To know Matthew Stuart, is to know a humble young Utah family man bent on making positive change for the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

This past weekend Commander Stuart was elected by the VFW’s incoming Department Junior–Vice Commanders to be their Class Officer. With 54 Department Junior-Vice Commanders (One for every state, Puerto Rico, Europe, etc.) the posting represents his peers clear belief that Commander Stuart is a leader for the future—the vote was unanimous.

Typically, in VFW leadership this position rotates to the State Commander in two years, which would make Matthew Stuart, in 2011, the first Veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom to become a Department Commander.

Commander Stuart said, “I am looking forward to rolling out an ambitious agenda that will build bridges between all conflicts of veterans, while looking to craft the VFW of the future. I know my fellow Commanders want to do something for younger veterans and I am looking forward to working with them.” He also said, “I would hope other Iraqi Veterans see that we can have a stake in the VFW’s decisions but only if we partake. Too many other veterans are getting distracted by mirage groups that pass themselves off as groups but are really only individuals with followers. Come, join the elite, and lead from the front—an email membership with youtube and flashy sit in your office participation isn’t going to get it done for us,” said Stuart. “We young veterans need community oriented organization, if we just become a New York based website operated by mostly non-veterans and dictated by one talking head we war veterans have lost a proud tradition,” Stuart stated.

However, Commander Stuart was adamant these groups success were due to traditional veterans’ group’s failure to close the generational gap, “The war for the hearts and minds of my generation of veteran is taking place in cyberspace. The VFW is losing this war because we are failing to make necessary changes and most of them cost very little. I hope to change this.” Stuart said.

Commander Stuart will likely hold the post for the next three years as his class rotates through the VFW’s Department chairs.

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