Photo by James V. Carroll

An executive director of The American Legion's National Headquarters has been named national adjutant (chief operating officer) of the nation's largest veterans service organization today.

Daniel S. Wheeler, a Navy veteran, replaces Robert W. Spanogle, who served as national adjutant for more than 27 years. Spanogle, an Army veteran of the Vietnam War, was designated as an honorary "past national commander of the American Legion," by the organization's National Executive Committee. The native of Lansing, Michigan, is retiring from The American Legion after 36 years of service with the national headquarters.

Wheeler has been executive director of The American Legion's national headquarters since 1995. He has worked for The American Legion since 1979, when he was hired as an assistant editor for The American Legion Magazine. He was promoted to publisher and editor-in¬-chief in 1985. He also served as president of the Citizens Flag Alliance since 1994.

Wheeler lives in Indianapolis with his wife, Kathy. He is a member of American Legion Post 137 in Richmond,Va. He has also served as president of the Veterans Day Council of Indianapolis, is a member of the Rotary Club and Mensa International.

With a current membership of 2.7-million wartime veterans, The American Legion was founded in 1919 on the four pillars of a strong national security, veterans affairs, Americanism, and patriotic youth programs. Legionnaires work for the betterment of their communities through more than 14,000 posts across the nation.