5-3-24
Robert Cornicelli has been named VFAF president for the 2025-26 two year term effective, in advance, at this time. Captain Cornicelli replaces the temporary president Jason Loughran. Our organization is grateful for Jason Loughran who , with his exceptional organizational skills, was able to complete the transition ahead of schedule. Captain Cornicelli served with Team Trump on the 2024 SC Trump Campaign Collation, and has been a congressional candidate in the past, making him the perfect leader during the presidential campaign. The VFAF mission throughout the Trump campaign is grassroots support of the presidential campaign on a nationwide basis as well as nationwide support of America First candidates across the he country.
VFAF Attorney Jared Craig moves up to Vice President and the role of political director will be announced after the RNC convention in July.
Captain Robert M. Cornicelli is a decorated veteran of two branches of this country’s military. He served alongside America’s bravest men and women for over 21 years in the US Navy and the Army National Guard fighting for our right to be free. Growing up, Rob learned that there are no handouts: you want something, you work for it. He saw this firsthand as his parents, Marie and Sal, worked multiple jobs to make enough to support their family.
After graduating from Bethpage Public High School in 1986, Rob chose to pursue a career defending our country. He developed a strong sense of patriotism at a young age. A cornerstone of the Cornicelli family has always been it’s ones duty to serve his country. Since his grandfather’s time in the US Army National Guard, the men in his family had carried on this legacy: Rob’s father had served in the US Navy and his older brother, John, had served and retired as a Major in the US Air Force. Just months after his high school graduation, Rob enlisted in the US Navy and served as a Petty Officer 3rd Class on the USS Kittyhawk for 4 years. In 1990, he returned home to Long Island where he spent another 4 years as part of the US Navy Reserve.
While serving in the Navy Reserve, Cornicelli began his career in public service, working for the Town of Oyster Bay (TOB). Since 1993, he has worked his way up through the ranks tending to matters of public interest first-hand. He began his work for the town as a Sanitation Worker and worked his way up to Inspector Supervisor in the Department of Public Works.
Education has always been important in the Cornicelli family. While working for TOB, Cornicelli decided to enroll in Nassau County Community College (NCCC) to pursue higher education. In 1999, Cornicelli received his Associate’s of Arts (AA) Degree in History and Government. After graduating cum laude from NCCC, Robert went on to further his education. In 2002, Cornicelli graduated from CW Post on Long Island with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Political Science and International Affairs.
In September of 2001, while Rob was still studying to obtain his Bachelor’s Degree, America was attacked on her own soil. Cornicelli knew that when your country calls, you answer the phone. He decided that after he completed his studies and graduated that Academic Year, he would reenlist. Rob spent the next 2 years completing his studies, and training before he reenlisted.
Finally, in 2004, Robert began his officer training in the NY Army National Guard. In 2007, he graduated as not only the top student of his class, but also the oldest officer candidate. Upon completion of his training, Cornicelli served as the Platoon Leader for Delta Company, 69IN. In 2012, Robert was deployed by the US Army National Guard to Camp Arifjan located in Kuwait as S-3 Plans Officer. Unfortunately, following his deployment, injuries caused him to return home to the States on Wounded Warrior Status.
During his recovery, Robert witnessed the conditions veterans were experiencing upon their returns home. It was during his recovery that he founded the Veteran Recovery Coalition, Inc., a 501(c)3 leading the fight to eradicate veteran homelessness and substance dependency on Long Island.
While recovering at the Warrior Transition Battalion in Fort Belvoir, VA, Cornicelli was assigned to the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) as a Staff Officer until 2015. In July of 2015, Staff Officer Cornicelli was promoted to Executive Officer to the Director and Deputy Director, Directorate of Operations. He would serve in this capacity for two years before retiring and returning to a private life on Long Island with his wife and two children.
Upon his retirement, Captain Cornicelli returned back to work for the Town of Oyster Bay as the Town’s Sanitation Inspector Supervisor. Recently, CPT C was elected Vice President of the Town of Oyster Bay Sanitation Benevolent Association, a 501c3 that provides assistance to those less fortunate. This past July Cornicelli, on behalf of the Sanitation Benevolent Association, donated $3,500 to the Joe Winters Center for Autism and the Developmental Disabilities Institute. Cornicelli is also the founder of the Memorial Day food drive for the less fortunate families of Smithtown. Robert is not only active in the community, but also in the media fighting for better treatment of the brave men and women who have served our country. He is the Host of the show “In the Ring with CPT C” and the Co-host of “Vets Talk” on “LI in the AM with Jay Oliver”, both of which air on 103.9 LI News Radio. Currently, Cornicelli lives with his wife, Cynthia Lee Cornicelli, his two children, Sienna and Cristian, their cat, Bonkers, and their dogs, Mason and Chloe, in Summerville, SC.
