Veteran/Retiree Council

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National Finals Guide

Veterans/Retiree Council

The Veterans/Retiree Council is comprised of both Air Force veterans and retirees who served on active duty, in the Guard and Reserve, and/or as civilians in the defense establishment. They represent this broad constituency and articulate their issues to the Air Force Association.

The responsibilities of the Veterans/Retiree Council are as follows:

Develops Association policy recommendations on quality of life issues which impact military veterans and retirees at Federal, state, and local levels.
Identifies and prioritizes quality of life issues which impact veterans and retirees.
Defines an action plan to address the issues defined above.
Represents the Association on issues which impact veterans and retirees at the request of the Chairman of the Board.
Makes recommendations to the Chairman of the Board on policy issues which impact veterans and retirees.
Identifies and makes recommendations to the Association to enhance more effective involvement of the Veteran and Retiree membership in the Association.
Performs other duties that may be assigned by the Chairman of the Board.

Walter S. "Woody" Hogle, Jr.

Council Chairman

Mr. Walter S. Hogle, Jr. is Senior Vice President, AF and FAA Services Group of ACS Defense, Inc. He is responsible for engineering, information technology, and staff support services for numerous clients in the Air Force and the Federal Aviation Administration. He directs a 1,100 person technical workforce at more than 26 US sites and is responsible for a business base of over $120M in annual revenue. Before joining the ACS team, Mr. Hogle was Vice President of Operations, L3 Communications, Integrated Systems, in Greenville, Texas.

Mr. Hogle is a Command Pilot who served as a Lieutenant General in the US Air Force. He was last assigned as the Commander of the 15th Air Force at Travis AFB, California. As commander of the 15th AF, he was responsible for approximately half of the nation’s air mobility forces including more than 25,000 people and 320 aircraft providing rapid and flexible global airlift and aerial refueling from six major Air Force bases in the central and western United States and for locations throughout the Pacific.

Mr. Hogle earned a bachelor’s degree from Hartwick College in Oneonta, NY and holds a master’s degree from Troy State University in Troy, AL.

Mr. Richard E. Fitzhugh

Rick Fitzhugh works for The Boeing Company as Business Development Manger for the U.S. Air Force Tanker program. He is responsible to the tanker program manager for the day-to-day campaign effort to recapitalize the U.S. Air Force tanker aircraft fleet. Prior to his position at Boeing, Rick served in the Air Force for 30 years as a command pilot, staff officer and operational commander. He graduated from Texas A&M University in 1971 with a bachelor of science degree in parks & recreation. He holds masters degrees from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in aeronautical science and from the United States Naval War College in strategy and policy. He is married to Shelly, and has two children, Carrie and John. They reside in O'Fallon, Illinois.

Russell W. Mank

Russell W. Mank, a member of the Air Force Association Veterans/Retiree Council since 1998, is the Director of Plans and Operations on the national staff of the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA). Mank, a PVA life member, has served in a variety of positions with the organization, including Associate Executive Director, Administration, Associate Executive Director, Veterans Benefits (Acting), and Director of Legislation. In these positions, Mank has been involved with a broad range of veteran’s health care, benefits, legislative, and disability rights issues.

Mank, a retired Colonel, served 23 years in the USAF including service on the Air Staff and Joint Staff (J-5) immediately prior to his 1988 medical retirement. His Air Force career included positions as a weapons controller, strategic planner, and USAF Academy tenure professor.

Born in Belleville, Illinois, he received a B.S. degree from Memphis State University, a M.A. degree from the University of Maryland, College Park, and the Ph.D. degree (History) from the University of Denver.

He and his wife, Mary Lou, live in Burke, Virginia; they have two children and three grandchildren.

Donald Taylor

Mr. Don Taylor (Col. USAF Ret.) served in the United States Air Force for over 27 years. In that time he became an expert in project management, health care administration, and health policy. He has served as the Commander of military hospitals in charge of all clinical and administrative operations. In addition, he was the commander of the Air Force theater hospital in Iraq. He served as the Health Benefits and Policy advisor to the Air Force Surgeon General and was instrumental in developing the TRICARE for Life benefit. Mr. Taylor has been awarded the Bronze Star and has been a three time recipient of the Legion of Merit Award.

Today, he serves as President of TEAM Integrated Engineering in San Antonio, Texas. Mr. Taylor strives to develop a healthy and interactive learning organization. He sets strategies and vision while detailing execution steps to achieve that vision. Mr. Taylor works to build structures that promote personal and financial accountability while keeping in mind the health and well being of all employees. Mr. Taylor has proven experience providing effective work environments and motivation for both physicians and engineers alike. He has designed organizational forums that cross feed education and build trust to solve daily problems and issues that arise within the company. Mr. Taylor draws on his experience with the Air Force to help communicate a common mission and promote image, integrity, and accountability.

Mrs. Elia T. Vasilopoulos

Ms. Elia T. (“Ellie”) Vasilopoulos worked for the Air Force for 42 years and retired as the former the Civilian Personnel Officer at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. In addition to numerous civilian awards, her decorations include the Exemplary Civilian Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Air Force Exceptional Service Medal. In 1992, Vice President Cheney presented her with the Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Award, the highest award given to a DOD Civilian. She is past President of the John C. Stennis Chapter (AFA) and is the recipient of the AFA Medal of Merit.

She is past President of Biloxi Rotary Club and was selected as Rotarian of the Year; She serves on the Board of Trustees for the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art, Member of Leadership Board and past board member of the Centurions for the Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce, past chairman of the Military Affairs Committee for the Biloxi Chamber of Commerce. In 2004, she was named the Outstanding New Corporate Board Member for the Boys and Girls Club of the Gulf Coast. She earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Eastern Illinois University and completed Air Command and Staff College.

Ms. Vasilopoulos hails from Rome, NY and now lives in Biloxi, MS. She is married to Lieutenant Colonel John Vasilopoulos, USAF, (Ret) from Marshall, Missouri. They have five children and three grandchildren.

Maria Vinup

Maria T. Vinup is currently a part of Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Air Transportation Division, Passenger Policy Branch (A4TP) team. She manages the Customer Service Training Program and involved in enforcing passenger policy throughout the command. Maria also held positions in Standardization, Plans and Programs (A4TR) and in Air Transportation Systems and Data Management (A4TI).

Maria (Tajalle) Vinup was born and raised on Guam. Maria served in the United States Air Force over 29 years, retiring in November 2005 at the rank of Chief Master Sergeant serving as the Air Transportation (2T2) Functional Manager. She held various positions within the Aerial Port Squadrons, Transportation Squadrons (PACAF), Air Mobility Operations Group, Airlift Division, Headquarters United States Air Forces in Europe, and Headquarters Air Mobility Command.

Maria is married to CMSgt (Ret) Allen Vinup. They have three children, Chaunte, Ben, Michael and one Grandson Kolby. Their current home is O’Fallon, Il.

Tom Wozniak

Rodney Ellison

Charles Baldwin

Kevin Estrem

Please provide any necessary changes or additional information to Kristine Robbins at
1-800-727-3337 ext. 4842, Fax: 703-247-5853, E-mail: KRobbins@afa.org

As of June 30, 2011

Return to the AFA Councils

AFA is a non-profit, independent, professional military and aerospace education association. Our mission is to promote a dominant United States Air Force and a strong national defense, and to honor Airmen and our Air Force Heritage. To accomplish this, we: EDUCATE the public on the critical need for unmatched aerospace power and a technically superior workforce to ensure U.S. national security. ADVOCATE for aerospace power and STEM education. SUPPORT the total Air Force family, and promote aerospace education.