Brett Nila completed 30 years of service in the US Army, the Illinois Army National Guard and the Army Reserves, retiring as a Colonel (O6) in 2009. He earned his eligibility for the VFW through service in the Kosovo Campaign from January through August 2000 as Chief of Staff for the Theater Logistics Base (Camp Able Sentry), and through service in Operation Iraqi Freedom from June 2007 through April 2008, as Commander of the 640th Sustainment Brigade. In 2008, Brett joined VFW Post #5696 in Lisle and became Commander in 2011. In 2020-2021 he served as Commander of the 19th District. He is a graduate of Loyola University of Chicago, Keller Graduate School of Management, and the Army War College. Brett maintained a civilian career in the Commercial Property Insurance industry for over twenty years and then joined Easter Seals in 2009 to launch and manage "Community OneSource” for Veterans. Brett is currently retired and was elected Junior Vice Commander at the 2021 Convention. He and his wife Pamela, a former Army Staff Sergeant, reside in Downers Grove, Illinois