Donovan (Andrew) Lazarus Email & Phone Number

Donovan Andrew Lazarus State Commander, President & CEO of AMVETS Hawaii Donovan A. Lazarus, a resident of Kapolei, Hawaii, has made significant contributions to both his country and the veteran community. While serving as a Search & Recovery Team Leader at the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), Donovan founded the first AMVETS Post in Hawaii in 2006 and served as the USS Arizona Post Commander. Following his retirement from the U.S. Army in 2010, he went on to establish seven more AMVETS Posts across the state.Donovan’s inspiration to join the U.S. Army came from the iconic 1983 film “First Blood”. He enlisted as an Airborne Infantryman, gaining specialized skills as an Expert Infantryman, Paratrooper, Jungle Expert and Mountaineer. His military career spanned the Cold War and the Global War on Terror, with deployments in the Caribbean, the Middle East, Asia, and the Pacific. He held various leadership positions, from Platoon Sergeant to Commandant of the 2nd Infantry Division. One of his most notable roles was serving as a Basic Combat Drill Instructor from 1997 to 2000.In 2018, Donovan founded the AMVETS Department of Hawaii, the AMVETS Hawaii Service Foundation Corp, and the AMVETS West Oahu Veterans Center. Under his leadership as State Commander, President, and CEO, he oversees AMVETS Hawaii's operations, setting policies and providing guidance to ensure the organization serves veterans effectively.He has been inspired by mentors such as Colonel Gregory D. Gadson, Colonel Arthur N. Tulak, and Dr. John Henry Felix, and continues to dedicate his time to helping veterans. His contributions extend beyond AMVETS, having funded the construction of schools in Vietnam and Laos, the Naval Air Station Barbers Point Memorial, and the Dr. John Henry Felix Monument. He has also awarded grants and scholarships in Vietnam, Thailand, Papua New Guinea, and Hawaii.Donovan holds a Bachelor of Arts with honors in Criminal Justice from Thomas Edison State University and an Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts from Central Texas College. He and Thanh Mai Thi Lazarus, are proud parents of Elias Emmanuel Lazarus, a 6th-grade teacher at Ewa Makai Middle School. Together, they own and operate MaiModa Jewelry.

Listed skills include Leadership, Leadership Development, Training, Team Building, and 46 others.

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  Thomas Edison State College

  Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration