CAMARILLO, CA - Today, Jeff Gorell, Republican nominee for Congress in California's 26th Congressional District and Navy Commander announced the leadership and formation of the Veterans for Gorell coalition.

Veterans for Gorell will be led by former Mayor of Port Hueneme, Brig Gen Tony Volante (Ret.), and 3-time Purple Heart recipient, CAPT Jon Williams (Ret.). "We are honored to join so many of our fellow veterans in supporting Jeff Gorell for Congress," said Volante. "With so much going on in the world today, we need someone like Jeff, with his military acumen, representing us in Washington, D.C. We need a leader who will make sure that our veterans are taken care of when they return, and for years afterwards. The current state of our Veterans Administration is a disgrace and disservice to those that have served. Veterans in the 26th District demand a stronger voice - one that knows where they come from."

"I could not ask to be surrounded by a more prestigious group of American heroes than those that have joined my campaign today," said Gorell. "When elected to Congress, I will fight everyday to protect our men and women in uniform, make sure our veterans are given the care and attention they deserve, and ensure that Naval Base Ventura County is protected as one of our area's biggest assets."

Those joining Veterans for Gorell include:

Tony Volante - Brig Gen, USAF (Ret.)
Dr. Jon Williams - CAPT, USN (Ret.)
Daniel Pemberton - Brig Gen, USAF (Ret.)
Dr. Eugene Fussell - RDML, USN (Ret.)
Robert Miller - CAPT, USN
Brick Conners - CAPT, USN (Ret.)
Stewart Fisher - CAPT, USN (Ret.)
Roman Gonzales - CAPT, USN (Ret.)
Paul Grossgold - CAPT, USN (Ret.)
Steve Huber - CAPT, USN (Ret.)
Jim McHugh - CAPT, USN (Ret.)
David Sasek - CAPT, USN (Ret.)
Ed Bellion - Col, USAF (Ret.)
Paul Heron - CDR, USN (Ret.)
Ike Ikerd - CDR, USN (Ret.)
Ronald Boll - Lt Col, USAF (Ret.)
Matt Bromund - LT, JAGC, USNR (Ret.)
Steven Hintz - LT, JAGC, USN (Ret.)
Ron Van Dyck - CMDCM, USN (Ret.)
Jim Daniels - EQCM, USN (Ret.)
Tony Grey - MCPO, USN (Ret.)
Ronald Pekkala - MCPO, USN (Ret.)
Ken Devore - CPO, USN (Ret.)
Dan Dolby - CPO, USN (Ret.)
Patrick Phillippe - BUC(SCW), USN (Ret.)
Bennie Roberts - MSgt, USAF (Ret.)
Cary Verstynen - MSgt, USAF (Ret.)
Stacy Cachero - PO1, USN
Erick Brockway - EO1, USN (Ret.)
Mark Higgins - PO1, USN (Ret.)
John Klopfstein - PO1, USN (Ret.)
Henry Soria - TSgt, USAF (Ret.)
Reyna Castle - PO2, USN
David Castle - PO2, USN
Amber Chambliss - PO2, USN Norman Griffaw - PO2, USN (Ret.)
Reymundo Parra - PO2, USN (Ret.)
Danny Molina - SGT, USA (Ret.)
John Ortiz - SGT, USA (Ret.)
Ken Preciado - SGT, USA (Ret.)
Victor Westerberg - SGT, USA (Ret.)
Neil Obnillas - PO3, USN
Cecilia Roberson - PO3, USN
Robert Rublacava - SPC, USA
Ben Host - PO3, USN (Ret.)
John Pressey - CPL, USA (Ret.)
Jim Monahan - SPC, USA (Ret.)
David Moodie - SPC, USA (Ret.)
John Ramirez - SPC, USA (Ret.)
Court Conaway - SN, USN
Marcella West - SN, USN
Bob Landman - A1C, USAF (Ret.)
Doug Breeze - SR, USN (Ret.)
Max Blum - US Navy Veteran
Lewis Delacruz - US Navy Veteran
Mike Duckett - US Navy Veteran
Ed Hogan - US Navy Veteran
Terry Howard - US Navy Veteran
Dan LaManno - US Navy Veteran
George Lange - US Navy Veteran
Len Newcomb - US Navy Veteran
Denny Rice - US Navy Veteran
Robert Lenham - US Marine Corps Veteran
Shawn Benavente - US Army Veteran
James Cornell - US Army Veteran
Owen Francis - US Army Veteran
Paulino Romero - US Army Veteran
Ernie Villegas - US Army Veteran
Chuck Bauman - US Air Force Veteran

Gorell is a Navy Commander and third-generation Navy war veteran who most recently served in Afghanistan as an intelligence officer in support of Marine Corps forces in Helmand Province. He is currently training with joint U.S. forces in Colorado and will return home August 1st.