Brian Duffy
Past Commander-in-Chief
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States
Brian Duffy was elected Commander-in-Chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars on July 27, 2016, at the VFW's 117th National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina.
In July 2017, he was appointed Adjutant General of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, a position he held until his retirement in 2018.
Brian served in the U.S. Air Force as a jet engine mechanic on F-4 Phantom fighter aircraft, and later as a flight engineer aboard C-141 Starlifter transport aircraft.
During his service, he deployed in support of several campaigns to include Grenada, Panama, and Operations Desert Shield/Storm in Southwest Asia. His military decorations include the Air Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, and the Kuwait Liberation Medal.
Upon his return from Grenada in 1983, he joined VFW Post 6590 in Cookstown, New Jersey. He later transferred his membership to VFW Post 120 in Garden City Park, New York, then to VFW Post 1170 in Middletown, Kentucky, in 1989.
Following his Air Force service, he was employed by several airlines as a flight engineer instructor. He moved to "The Bluegrass State" of Kentucky in 1988 after joining the United Parcel Service (UPS) Airlines as a flight engineer instructor. Rising through the ranks, he would retire in 2014 as assistant chief pilot with UPS, having flown worldwide as an instructor/check captain on Boeing 757 and 767 aircraft.
Brian was elected as Commander of the VFW Department of Kentucky in 2006. He achieved All-American status at Post, District, and Department levels. His Honor Flight activities were recognized by the Kentucky Aviation Hall of Fame, the Kentucky Derby Festival as the 2009 "Thundernator," and was a recipient of the 2011 (Louisville) WLKY "Bell Award" for community volunteerism. In 2012, Brian was the recipient of President Obama's Volunteer Service Award after being nominated by UPS to recognize his numerous volunteer activities.
His is a Gold Legacy Life member of the VFW and is a member of the National Home for Children, Military Order of the Cootie, American Legion and AMVETS.
Brian holds his Associate and his Bachelor of Science Degree in Aeronautics (Cum Laude) from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.
He and his wife Jean, who served three terms as Auxiliary President to VFW Post 1170, reside in Fort Myers, Florida, and have two adult children, Tara and Andrew.