A Mon Valley resident and life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 914 Intrepid West Mifflin has been appointed the Public Affairs Officer of VFW Department of Pennsylvania District 29 by Commander William Roland.
Michael Mauer, an Army veteran of Operation Desert Storm, was presented with a garrison cap signifying his new office during a VFW event in December at the Southwestern Veterans’ Center in Pittsburgh. In his new post, Mauer is responsible for communicating the VFW’s mission and activities in Allegheny County to the public via periodicals and social media.
“In appointing Mike as our PAO, it is also in recognition for the work he has done over a great many years in helping the VFW get out the word about what all we do to help veterans, their families and our communities,” said Roland, a Kosovo Campaign and Global War on Terrorism veteran. “We have every bit of confidence in him that he’ll be able to keep up this good work.”
Mauer has written scores of articles about the VFW over the past three decades that have been printed in local, regional and statewide publications. In 2016, Mauer won the grand award for best feature article in the VFW National Publications Contest. He has been a life member of the VFW since 1995. He has received citations for his work over the years with the VFW from both the Pennsylvania State Senate and the House of Representatives.
An active freelance writer for more than 35 years, Mauer won the Army’s highest journalism honor, the Keith L. Ware, in 1991. He was also awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal by Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf for his actions as a military reporter in Operation Desert Storm. He was appointed a VFW National Aide-De-Camp in 2006.
In 2010, Mauer was inducted into the Southwestern Pennsylvania Veterans Hall of Fame. He earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and communications from Point Park University in 1984, and is a graduate of the United States Military’s Defense Information School.
Mauer is employed with the United States Veterans Administration. He and his wife, Marsey, have been married for 33 years and have two daughters, Sarah and Rachel.
Photo provided by Veterans Of Foreign Wars Pennsylvania District 29 Public Affairs Officer Michael P. Mauer.