANS FOUNDATION, INC. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Email: fvf@fdva.fl.gov Phone: 850-488-4181