ELECTED OFFICERS
PRESIDENT DANNY FUQUA
Danny Fuqua is a retired Army Veteran with 29 years of service, who served a tour of duty in Iraq from November 2010-November 2011. He has resided in Volusia County for over 30 years. Danny and his wife Muriel have two children and three grandchildren. A double-alum, Danny received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and an M.B.A. from Liberty University. Professionally, Danny has spent countless hours leading financial planning seminars, specializing in budgeting, debt management, and homeownership.
- Present: President of Democratic Veterans Caucus of Florida
- Present: President of Volusia County Democratic Black Caucus
- January 2021 – Present: State Committee Man of Volusia County DEC
- January 2021 – December 2023: Vice President of the Democratic Veterans Caucus of Florida
- January, 2019 – January, 2021: President of the Volusia County Democratic Veterans Caucus of Florida (VCDVCF)
- 2020: Candidate for Volusia County Council District 2
- 2019: Served as the Co-Chairman of the Midtown Redevelopment Board for the City of Daytona Beach
- 2018: Candidate for City Commissioner for Zone I in the City of Daytona Beach
- 2016: Chairman- Midtown Neighborhood Association Daytona Beach, FL
- Active with the Volusia Democratic Women’s Club
Went on two trips to Bay County in 2019 with them in conjunction with the VCDVCF to assist the communities which were affected by Hurricane Michael. - Active in my local Daytona Beach Democrat club
- Member of the Volusia County DEC Steering Committee
- Member of the Democrat Black Caucus of Florida
- Co-Pastor of Word And Praise Family Church, Inc.
- Member of the Black Clergy Alliance
- President of Black Pilots of America (BPA) for the State of Florida
- Received the Florida Commendation Medal from Governor Jeb Bush
- Received the Global War on Terrorism Award
- Received Outstanding Community Service Award – Volusia County
VICE PRESIDENT R. LEWAYNE JOHNSON, PHD, LLM, JD
Dr. Robert LeWayne Johnson was born in rural Mississippi in the 1950s. At just five years old, he was already working as a water boy in the cotton fields with his family.
Dr. Robert LeWayne Johnson is now a 34-year military veteran who served in the US Air Force for four years and the US Army for 29 years. He is a retired Senior Chief Warrant Officer whose last assigned duty was with USAR Legal Command in Maryland, working with the Major General of the US Army Reserve Command. He was awarded a Bronze Star for his heroism in the first Gulf War.
Dr. Johnson has earned a Ph.D., a Master of Laws (LLM) in International Taxation, a Juris Doctor (JD) and has practiced law. He has also earned two master’s degrees. He has said “Education is the great equalizer, and without it we can’t go forward. The message that I have for the younger generation is to get that education.”
Dr. Johnson is recently retired from working for the U.S. Department of the Navy as a program manager with the presidential helicopter program. He founded the Osceola County Democratic Veterans Caucus of Florida in 2019 and is a Board Member of the Democratic Veterans Caucus of Florida.
Dr. Johnson is also the Chief Executive Officer of The Florida Coalition to Prevent Veteran Homelessness, Inc., an organization that he founded in 2021. As CEO of the organization, he organized Veteran Jobs Fairs in Kissimmee in June, 2022, and St. Cloud in November, 2022. He recently partnered with the Mercy Foundation, as their Director of the Homeless Veterans’ Program, and the city of Kissimmee to conduct a Veteran Resource Fair in November, 2023. He is in close contact with Congressman Darren Soto to ensure that veterans’ issues are at the forefront of his decision-making policy.
When being honored for his service to the community by the Osceola County Commission, Chairwoman Viviana Janer said “Dr. Johnson has provided invaluable service to our country and community – both as a member of the military and as a private citizen, His dedication to veterans experiencing homelessness and his efforts to assist them are an exemplary example of a citizen inspired to take action to help others. We’re lucky that he calls Osceola County home and we are grateful for everything he contributes to our community.”
