Military Officers Association of America Announces New Chairman, 12 Board Members

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Oct. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Gen. Thomas D. Waldhauser, USMC (Ret), has been elected chairman of the board of directors of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA).

Throughout his 43 years of military service, Waldhauser participated in various operations, including Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. He also served as Chief of Staff, U.S. Special Operations Command; Commander, Marine Forces U.S. Central Command/I Marine Expeditionary Force; and Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense. Prior to his retirement in 2019, he served as the Combatant Commander for U.S. Africa Command.

"The organization is now 95 years old and still going strong," said Waldhauser, who has served on MOAA's board since 2020. "As an incoming chairman, I want to continue to make the organization stronger and more meaningful for not just our members but the entire uniformed services community."

The following 12 individuals also have been elected to MOAA's 36-member board. Each will serve a six-year term.

    --  Maj. Gen. George A. Alexander, USA (Ret), served as deputy surgeon
        general in the Army, completing his career with numerous prestigious
        assignments, including roles at the National Institutes of Health and
        the White House.
    --  Lt. Cmdr. Lucas E. Babbitt, USNR (Ret), a decorated "Top Gun" graduate
        and combat pilot, is now CEO of Atomic Insights and serves as chairman
        of the Marines' Memorial Foundation.
    --  Maj. Gen. Marti J. Bissell, USA (Ret), served as commander and senior
        military representative at NATO Headquarters-Sarajevo. She notably
        served in all three Army components: Active, Guard and Reserve.
    --  Maj. Gen. Jeffrey B. Clark, USA (Ret), served in numerous medical
        command positions including as commander of Landstuhl Regional Medical
        Center, Germany, and director of Walter Reed National Military Medical
        Center.
    --  Capt. Eugene M. de Lara, USN (Ret), led critical missions including
        Hurricane Katrina relief and health care infrastructure rebuilding in
        Iraq. Assignments included serving as the director of pharmacy for the
        National Naval Medical Center.
    --  Brig. Gen. Jim Dienst, USAF (Ret), served in five command roles
        including Surgeon General for the Air Force Reserves Command and
        commanding general of the 711th Human Performance Wing. He presently
        works as a consulting employee of Leidos Corporation.
    --  Col. Mary Kay Goetter, USAF (Ret), deployed numerous times in a 30-year
        career that included time on active duty as well as in the Guard and
        Reserve. She served as senior nurse scientist at Bagram Air Base,
        Afghanistan, caring for combat-wounded and educating Afghan women in
        safe childbirth.
    --  Rear Adm. Robert L. Greene, USN (Ret), served five command tours
        throughout a 35-year career with assignments including Deputy Commander,
        Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4(th) Fleet, and Commander, Naval
        Coastal Warfare Squadron 26.
    --  Rear Adm. Joan Hunter, USPHS (Ret), served as a former Assistant Surgeon
        General and former Director of USPHS Commissioned Corps Headquarters.
        While working for the Defense Department, she designed a psychological
        health program for the National Guard.
    --  Gen. David G. Perkins, USA (Ret), commanded at every echelon in the
        Army, concluding his uniform career as commander of Army Training and
        Doctrine Command (TRADOC). He is the current chair for the Professional
        Military Ethic at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.
    --  Col. Charles W. Sachs, USAF (Ret), served as J6 Director of
        Communications, Multi-National Security Transition Command in Iraq and
        Deputy Director, Air Force Irregular Warfare Requirements. He now serves
        as a congressional advisor on National Security and Veterans Affairs.
    --  Lt. Col. Karon Uzzell-Baggett, USAF (Ret), a distinguished graduate of
        the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program, deployed twice to
        Afghanistan. She concluded her service career as an AFROTC detachment
        commander at Tennessee State University.

"Our new class of board members bring an impressive depth of service and leadership experience," said Lt. Gen. Brian T. Kelly, USAF (Ret), MOAA president and CEO. "Their insights will be invaluable as MOAA continues to grow and advocate for our currently serving, veterans, retirees, and all our families, caregivers, and survivors."

About MOAA: The Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) is the nation's largest and most influential military service organization and one of the largest veterans service organizations. It is an independent, nonprofit, politically nonpartisan organization. With 360,000 members from every branch of service -- including active duty, National Guard, Reserve, retired, and former officers and their families -- MOAA is a powerful force speaking for a strong national defense and protecting earned pay and benefits. MOAA represents the interests of our currently serving, service retirees, and veterans, as well as their families, caregivers and survivors.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/military-officers-association-of-america-announces-new-chairman-12-board-members-302291760.html

SOURCE Military Officers Association of America