Biographies

JOSEPH A VIOLANTE
National Legislative Director
Disabled American Veterans

Joseph A. Violante, a disabled Vietnam veteran, was appointed National Legislative Director of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) in July 1997. He is employed at the organization's National Service and Legislative Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

A New Jersey native, Mr. Violante joined the Marine Corps in 1969. He served with the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines and Battalion Landing Team 2/4 in Southeast Asia, and was discharged in 1972 with the rank of sergeant. He attended the University of New Mexico and received a bachelor's degree in history and political science, and earned his law degree from San Fernando Valley, College of Law, in California. Mr. Violante was a practicing attorney in Thousand Oaks, Calif., before moving to Washington, D.C., to work as a Staff Attorney at the Department of Veterans Affairs' Board of Veterans’ Appeals in 1985.

Mr. Violante joined the DAV's professional staff as Staff Counsel/Judicial Appeals Representative at the Court of Veterans Appeals Office in 1990. He was Legislative Counsel for the DAV in 1992 and was later promoted to Deputy National Legislative Director in 1996, prior to his current appointment.

Mr. Violante joined the DAV as a life member in 1982 and has been a member of Omaha Beach Chapter 7 in Bowie, Md., since 1987. He served as Chapter Commander in 1989-90, and on the Department of Maryland Executive Committee from 1988 to 1991, as well as serving many years on the Department of Maryland's legislative committee.

Mr. Violante's involvement with veterans' issues reaches beyond the DAV. He was elected to the Board of the National Foundation for Women Legislators in Sept. 2001 and was a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Circuit Bar Association from 2001-04. He currently produces legislative articles for Tommy, a quarterly publication of the Veterans Law Committee, and is a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and 3rd Marine Division Association. Additionally, Mr. Violante co-hosted "Veteran's Forum,” a local cable television program dedicated to veteran's issues from 1991 to 1994; previously chaired the Veterans Appeals Committee and Legislative Committee of the Federal Circuit Bar Association from 1992 to 1996 and 1997 to 2001, respectively; was vice-chair of the Veterans Benefits Committee of the American Bar Association from 1991to 1994; and was an at-large member of the board of governors of the Veterans Law Committee of the Federal Bar Association from 1992 to 1993.