California American Legion
Area 6, District 16
Officers 2025-2026
Miguel A. Kercado
Commander
Miguel A. Kercado is a 10-year Paid Up for Life American Legion member and 7-year Sons of the American Legion member. He served 30 years in the U.S. Armed Forces; 4 years active-duty Air Force and 26 years with the California Air National Guard in career fields including finance, logistics, and maintenance.
At Orcutt Post 534, served as Chaplain, 2nd Vice, and now 1st Vice Commander and Squadron Commander of the Sons of the American Legion. Miguel is retired after 29 years with the Federal Bureau of Prisons and has been married 37 years with a son and daughter.
Miguel believes the Legion thrives because of its loyal, dedicated volunteers who work to improve the lives of veterans, families, and youth in our community.
Chris “Big Toe” Rohrberg
1st Vice Commander
Shannon Stevens
2nd Vice Commander
Shannon Stevens joined the U.S. Navy at 22, inspired by a unique calling despite family ties to the Army and Air Force. Beginning her service on May 6, 1996, she completed boot camp in Great Lakes, Illinois, and Aviation Machinist Mate (AD) training in Millington, Tennessee, specializing in jet engines. Assigned to the USS John F. Kennedy CV-67, she was unexpectedly flown via COD aircraft to meet the ship at sea—a daunting but memorable experience. Over her four-year enlistment, Stevens worked on F-14 TomCat engines, served as lead stretcher bearer, and deployed twice to the Persian Gulf. She honorably ended her service on May 6, 2000, cherishing the camaraderie and skills gained. Now, through the American Legion, she continues supporting veterans, embodying the same spirit of service she found in the Navy.
Joseph Benton
Adjutant
Joseph Benton served 8 years in the Marines and was a Combat Correspondent during Operation Desert Shield and Storm. Having served 5 years as a disbursing clerk, he trained on-the-job and on-the-air at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, hosting a radio show in the noon hour and running the AFRTS on-air television station on weekends. He earn the broadcast journalist MOS and also attended the prestigious Defense Information School (DINFOS) to formalize his training; while attending DINFOS, he carried the Marine Corps colors for the honor guard at the Indianapolis 500.
Kristy Grayson
Finance Officer
(biography pending)
Dan Crow
Chaplain
(biography pending)