www.1600commassoc.org Page1 Fall,2013
A publication exclusively for members of the 1600 Communications Association
Fall,2013(November)
President’s MessageGreetingsAssociationMembers!Fallishereandwinterisjustaroundthecorner,whichmeansthisyeariscomingtoaclose!Wehavehadseveralsuc-cessfuleventsthisyear,includingourGolfTournament,ShrimpFeast,andtheCampDavidChapterPicnic.WealsorecognizedWHCA’stopperformersattheAgency’sAnnualAwardCeremonyandprovidedscholarshipstoseveralcollege-boundstudents.Specialthankstotheeventchairpersonsandvolun-teerswhodevotedtheirtimeandtheirselflessservicetomakeeacheventmemorable.
TheCampDavidChapterheldits23rdAnnualPicniconSeptember7,2013atTheSuker’shomeinCascade,MD.ThankyouWarrenandCarolforcon-tinuingtohostthisannualevent!Seepage6foreventrecapandphotos.Additionalphotosareavailableviathe1600CommunicationsAssociationwebsiteunderthe”Photostab”.MembershavealsopostedsomeoftheirpersonalphotosfromthepicniconthegrouppageonFacebook.
OnNovember1and5respectively,severalAssociationboardmembersat-tendedtheWHCAChangeofResponsibilityandChangeofCommandcere-moniestobidfondfarewellstoCommandSergeantMajorWillieC.ClemmonsandColonelClintonR.Bigger,andtowelcomeCommandSergeantMajorNathanielJ.JettandColonelDonovanL.Routsis.ItwasapleasuretovisitWHCAandobservethetrueprofessionalismoftheAgencymembers,whoexecutedbothceremoniesflawlessly.Thesewell-plannedeventsexempli-fiedthemeaningof“Presidentialquality.”Thisnewsletterincludesdetailsforbothevents.
ThisisanelectionyearforthenewBoardofDirectors.Electionballotsarebeingsentoutviaemailandthismailing.Iencourageyoutomakeyourselection(s)andreturnthecompletedballotasinstructed.Ifyouareinter-estedinservingandwouldliketobeconsideredforanyoftheavailableposi-tions,pleasecontactmenolaterthanNovember22,2013toensuretimelyplacementontheballot.
Also,I’dliketoextendaspecialthankstoourAlumniTransitionCoordinator,DarrellWilliams.DarrellassistedmanyWHCAAlumniwiththeirresumesandsearchforemploymentaftertheirmilitaryservice.
Our45thAnnualHolidayDinnerDancewillbeheldSaturday,December7,2013attheSpatesCommunityClub,FortMyer,VA.Theofficialinvitation(withmealoptions)isincludedwithinthisnewsletterandhasbeensenttothemembersviae-mail.Please“savethedate”bymarkingyourcalendarsnow!LarryFeastisourEventChairforourHolidayDinnerDance.RSVPsandmealselectionsareduenolaterthanDecember2,2013.WelookforwardtoseeingyouonDecember7th-cocktailsandsocializingwillbeginat6:30pm!
Danny Young President
Upcoming Events & Key Dates - Fall 2013:
SOB(SomeOldBuddies)lun-cheonheldthefirst Tuesday of each monthattheHolidayInn,Rosslyn,VAat1130.
November 22, 2013 VotingDeadline,BoardofDirectorsElection(seepage9forballot)
December 7, 2013HolidayDinnerDance
TheAssociationGrouppresentlyincludesmorethan469membersasof11/5/13!LogintoFacebookandsearchforthegroup:“1600CommunicationsAssociation”soyoucanstartnetworkingwithyourfriendsandre-connectwithformercolleagues.
The 1600 Communicator
www.1600commassoc.org Page2 Fall,2013
McNally Book For Sale
Reminder:DetailsfororderingA Million Miles of Presidentsareavailableatwww.1600commassoc.orgviathemainpageaswellastheMembers’restrictedpage.Thecostis$20percopyviamailorder.Allnetproceedswillbeusedbythe1600CommunicationsAssociationtocontinuesupportingitsscholarshipprogramandsupportofwoundedveteransandtheirfamilies.PleaseconsidersupportingtheAssociationwithyourpurchase,whileaddingthisimportantworktoyourcollection.
