Nineteen people across the country have been named to the new class of local Defense Community Champions, through an initiative of ADC with support from Navy Federal Credit Union.
The local champions are leaders on their bases, in their communities or in local government and industry:
- Mike Boyd, Chairman, Texas Military Preparedness Commission
- Robert Brown, Chairperson, Harford County Commission on Veterans Affairs, Maryland
- John Cooper Sr., Chairman, Niagara Military Affairs Council, New York
- Michael Cooper, Executive Director, Vance Development Authority, Oklahoma
- William L. Lewis Jr., Mayor, Havelock, North Carolina
- Victor L. Medina, Founder, TBI Warrior Foundation, Texas
- Larry Parks, Parks and Recreation Director, Lawton, Oklahoma
- Jim Perschbach, President & CEO, Port San Antonio, Texas
- Leah Poole, President & CEO, Liberty County Chamber of Commerce, Georgia
- Charles Potucek, City Manager, Sierra Vista, Arizona
- Dan Rhoades, Chief Operating Officer, 21st Century Partnership Foundation, Georgia
- Steven Ricard, Chairman, New London Veterans Advisory Committee, Connecticut
- Hanson Scott, Retired Brigadier General, Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Brittany Smart, Advisor for Defense, Community, & Research, University of Alaska Fairbanks
- Kevin Sullivan, Executive Director, Utah Defense Alliance
- John Tindall, Vice Chairman, Knox Regional Development Alliance, Kentucky
- Virginia Whitfield, President, Whitfield Consulting, Alabama
- Craig Williams, Program Director, Kentucky Environmental Foundation
- Pamela Younker, Community Development Officer, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Read more about the Champions, who will be honored at the Defense Communities National Summit in the D.C. area March 31 to April 2, where some will also be recognized as national Defense Community Champions.
Courtesy photo of Ricard, center