Dr. Johnson was recognized in the 116th Congressional Record in 2020 by Congressman Darren Soto for military achievements, leadership and strategic focus. He is listed in Who’s Who in America, 2022-2023.
His wife of forty years has an MBA and is a retired federal employee, while his youngest daughter is a Naval Officer with a medical degree (MD) and his oldest has a master’s degree.
Dr. Johnson has been affiliated with the following organizations:
- Director: Mercy Foundation’s Homeless Veterans’ Program – February 2022
- Planning Commissioner for Osceola County District 3 (Vice Chair) – February 2022
- Committee member: Osceola Sheriff’s Department Veterans Advisory Committee – December 2021
- Congressional Advisory Council for Justice (Florida Congressional 9th District) – September 2021
- Director of Compliance: Fulbright International Honors Association – August 2020
- CEO & President: The Florida Coalition to Prevent Veteran Homelessness – March 2020
- President & Founder: Osceola County Veterans Caucus of FL – February 2019
- Veterans’ Liaison: Osceola County NAACP – 2019
- Communication Chair: OCDEC
SECRETARY HAZEL GILLIS
Hazel Gillis has over 50 years of experience in dealing with the public through positions of increasing responsibilities and diverse functions for the federal government. Hazel Gillis’ background is in hiring, training and supervising personnel. She is familiar with EEO policies and procedures and graduated from Jones College as a Paralegal with a Bachelor of Science Degree, Summa Cum Laude.
She is heavily involved in the community and holds many hats in the Florida Democratic Party and Duval County DEC. She serves as a precinct Committeewoman in District 7 and was the State Committeewoman for Duval County.
She is President of James Weldon Johnson Branch of ASALH. Hazel’s past experiences include President of Duval County Democratic Black Caucus for four years and 2016 President First Coast Tiger Bay Club, Inc.
Hazel’s secretarial experiences include Recording Secretary Duval County Democratic Black Caucus, Recording Secretary James Weldon Johnson Branch of ASALH, 2018 Recording Secretary First Coast Tiger Bay Club, Inc. Currently she is the Recording Secretary for the Democratic Black Caucus of Florida. In January, 2021, she was elected Secretary of the Democratic Veterans Caucus of Florida.
TREASURER MARIAN WILLIAMS
Former Chair of FDP Committee of Clubs, Organizations and Caucuses, Certified 300 clubs & caucuses for 67 counties in 2019
Founding member of the Democratic Veterans Caucus of Florida
Current Treasurer of Democratic Veterans Caucus of Florida
Current Membership, Certification, and Bylaws Chair of DVCF
Former Vice President of Democratic Veterans Caucus of Florida
Former Secretary of Democratic Veterans Caucus of Florida
Former Congressional Chair of CD7
Former State Committeewoman of Seminole County
President of Seminole County Democratic Black Caucus
President of Democratic Women’s Club of Seminole County
President of Central Florida Democratic Club
President-elect of Seminole County Branch of NAACP
Elected Delegate NAACP National Convention in 2020
Elected Delegate for Joe Biden in 2020
Elected Delegate for Hillary Clinton in 2016
Elected Delegate for Barack Obama in 2008, 2012
Former Candidate for Seminole County SOE in 2004, 2006
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PAST PRESIDENT H. ELENA MCCULLOUGH, LT, USCG (ret.)
MILITARY SERVICE
United States Coast Guard (14 years as Enlisted & 10 years as an Officer). Career highlights included serving as the official USCG Spanish/English interpreter for a six-month counter drug surge mission between the US and the Dominican Republic. As USCG Port of Miami Chief Planner developed, coordinated and implemented mass casualty, homeland security & technology exercises to ensure security at the 2003 Free Trade area of the America’s Conference.
ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE
Extensive grassroots organizing experience from 2007 to the present in Pasco/Hillsborough counties. In 2009 created Wesley Chapel Community for Change, a multi-generational team of volunteers dedicated to do community service, completing 900 hours of service in Pasco/Hillsborough County.
Ran for State House in 2010 for District 61. Assisted by a highly dedicated team of 100 plus volunteers during the year-long campaign, received over 37% of the vote. In 2012, was selected as an Organizing for America (OFA) Spanish language surrogate, appearing in multiple TV & radio commercials and participating in media interviews in the Tampa area. Elected to serve as one of Florida’s 29 Electoral College Elector in December 2012. Has remained active helping Democratic campaigns at both the state and national levels.
Resident Liaison for Pasco County Housing Authority, Lacoochee, FL, Sept 2014 – present. Successful at engaging area residents and increasing involvement in community projects and improvements. Played a key role in identifying resources and implementing biweekly surplus food deliveries to senior residents. Assisted multiple area youth in preparing college application packages for annual $10,000 local college scholarships. Multiple housing authority students successfully competed for the college scholarships.
Selected to participate in a Veteran’s Roundtable discussion with Democratic Presidential Candidate Joe Biden, September 2020 at Hillsborough Community College. Prompted extensive discussion on plans to protect and improve Social Security.
CURRENT POSITIONS
Director and Co-Founder of American-Now, a nonprofit organization, founded in 2013. Attained 501(c)(3) status July 28, 2015. Civic outreach organization dedicated to empowering new Americans.
Formerly 2nd Vice President of the Democratic Hispanic Caucus of Florida.
Became Vice President of the Democratic Veterans Caucus of Florida in 2013.
Member, DNC Veterans and Military Families Council.
Became President of the Democratic Veterans Caucus of Florida in 2021. Stepped down at the end of 2023 for personal reasons.
PAST PRESIDENT PHIL GIORNO
Phil Giorno was born into a military family at Fort Bragg, N.C. He grew up living at military bases around the world, including Okinawa, Germany and England, until he volunteered for the service in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War.
He graduated from the University of Maryland with a B.S. in Business and Public Administration with help from the G.I. Bill after his military service. After some early Information Systems employment, including with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve in Washington, D.C., he moved back to Deltona and became a Programmer Systems Analyst for the County of Volusia. During this time he married and had two daughters, Leah, 28, living in England, and Melissa, 26, living in Australia.
He left his position as a Senior Program Systems Analyst to run for election to the Volusia County Council, serving as the District 5 County Councilman and as the first Councilman at Large to be elected from the west side of the county. During this time, he was elected the County Council Chairman by his peers. He worked to establish the county-wide library system and secured donated lands for the libraries in Deltona and DeBary. He also voted for the establishment of many parks, including Gemini Springs.
He established a consulting firm, Phil Giorno & Associates, serving as a liaison between private industry and government. He also owned and operated several successful small businesses in DeBary. He then became first the Associate Supervisor, then the District Administrator of the Volusia Soil and Water Conservation District, working with the County Council and the St. John’s River Water Management to protect Volusia County’s natural resources.
He has served through his volunteer work with many community groups as well. He has been a member of the Lake Helen/Cassadaga/Deltona American Legion for 31 years. He has also been a member of the VFW for 25 years and is a member of the Disabled American Veterans. He has also been President of the Lake Helen Jaycees and he is a Silver-level Member of the NAACP. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Volusia/Flagler Boys & Girls Club and on the Board of Directors of the Southwest Volusia YMCA. He was the Chair of the Volusia County Democratic Party for thirteen years, until 2013, a record state-wide. He served as the President of the Democratic Veterans Caucus of Florida from January, 2013 – January, 2021 and Vice Chair of the Florida Democratic Party from 2017 – 2021. President of the Volusia County Democratic Veterans Caucus from 2021 to present. Prior to Covid-19, he enjoyed touring the world.
