Reports from Arizona’s Representatives at the National Level
The American Legion Department of Arizona appoints members to serve on National commissions, committees, councils, and other assignments that help shape the programs, policies, and legislative priorities of The American Legion.
Department representatives may also attend National conferences and meetings to advocate for Arizona veterans, participate in committee work, receive program updates, build relationships with National leaders, and bring important information back to our Department.
National Insights provides our members with access to reports submitted by the Arizona Legionnaires who attended these meetings and events. These reports help explain:
- What occurred during the meeting or conference
- What issues and priorities were discussed
- How the representative participated
- What was learned or accomplished
- Why Arizona’s representation at the National level matters
- How the information may affect Arizona veterans, Posts, Districts, and programs
Preserving the Representative’s Voice
Each National Insights story begins with information submitted by the member who attended the event.
Because submitted reports may arrive as formal reports, after-action reports, meeting notes, or emails, the Department may use artificial intelligence as an editorial tool to organize the information, improve readability, correct grammar, and add factual context from official agendas, schedules, legislative priorities, and other supporting documents.
The purpose of this process is not to replace the author’s voice or rewrite the experience as a Department statement. Our goal is to preserve the representative’s observations, personality, and personal experience while making sure the published report gives members a complete and understandable account of what was expected to occur, what actually occurred, and why it was important.
Whenever possible, the representative is given an opportunity to review the edited report before publication.
Annual Report Archive
Reports are organized by calendar year, with the newest year and most recently received reports appearing first.
Select a representative’s name below to open the complete report in PDF format.
2026 National Insights Reports
Bradley Shafer
Assignment: Department of Arizona Legislative Commission Member and Legislative Lobbyist
Event: 2026 American Legion Washington Conference
Report: Advocacy, National legislative priorities, and meetings with Arizona’s Congressional delegation
Bradley Shafer provides an overview of the Department delegation’s participation in the Washington Conference, including National briefings, legislative advocacy, Congressional meetings, and the value of maintaining Arizona’s presence in Washington, D.C.
[Read Bradley Shafer’s Report – PDF]
Al Young
Assignment: Arizona Legislative Council Representative for Congressman Juan Ciscomani
Event: 2026 American Legion Washington Conference
Report: A first-person account of representing Arizona veterans on Capitol Hill
Al Young shares his personal experience attending the Washington Conference, meeting with members of Arizona’s Congressional delegation and their staffs, observing the National Commander’s testimony, and advocating for issues affecting veterans and their families.
[Read Al Young’s Report – PDF]
Future Report Years
As additional reports are received, each calendar year will be added above the previous year.
The archive will follow this order:
2027 National Insights Reports
New reports will be listed here as they are received.
2026 National Insights Reports
Previously published reports will remain available here.
2025 National Insights Reports
Any reports later received or recovered from this year may be added to the historical archive.
Serving Arizona Through National Representation
Participation at the National level allows Arizona Legionnaires to contribute their experience, provide input on important issues, and ensure the concerns of Arizona veterans are represented.
These reports also provide accountability to our members by showing the work performed by Department representatives and the value returned to Arizona through National appointments, conferences, committee assignments, and official travel.
We thank every representative who takes the time to attend, participate, and report back to the Department.