AFROC Board of Directors
Lt Gen George Peach Taylor, Jr., USAF-Ret., Chairman
Dr. Taylor served as the Surgeon General of the Air Force just prior to his retirement in October of 2006. He graduated from Rice University with degrees in physics and Russian language and earned his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. He completed his Master of Public Health degree at Harvard School of Public Health and his residency with the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine. He is board certified in aerospace medicine by the American Board of Preventive Medicine.
RADM Pat Dunne, USN-Ret, Secretary
Admiral Dunne is a 1972 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics. He holds a Master of Science degree in mathematics from the Naval Postgraduate School. His last assignment for the Navy was as President of the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA. After retiring from the Navy in 2005, Pat served as Under Secretary for Benefits for the Department of Veterans Affairs. He is currently the Associate Director of the Center for Infrastructure Protection and Homeland Security at the George Mason University School of Law. The Center integrates law, policy and technology to conduct comprehensive infrastructure protection analysis and research, including resiliency studies, security assessments, educational initiatives, and recommendations relevant to improving US and international security; with special emphasis on protecting people.
Brig Gen Patrick A. Burns, USAF-Ret.
General Burns retired from the Air Force in September 2005 having served as the Director of Installations, Headquarters Air Combat Command, at Langley Air Force Base. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Wyoming and a Master of Science in systems management. He is a registered professional engineer in the Commonwealth of Virginia. He also chairs the UW Mechanical Engineering Department External Advisory Board, and serves on the Auburn University Mechanical Engineering Board of Advisors. Currently, he is the Vice President and General Manager of M.A. Mortenson Company’s Federal Contracting Group. Mortenson is the 28th largest general contractor in the U.S.
Brig Gen Barbara Goodwin, USAF-Ret.
General Goodwin received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing and a Master of Science degree from the University of Colorado School of Nursing. During her distinguished Air Force career, she held many leadership positions culminating in her assignement as Chief of the Air Force Nurse Corps. She currently works for the American Red Cross in their Blood Program. She is a member of the Board of “Women in the Military Service of America” (Women’s Memorial at Arlington Cemetery). She is on the Northern Virginia MOAA Chapter, Board of Directors; on the Advisory Council for the Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Program, and is a Lector in her church.
Maj Gen Elizabeth Ann Harrell, USAF-Ret.
General Harrell has a Bachelor of Arts in history from Emory University and a Master of Science degree in human resource management. Prior to her retirement in 2006, she was Director of Maintenance and Logistics, Air Combat Command at Langley AFB, responsible for policy, budget and oversight of the command’s maintenance, supply, contracting, transportation and munitions activities. Her career highlights include Director of Logistics and Security Assistance at Headquarters U.S. European Command, Stuttgart-Vaihingen, Germany, and as Director of Maintenance, Deputy Chief of Staff for Installations and Logistics, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
Col James Manker, USAF-Ret.
Colonel Jamie Manker earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Auburn University, and his Master in Business Adminiastration degree from the University of West Florida. Before his 2007 retirement he was the Chief of the Aircraft and Technology Division for the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller. He directed the development, validation and defense of the $27 billion Aircraft Procurement and Research & Development, Test and Evaluation budgets for the USAF. He was also the Air Force focal point for Aircraft Procurement budget development with the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Comptroller (OSD C), Joint Staff, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and Congress. Colonel Manker is currently the Chief Financial Officer, Veterans Benefits Administration.
Brig Gen Maria Owens, USAF-Ret.
General Owens received her Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from Baylor University and Master's in public administration from Webster College. Her career highlights included Executive Secretary for Secretary of Defense William Cohen, and Chief of Staff, Office of the Secretary of Defense for Homeland Security. Her last active duty position was Director of Manpower and Personnel for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In this capacity, she was the principal advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on personnel issues and developed policy and guidance for personnel programs governing the U.S. military's major regional organizations. Maria is currently Executive Vice President of the Cohen Group in Washington, DC, which provides strategic advice to corporate leadership and hands-on assistance in marketing, regulatory affairs and related matters.
Lt Gen Stephen Plummer, USAF-Ret.
