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Pre-American Legion
Just after high school, Matthew Shuman joined the Arizona Army National Guard as a 31B Military Police Officer. He soon found himself at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, where he underwent nearly six months of rigorous training to become a qualified MP. Upon completion of Basic Combat Training, Shuman was assigned to the 850th Military Police Battalion and the newly formed 856th Military Police Company, 3rd Platoon, based in Prescott, Arizona. Quickly establishing himself as a standout member of his unit, Shuman took on additional responsibilities, becoming a certified Range Safety Officer and earning a bus driver qualification—skills essential to the mobility and operational readiness of his company.
During the 2009 All Weapons Weekend — a prestigious cross-branch, international shooting competition — Shuman was recruited to join the elite Arizona Army National Guard Honor Guard, based at Papago Military Park and Fort Huachuca. As part of this distinguished team, he provided military funeral honors to fallen service members and Veterans. His service earned him the right to wear the Honor Guard tab on his uniform, a symbol of reverence and pride.
While serving in the Honor Guard, Shuman began taking online courses at Grand Canyon University, eventually transitioning to full-time, on-campus enrollment. Pursuing a degree in Justice Studies, he aimed to align his education with his long-standing ambition to become a police officer. Simultaneously, he enrolled in the Army ROTC program at Arizona State University, further cementing his commitment to military service.
It was during this period that Shuman interned for Arizona Congressman Trent Franks. That experience awakened a deep passion for public policy and politics. With encouragement from family and friends, Shuman relocated to Washington, D.C., where he continued working for Congressman Franks and enrolled at Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia, to complete his Criminal Justice degree.
After a year in D.C., Shuman returned to Arizona to support former Paradise Valley Mayor Vernon Parker’s congressional campaign. In short order, he was instrumental in managing the campaign to a primary victory in a crowded nine-way Republican race. Following that success, he joined the Republican National Committee, supporting both the Mitt Romney and Richard Tisei campaigns in Massachusetts during the 2012 cycle.
Shuman later returned to Marymount to complete his degree, interning during his senior year with Congressman David Schweikert — his hometown representative — focusing on Veterans issues and the Judiciary Committee.
In the summer of 2013, just before graduation, Shuman was assigned by Marymount University to serve as student liaison to Boys Nation, a program of The American Legion. An alumnus of the program, Past National Commander Bob Turner, discovered Shuman was a Veteran but not yet a Legion member. PNC Turner personally enrolled him at Post 112 in Dalton, Georgia, even paying for Shuman’s first year of membership to ensure he joined the organization.
Just weeks before graduating, Shuman accepted a position at U.S. English, a non-profit advocating for English as the official language of government. There, he successfully passed his first bill — HB 3019 in West Virginia — making it the 32nd state to enact official English legislation.
The American Legion National Headquarters
“Shuman was formally appointed Director of the Legislative Division. At just 28 years old, he was the youngest ever to hold the role.”
In November 2015, Shuman joined The American Legion’s National Legislative Division in Washington, D.C., overseeing the Veterans Employment and Education portfolio. His work focused on the G.I. Bill, employment barriers for Veterans and military families, homelessness, small business development, and federal procurement.
Shortly after joining, the Division Director position became vacant. During the extensive search for a replacement, Shuman stepped up as a de facto leader. During the 2016 election cycle, he represented The American Legion at the Republican National Convention, successfully inserting pro-Veteran, anti-privatization language into the party platform.
Later that year, Shuman was formally appointed Director of the Legislative Division. At just 28 years old, he was the youngest ever to hold the role.
Shuman quickly built a powerhouse team, bringing together professionals with expertise on Capitol Hill, within the Veteran community, and across federal agencies. With support from The American Legion, Congress, and the Trump administration, Shuman helped pass the VA Appeals Modernization Act, transforming the VA’s outdated appeals process. Previously, Veterans often waited decades—some longer than Shuman had been alive—for decisions. This legislation was signed into law by President Trump onstage at The American Legion’s National Convention in Reno, Nevada.
