WNC-MOAA has a Board, consisting of five members, President, First VP, Second VP, Secretary and Treasurer. Adjunct to the Board are the Service Reps. Program POCs are other members who have agreed to serve as points-of-contact for various programs within the chapter or that the chapter supports.
Spouse: (Jennifer)
Steve received his commission from the Army ROTC program at the University of Wisconsin - Madison in 1986. He went on to complete Initial Entry Rotary Wing training and the AH-1 aircraft transition course in 1988. Steve then served in various Attack and Lift Battalion unit level positions from Platoon Leader through Battalion Commander in the Wisconsin National Guard, with a number of overseas assignments from Central America to the Middle East. Steve was also a full-time National Guard Soldier and [more...]
Spouse: (Paula)
Jeff had 30 years of operational aircraft maintenance experience with extensive expertise in tactical aircraft maintenance. He commanded three maintenance squadrons and a maintenance group. After retirement in 2008, Jeff became a consultant for a large defense contractor, where he provided in-depth assessments of maintenance operations. Jeff and his wife live in north Henderson County, NC.
Bio forthcoming
Steve is a former Navy surface warfare officer (O-3) and professional engineer who spent much of his career with the Department of the Navy. After retiring, he and his wife rescued and restored their family homestead in the Midwest before eventually settling in Western North Carolina.
Steve enjoys fly-fishing, woodworking, and volunteering in the community - and especially spending time with his kids and grandkids. He brings a strong background in organizational leadership and a meticulous eye [more...]
Rod is a WNC native serving in the United States Army from Private to Colonel from 1984 to 2021. Enlisting in 1984 and receiving a commission in 1991 through the University of South Carolina ROTC as a Quartermaster Officer with an Armor Officer branch detail. His education includes master's degrees in Logistics from the Florida Institute of Technology and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. During his 37 year career he commanded and served in multiple theaters and combat zones. Upon [more...]
John Odell served 22 years in the U.S. Navy from 1964 to 1986, retiring as a Lieutenant (O-3E). A Navy Mustang, John rose from Seaman Recruit to Master Chief Cryptologic Technician (Maintenance) before commissioning and serving as an Electronics Materiel Officer and Department Head. He holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Maryland University College. Following his naval career, John worked for more than two decades in engineering and facilities management roles supporting Naval Electronics [more...]
Jim Gough serves as the WNC-MOAA Board’s U.S. Marine Corps Representative. He is a retired Marine Corps Major with 20 years of service as an armor officer, including command of B Company, 3rd Tank Battalion, Task Force Ripper, 1st Marine Division during Operation Desert Storm. Following his military career, Jim continued his service at Headquarters Marine Corps as Director of Transportation Services within Installations and Logistics.
Jim and his wife, Maureen, also a Marine veteran, relocated [more...]
Spouse: (La Verne)
Bio forthcoming
Jim began his Naval career in 1967 as an enlisted graduate of Underwater Demolition Training in California. Assigned to UDT-12, he made two deployments to Vietnam to conduct hydrographic reconnaissance missions and related amphibious operations. He was accepted to Officer Candidate School and was commissioned in 1976. Returning to UDT-12, he deployed as an Assistant Platoon Officer. He was assigned to SEAL Team ONE and deployed as a Platoon Commander. While deployed he was tasked as the Unconventional [more...]
Spouse: (Stephanie)
A graduate of the University of Illinois-Chicago, John was commissioned through OCS in 1982. A qualified Surface Warfare Officer, he has served on USS New Orleans (LPH-11), USS Reeves (CG-24), USS Waddell (DDG-24), Destroyer Squadron Seven, USS Ranger (CV-61), USS Constellation (CV-64), and USS Thach (FFG-43). He has also served in two Navy Training Commands and graduated from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. He is a qualified Joint Specialty Officer.
After retirement, he was [more...]
Spouse: (John)
Donna graduated from Texas Women’s University in 1980 with a BS in Occupational Therapy (OT). She was a practicing therapist when she received a direct commission into the USAF in 1985, serving in the U.S. and Germany and leaving the service in 1992. She retired from OT after a 23-year career in 2003, worked briefly for Sunrise Senior Living and the Department of State before starting a second career with the U.S. federal government 2005-2016, serving in the U.S., the U.K., Jordan, Egypt and Iraq. [more...]
Vivianne is the widow of LtCol Richard "Rich" Wersel, Jr. USMC, who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom I and II and died on active duty at Camp Lejeune in 2005. She was instrumental in changing the SGLI and Death Gratuity (SA 1376) policy so that all active duty surviving spouses are now eligible for enhanced benefits. She was also involved in repealing the Widows Tax. Vivianne has testified on survivor issues before Congress twenty times. She served on the Gold Star Wives (GSW} Government Relations [more...]
Tricia comes from a four-generation military heritage with family members that graduated from both the US Naval Academy (grandfather) and West Point (father, 3 brothers, niece and nephew). The first female in her family to join the armed services, she served in Army Aviation for 27 years, as both enlisted, warrant and commissioned ranks in all three components (active, guard & reserve). She served in rotary and fixed wing leader & aviator assignments and as the National Guard’s Mobilization Readiness [more...]
If you are interested in serving the Chapter as the Chaplin please contact Steve Watkins at president@wnc-moaa.org
Spouse: (Elizabeth)
Rick graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy and was commissioned in 1978. His career spanned 34 years in the Air Force, flying C-5s, KC-135s, and several other aircraft. He retired as a major general in 2012 as the Air Force’s director of operational planning, policy, and strategy at the Pentagon. In retirement, Rick works part time as a consultant, is an Air Force Adjunct Contract Professor, and serves on the boards of several civic and veterans organizations. He and his wife live in Asheville.
Bio forthcoming
A graduate of the University of Illinois-Chicago, John was commissioned through OCS in 1982. A qualified Surface Warfare Officer, he has served on USS New Orleans (LPH-11), USS Reeves (CG-24), USS Waddell (DDG-24), Destroyer Squadron Seven, USS Ranger (CV-61), USS Constellation (CV-64), and USS Thach (FFG-43). He has also served in two Navy Training Commands and graduated from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. He is a qualified Joint Specialty Officer.
After retirement, he was [more...]
Spouse: (Paula)
Jeff had 30 years of operational aircraft maintenance experience with extensive expertise in tactical aircraft maintenance. He commanded three maintenance squadrons and a maintenance group. After retirement in 2008, Jeff became a consultant for a large defense contractor, where he provided in-depth assessments of maintenance operations. Jeff and his wife, Paula, live in north Henderson County, NC
Spouse: (Jennifer)
Steve received his commission from the Army ROTC program at the University of Wisconsin - Madison in 1986. He went on to complete Initial Entry Rotary Wing training and the AH-1 aircraft transition course in 1988. Steve then served in various Attack and Lift Battalion unit level positions from Platoon Leader through Battalion Commander in the Wisconsin National Guard, with a number of overseas assignments from Central America to the Middle East. Steve was also a full-time National Guard Soldier and [more...]
Spouse: (Jennifer)
Steve received his commission from the Army ROTC program at the University of Wisconsin - Madison in 1986. He went on to complete Initial Entry Rotary Wing training and the AH-1 aircraft transition course in 1988. Steve then served in various Attack and Lift Battalion unit level positions from Platoon Leader through Battalion Commander in the Wisconsin National Guard, with a number of overseas assignments from Central America to the Middle East. Steve was also a full-time National Guard Soldier and [more...]
