National Commander

Melissa Pierce, Auxiliary National Commander

Melissa Pierce was elected National Commander for DAV Auxiliary at the 2025 DAV and Auxiliary National Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Melissa joined DAV Auxiliary as a life member in 1989. She began her membership as a junior member through her father, who was a Marine during the Vietnam War. During his three tours of duty in Vietnam, he received three Purple Hearts and was rated at 100% VA disability. He was also a lifetime DAV member. Her mother also served in the military and was a Navy nurse stationed at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard at the base hospital. She is a lifetime DAV Auxiliary member. Both her parents were active in DAV and DAV Auxiliary.

Melissa is currently a member of Unit 20 in Des Moines, Iowa, and serves as senior vice commander. She also volunteers for many chapter and unit functions including bingo at the Des Moines VA Community Living Center, the back-to-school backpack events and Vietnam Veteran Recognition Day. Melissa is a past member of Unit 10 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. At the unit level, Melissa has served as adjutant, junior vice commander and senior vice commander. At the state level, she has served as junior vice commander, senior vice commander and commander. Melissa is currently the Department of Iowa adjutant and has served in this position for the past 6 years. At the national level, Melissa has served as national VA Voluntary Services representative (2017-2021), 15th district alternate National Executive Committee (NEC) (2017-2019) and 15th district NEC (2019-2021). Melissa has been the National Caregiver Initiative chair since 2018.

Melissa was born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She is the second oldest of five children. She married her husband Dan in 1991. Melissa and her husband have two children, Danielle and Justin. Dan, Danielle and Justin are also DAV Auxiliary members. Melissa has been the DAV hospital service coordinator at the Iowa City VA since March 2020. Prior to that, she was the director of data management and field services at Jefferson Davis Associates, where she worked for 27 years. In her spare time, she also works at Riverside Casino and Golf Resort..