PAST PRESIDENT VIC OGILVIE
Vic Ogilvie served as the President of the Democratic Veterans Caucus of Florida from May of 2009 until 2013 and is a charter member of the DVCF. Vic is a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel and a retired V.A. Clinical Psychologist. During his final USAF assignment, he was the Air Force Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer for South Florida and an adviser to the Adjutant General of the Florida National Guard. He played a key role in the Federal response and recovery to Category 4 Hurricane Andrew which devastated South Florida in 1992. As a V.A. Psychologist, he specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of post traumatic stress disorder among combat veterans. In 1996, he was appointed by Gov. Lawton Chiles to the Florida Commission on Veterans’ Affairs where he served four years. Vic holds a Ph.D. in counseling psychology from U.C.L.A. Vic resides in Altamonte Springs, Florida with his wife Carol, a retired teacher and current DVCF member. They have two adult children, Andrew and Kari.
CAROL OGILVIE
Carol is a retired Seminole County teacher. Her career included teaching public school in Florida, Texas, & Minnesota and while obtaining her California teaching credential, she worked as an educational consultant for UCLA and as a Veterans Benefits Counselor for the VA Regional Office in Los Angeles. Carol earned a B.S. degree in education from the University of Minnesota and completed an M.S. degree from the University of Scranton in Rehabilitation Counseling with a 600 hr. internship at the VA Hospital in Northeastern, PA. Her experiences with veterans via the Veterans Administration and as the wife of Vic Ogilvie, retired US Air Force Colonel & VA Clinical Psychologist, have enriched her awareness of veterans, their issues, and the role that government plays.
Carol is a life long Democrat and professionally has supported and maintained membership in the National Education Association and it’s local union affiliates throughout her teaching career. Although rearing two children, teaching and lending support to her husband’s many leadership roles, she participated in many political activities including envelope stuffing, phone banking, petition and canvassing drives, as well as, voter registration drives. She is a past Secretary of the Democratic Veterans’ Caucus of Florida and and is a current board member. She also serves on the board of the Central FL Democratic Club.
MILDRED SMITH
Mildred “Milli” Smith serves on the DVCF’s board of directors, and is a founding member of the organization. The DVCF was created in 2008 under the leadership of Congresswoman Karen Thurman when she served as Chairwoman of the Florida Democratic Party. Milli, along with DVCF founding President Fred McDowell and Chairwoman Thurman, who is the daughter of a World War II Veteran, saw the need and organized the Democratic Veterans Caucus of Florida.
Milli entered active duty Navy in Orlando, Florida in 1978, where after training, she was assigned to MCAS Futenma Okinawa, an island located of the coast of Japan providing support to the Third Marine Division and for MCB Camp Butler; the MCAS El Toro, California providing materials and support for aviation activities of the United States Marine Corps; before finally being assigned to the SUBBASE Pearl Harbor assisting the Quality Material Control Team in repairing submarines. After being designated as the Control Material Petty Officer for the Hull Division Repair unit, she excelled very quickly before becoming medically retired, disabled veteran in 1998.
She is a charter member of Women in the Military Service Memorial, which is a living memorial of military women in Arlington, Virginia. Her advocacy for veterans led to her receiving a 2004 Congressional Black Caucus Veterans Braintrust Award, a 2008 NAACP Veterans Meritorious Award and a 2012 “Trailblazer” Award from the City of Miami Commission on the Status of Women. Milli is owner of MJS Consulting & Strategic Planning, Inc. and founder of the Scarlet Heart Foundation, where she has helped many veterans and military families throughout the Southeast. She is in partnership with Terry Mobbs (Vietnam Veteran), who owns MC2 Energy Solutions, on projects in Mississippi and in Southeast Asia to create Energy jobs for veterans, at home and abroad.
Milli is the daughter of Retired Sergeant Major Robert Stevens (posthumous), a 30 year Army veteran, and Doris Stevens of Dale City, Virginia and she is the mother of James Andrew Kidd III, age 24.
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