Lt Gen Stephen Plummer graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a Masters degree in public administration in 1979 and also holds a BS in English from Arkansas State University. He currently is Executive Vice President for Government Business for Rolls-Royce North America and is responsible for managing all aspects of the company’s relationship with government customers in North America. Before pursuing a career with Rolls-Royce, Stephen served his country in the Air Force for more than 34 years, culminating in his last post as Lt. General - Principal Deputy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition Washington, D.C. He has commanded a fighter squadron, two fighter wings, a joint task force, and served as Deputy Director for Operations, Current Readiness and Capabilities, J-3, Joint Chiefs of Staff. During Operation Desert Storm, he was Vice Commander of the 4th Tactical Fighter Wing (Provisional) and flew combat sorties over Iraq and Kuwait in the F-16A.
COL Mike Rossi, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Ret
Colonel Rossi holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from MIT, and a Master of Science in National Security Strategy from the National Defense University. He has over 26 years of experience in engineering, environmental, construction and disaster response program and project management. His expertise is in leading large and geographically dispersed engineering organizations with water resource, military construction, environmental, and facility management missions. His last assignment for the Corps of Engineers was Director, Belvoir Integration Office. Prior to that assignment he was the Commander and District Engineer for the Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District. Currently, Mike is President/COO of Vali Cooper International, a Louisiana-based consulting firm which manages projects and assists clients with meeting their project and program delivery goals.
Col Thomas Steele, USMC-Ret.
Colonel Thomas Steele is a retired senior executive with the Navy Federal Credit Union. He holds a BA from Duke University, an MS in Management from the Naval Postgraduate School, and an MBA from Southern Illinois University. Tom has a wealth of experience in strategic business planning, financial management, leadership development, organizational processes, marketing, and program budgeting. Prior to his retirement from the Marine Corps, Tom served as Executive Assistant/Marine Corps Aide to the Under Secretary of the Navy. Other Marine Corps career highlights include Headquarters Marine Corps tours as Branch Head, Programming and Manpower Programming Officer, and Fleet Marine Force assignments as an artillery commander and staff officer.
RADM William G. Timme, USN-Ret.
Admiral Timme graduated from the Naval Academy with a degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s degree in engineering management from The Catholic University. Prior to his retirement in 2007, he served as the Deputy Commander for Submarines, Naval Sea Systems Command, responsible for engineering and maintenance support for all operational navy submarines as well as submarine weapon and rescue systems. He worked directly with foreign countries, particularly Australia and the United Kingdom, to exchange ideas and progress in the areas of submarine safety, maintenance and joint rescue operations. Bill also served on the Board of the Navy Credit Union for five years. He is currently Navy/Marine Corps Co-Account Leader, IBM Global Business Services, co-leading a team of account managers who focus on all elements of the Navy and Marine Corps as well as the Military Sealift Command.
Col Gordon Wilder, USAF-Ret.
Colonel Wilder received his Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from the University of Maryland, and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Washington. He entered the Air Force and served as judge advocate in wing, center and headquarters positions. He retired in 1995 after serving as the Chief of the General Litigation Division, Air Force Legal Services Agency. Gordon was appointed to the Senior Executive Service (SES) in 1995 as Chief, General Law Division, Office of the Judge Advocate General, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. He directed the division's functions and activities and provided advice and consultation to the Air Staff, major commands, field operating agencies and the Air Force judge advocate general on legal and policy matters affecting the Air Force and its people. Gordon retired from the SES in January 2007.
Colonel Thomas Steele is a retired senior executive with the Navy Federal Credit Union. He holds a BA from Duke University, an MS in Management from the Naval Postgraduate School, and an MBA from Southern Illinois University. Tom has a wealth of experience in strategic business planning, financial management, leadership development, organizational processes, marketing, and program budgeting. Prior to his retirement from the Marine Corps, Tom served as Executive Assistant/Marine Corps Aide to the Under Secretary of the Navy. Other Marine Corps career highlights include Headquarters Marine Corps tours as Branch Head, Programming and Manpower Programming Officer, and Fleet Marine Force assignments as an artillery commander and staff officer.