Shuman’s team then spearheaded the VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act, enabling the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to remove underperforming employees while safeguarding whistleblowers.
“[T]he MISSION Act makes VA better, which was the goal of both The American Legion and Matthew Shuman.”
Shuman then focused on ensuring continued funding for the Veterans CHOICE Program, originally created in response to the 2014 Phoenix VA crisis. As CHOICE funds dwindled, The American Legion and Shuman led efforts to reauthorize the program. Recognizing its limitations, they spent over two years crafting a broader solution: the MISSION Act. This landmark legislation unified multiple VA health care systems into one, expanded community care access, improved caregiver benefits, and helped VA recruit top-tier medical professionals—all while guarding against privatization. As Shuman put it, "The MISSION Act makes VA better," a sentiment shared by The American Legion.
Shuman also led two major legislative victories specifically for The American Legion. First, he orchestrated the passage of the American Legion Centennial Commemorative Coin Act, generating between $8–12 million for the organization. It became the most co-sponsored bill in Congress for the decade, with 385 co-sponsors. Second, working with Senator Kyrsten Sinema and National Judge Advocate Kevin Bartlett, Shuman helped create the LEGION Act (Let Everyone Get Involved in Opportunities for National Service), which expanded membership eligibility by recognizing that the U.S. has been in a state of conflict since World War I. The bill was signed into law in July 2019 in the Oval Office.
Though Shuman’s legislative work was widely recognized, he cites his proudest moment as returning to Marymount University to swear in Boys Nation delegates—and escorting them to the White House.
Unfortunately, the funding associated with the CHOICE program began running short, which would require Congress to either allow the program to die, forcing Veterans to travel long distances to their brick-and-mortar VA hospital, or reauthorize funding for the program to continue. Through the incredible and strong work of The American Legion, along with other allies, Congress did exactly what Mr. Shuman and The American Legion called on them to do, which was pass legislation funding the Veterans CHOICE Program.
After stepping down from the national staff, Shuman was appointed Legislative Consultant to The American Legion’s National Legislative Commission. In May 2020, he joined the Executive Marketing Committee, contributing to 21st-century marketing strategies. In October 2022, Shuman was appointed Chairman of the National Security Commission, where he helped launch the BASE (Base Analysis & Servicemember Experience) Program. This initiative allows The American Legion to assess conditions on military installations and advocate for improvements before Congress.
In October 2024, Shuman was named National Legislative Chairman, a personal and professional homecoming. In February 2025, he made history by holding the first-ever Legislative Commission meeting on Capitol Hill, in the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Hearing Room. He continues to serve in that role today.
Post-American Legion
After his tenure on staff at The American Legion, Shuman joined Philips Healthcare as Director of Congressional & Military Affairs. There, he works with the Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense, and the Department of Health and Human Services to improve the health of three billion people globally by 2025. Shuman also supports partner Veteran organizations on behalf of Philips, including the VFW, the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, and the Medal of Honor Foundation and Society.
Beyond Philips and The American Legion, Shuman serves as Chairman of the National Board of Directors for the Honor Flight Network, leading over 130 hubs nationwide. Since joining the Board in September 2020 and being elected Chairman in 2022, he has overseen national staff, fundraising, legal operations, brand management, and corporate engagement. He plans to step down at the end of 2025 to refocus on his Legion work.
Personal Life
When he’s not advocating for Veterans or advancing healthcare policy, Shuman enjoys traveling the world and sharing meals with friends and family. He lives with his husband, Matthew Ambler, and together they are committed to a life of service, leadership, and gratitude. Ambler is a member of The American Legion Auxiliary, Unit 44, in Scottsdale, Arizona. Additionally, Shuman is a member of The Sons of The American Legion, Squadron 62, and is a member of The American Legion Riders at Post 24 in Tombstone, Arizona.