Don De Kock was elected Department Commander of The American Legion, Department of Iowa, at the 107th Department Convention on July 19, 2026.
De Kock is a proud six-year veteran of the U.S. Navy. He deployed three times during the Vietnam War, serving aboard the USS Neosho (AO-143) as a Hull Maintenance Technician. Much of his time was spent testing the fuel used to refuel other ships while underway.
A retired law enforcement officer, De Kock served a total of 39 years in both part-time and full-time law enforcement, with most of his full-time career spent at the Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office. He also spent 29 years as part of a team of officers teaching a class for seniors at Oskaloosa Senior High School. De Kock is especially proud to have taught some of the finest graduates of Oskaloosa Senior High School because they genuinely cared about their fellow students.
What De Kock enjoys most about retirement is the opportunity to serve others. Whether serving on international mission trips, volunteering at a youth gathering in the Rocky Mountains with more than 2,400 high school students, or spending time at the Iowa Capitol in Des Moines during the legislative session advocating for the rights of all veterans, service continues to be at the center of his life.
Commander De Kock wants his year as Department Commander to be known as the Year of the Family. The American Legion Family includes The American Legion, the American Legion Auxiliary, the Sons of The American Legion, and the American Legion Riders. He believes that when the Legion Family works together toward a common purpose, it grows stronger, becomes more successful, and is better able to serve all veterans—especially those who proudly call the great State of Iowa home.