Newly created position will play key role in driving legal strategy for growing organization
ALEXANDRIA, Va – The Armed Forces Benefit Association (AFBA) and its affiliate, 5Star Life Insurance Company, announced today the hiring of John N. Haramalis as Associate General Counsel joining the team that handles all legal and compliance matters for the enterprise.
“John’s impressive level of experience in AFBA’s core markets will be an invaluable asset to both our legal team and the organization at large,” said General Ralph E. “Ed” Eberhart, USAF (Ret.), Chairman and President of AFBA. “As an accomplished attorney, a retired military officer, and a former law enforcement officer, John will add perspective and depth to our work and our mission – to serve those who serve this great nation.”
“As the organization has grown, the demands on our legal team have also increased. In this newly created position, John’s efforts will focus on litigation, addressing legal matters pertaining to our core markets, and advocating for legal issues critical to those markets,” said Mark Singleton, 5Star Life President. “We are delighted to welcome John to our group of professionals leading this organization into the future.”
Haramalis comes to AFBA and 5Star Life with experience in insurance law, voluntary life insurance programs, and military and veteran affairs. Prior to joining AFBA and 5Star Life, Haramalis was President and CEO of the National Guard Association of California for eleven years where he was responsible for legislative affairs and member benefits for the state association representing the 21,000 members and veterans of the California National Guard, the largest in the nation.
He served in the U.S. Army for more than 30 years starting as an enlisted soldier and retiring as a Colonel. A combat veteran with more than five years of deployment experience, he held senior leadership assignments at high levels in NATO, the National Guard, and the Army. In his last assignment, Haramalis came to the Washington D.C. area to serve in the Joint Intelligence Directorate of the National Guard Bureau as the Chief Liaison Officer to the Intelligence Community. His law enforcement career includes serving as Deputy Sheriff in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties in California. In addition to a law degree, Haramalis holds four master’s degrees across several disciplines and earned a doctorate degree in International Legal Studies from Golden Gate University School of Law in California.
“I am excited to join AFBA and 5Star Life,” said Haramalis. “Through my legal work, I look forward to supporting the enterprise strategies and advancing our mission.”
About Armed Forces Benefit Association
With the support of the General of the Army, Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Armed Forces Benefit Association (AFBA) was established in 1947 in the basement of the Pentagon to ease the strain on military members and their families who, at the time, could not purchase life insurance that would pay a death benefit if the member was killed in combat. Today, headquartered in Alexandria, VA, AFBA continues to honor its mission, in war and peace, promoting the welfare of its members providing death benefits and other benefits to those who serve this great nation, including members of the uniformed services, first responders, government employees, and their families. AFBA has 650,000 members with $40 billion of death benefits in force and has paid nearly $2 billion of death benefits since inception. AFBA death benefits are underwritten by its affiliate, 5Star Life Insurance Company (a Lincoln, Nebraska domiciled company).
About 5Star Life
5Star Life Insurance Company (5Star Life) is the primary underwriter of the Armed Forces Benefit Association (AFBA) member policies and is also a growing provider of group and worksite voluntary products. Its business model enables 5Star Life to serve the needs of a diverse clientele as an insurance advisor to individuals and organizations, and as a trusted partner to brokers. Headquartered in Alexandria, VA, 5Star Life is currently licensed in 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa.