Leadership

John Mazur, President

I was literally born to be a Democrat. My Father is the longest-term Democratic County Chairman in Pennsylvania, where I initially grew up. From childhood through graduation and even longer, I have participated in local, governor and congressional campaigns with him.

Recently I have been honored to be elected President of the Volusia County Democratic Veterans Caucus of Florida.

Living in Volusia County, near Port Orange for the last 35 years, I have been a long-time member of the Volusia County Democratic Executive Committee and a publicly elected Precinct Committeeman.

I graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and have been a long time International Airline Captain for US Airways and American Airlines. There’s an age limit for airline pilots and they call that airline retirement. I’ve surpassed that limit, but I call that Graduation. Due to my experience, I have been employed by another airline to instruct their pilots and Captains how to be Captains in an FAA approved Captain Development and Crew Resource Management Training Course that I helped create.

I have been a member of the 193^rd Special Operations Wing of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard, the 125^th Fighter Wing of The Florida Air National Guard and 364^th Ordinance Division of the Army National Guard.

Although being still involved in student career development and having been a long-term Visitors Board member at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, both voluntary endeavors, I plan to use my experience to help the Veterans of our county and State with issues of obtaining their well-earned and deserved benefits.

My intent is to increase the membership of our Caucus and continue to be an integral component of getting more Democrats elected to office.

Mary Robison,  Vice President

Sally Garcia, Treasurer 

I retired to Florida in 2015 after spending 40 years in Texas. Since arriving here, I have been active in the state and county Democratic Veterans Caucus of Florida. I am currently on the board of the State Democratic Veterans Caucus and help with the recruitment of members for new chapters in other counties of the state, like Sarasota, Marion, and Escambia Counties.  I believe the Florida Democratic Party needs to pay more attention to the needs of veterans and do more to promote  their interests at the state and national level. I also am working at the county level with our caucus to promote outreach to retired veterams in communal living facilities. I look forward to promoting the interests of veterans at all levels of society.  

John Navarra, Secretary
 

Bill Wilson, Board Member
 

Jeff Wixson, Board Member
 

Phil Giorno, Past President from 2022 - 2024

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 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 some early Information Systems employment, including with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve in Washington, D.C., he moved back to Florida and became a Programmer Systems Analyst for the County of Volusia. During this time he married and had two daughters, Leah, now living in England, and Melissa, living in Atlantic Beach, Florida.

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 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 Florida. He then became Associate Supervisor, and then the District Administrator of the Volusia Soil and Water Conservation District. In this capacity, he worked with the County Council and the St. Johns River Water Management to protect Volusia County’s natural resources. He is owner of a Centennial Family Farm dealing in forestry in South Carolina.

He has served through his volunteer work with many community groups. These organizations include the Lake Helen/Cassadaga/Deltona American Legion for 35 years, the VFW for 30 years and the Disabled American Veterans. He has also been President of the Lake Helen Jaycees and is a Silver 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. For 13 years, he was the Chair of the Volusia County Democratic Party, a record state-wide. In 2021, he completed his second term as the President of the Democratic Veterans Caucus of Florida, having been initially elected in 2013. He also served as appointed Vice President of the Florida Democratic Party. He also took over as president of the Volusia County Democratic Veterans Caucus of Florida in 2022 and served through 2024.
 

Danny Fuqua, Past President from 2017 – 2021   

 I am an army veteran of 29 years of service in logistics and finance. I have been married for 32 years to my lovely wife Muriel, and I am a proud father of two amazing children, and grandfather of three incredible grandchildren. I am active on several community boards in the City of Daytona Beach. I am currently president of the state veterans caucus, the Democratic Veterans Caucus of Florida. I would like to reach out to all of the members for their support in encouraging other veterans to become a member of this caucus.