A note of thanks to those who assisted in producing the Fall 2013 Newsletter
EditorFloyd Hepler
ContributorsGordon AitkenGlenn ArnettDanny YoungNick Young
Meet WHCA’s New Commander, Colonel Donovan L. Routsis
ColonelDonovanL.RoutsisiscurrentlyassignedtotheWhiteHouseCommunica-tionsAgency.PreviouslyheservedastheCommanderofthe55thCommunica-tionsGroup,55thWing,OffuttAirForceBase,Nebraska,whichprovidesvitalcommunications,computersystemssupport,andcommandandcontrolcommu-nicationsfor55thWing,thelargest,mostdiversewinginAirCombatCommand,andmorethan50associateunits,includingtheAirForceWeatherAgencyandAirForceSpaceCommand.Inaddition,thegroupprovidescriticalnuclearcommandandcontrolandmissilewarningcommunicationssupportforHeadquarters,UnitedStatesStrategicCommandandtheNationalAirborneOperationsCenter.ColonelRoutsisenteredtheAirForcein1992throughtheReserveOfficerTrain-ingCorpsProgramatArizonaStateUniversity.HehasheldvariousdutiesinAirCombatCommand,UnitedStatesAirForcesinEurope,AirForceSpaceCom-mand,AirForceMaterielCommand,USJointForcesCommand,aswellasseveraldeploymentstotheBalkansandSouthWestAsia.Hewearsthemastercyberoperationsbadgeandtheseniorspaceoperationsbadge.
ColonelRoutsisassumedcommandoftheWhiteHouseCommunicationsAgencyonNovember5,2013.Seepage4.
ColonelRoutsis’fullbiocanbeviewedonthe1600CommunicationsAssociationwebsiteunderthemembers’restrictedlink.
Photos are Online!
AssociationeventphotosareavailableforonlineviewingundertheAssociation’srecentlyestablishedFlickrgallery,accessibleviathePhotostabontheAssociationwebsite,www.1600CommAssoc.org.Historicaleventpho-toshavebeenmovedtoFlickraswell.Membersalsoroutinelypostphotostothegroup’sFacebookpage.Besuretocheckthemoutwhenyouhavetime!
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Association Leadership Contact Information 2013
President DannyYoung [email protected] 240.678.9770VicePresident MSgtNicholasYoung [email protected] 202.757.8199Secretary VACANTTreasurer/Membership GlennArnett [email protected] 703.689.2216Director-At-Large SamWatkins [email protected] 240.205.3666Director-At-Large HelenPennington [email protected] 703.781.7773Editor FloydHepler [email protected] 301.274.5996Historian GordonAitken [email protected] 703.491.2097Parliamentarian TanikaHart [email protected] 443.807.1508
TovolunteerforeventsortoofferotherassistancetotheAssociation,[email protected].
Meet the New Command Sergeant Major!
CommandSergeantMajorNathanielJ.JettwasborninKingGeorge,VirginiaandenlistedintheUnitedStatesArmyinMarch1987.HeattendedBasicTrainingatFortJacksonSouthCarolinaandAdvancedIndividualTrainingatFortGordon,Georgiagraduatingasa72E(CombatTelecommunicationsCenterOperator).
CSMJetthasheldvirtuallyeveryleadershippositiontoinclude:Squadleader,SectionSergeant,PlatoonSer-geant,DrillSergeant,FirstSergeant,DirectorInformationManagementCenter(IMCEN),BattalionOperationsSergeantMajor,BrigadeOperationsSGMandCommandSergeantMajor.SGMJett’spreviousdutyassignmentsincludeHHC38thSignalBattalion,SchwabishGmundGermany.HSC7thSpecialForcesGroup(A)FtBragg,N.C.;CombatSupportCoordinationTeam#3,Korea;112thSignalBattalion(SOA),FortBragg,N.C.;447Sig-nalBattalion,FtGordon,Georgia;CCo.72ndSignalBattalion,Mannheim,Germany;11thSigDet.43rdSignalBattalion,Heidelberg,Germany;E.Co.302ndSignalBattalion,FortBelvoir,Virginia;580thSig.Co.25thSignalBattalion,Afghanistan;OfficeoftheAdministrativeAssistanttotheSecretaryoftheArmy,Pentagon;UnitedStatesArmySergeantsMajorAcademy,FortBliss,Texas.CommandSergeantMajorof86thSignalBattalion,FortHuachuca,Az.S-3SGM11thSignalBde.Ft.Huachuca,Az.G-3SGMfor7thSignalCommand(T)Ft.Gordon,Ga.
CSMJett’sfullbiographyisavailableviathe1600CommunicationsAssociationwebsiteunderthemembers’restrictedlink.TheChangeofResponsibilityCeremonytoCSMJettwasheldNovember1,2013.Seepage4.
Alumni News
LoisPoswiatowskiservedwithWHCAfrom1973until1991inthePhotoLab.ShewasoneofthefirsttwowomenrecruitedintoWHCA.Loishasbeenbattlinganaggressiveillnessthispastyear,andwouldappreciatehearingfromsomeofherformerco-workers.IfyouwishtocontactLoisorvisitherwebpage,[email protected].
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WHCA Change of Responsibility Ceremony
OnFriday,November1,2013ColonelClintonR.Bigger(USA),theWhiteHouseCommunicationsAgencyCom-mander,presidedovertheChangeofResponsibilityCeremonybetweenCommandSergeantMajorWillieC.ClemmonstheoutgoingCSMandtheincomingCSM,CommandSergeantMajorNathanielJ.Jett.Duringtheceremony,theSwordBearerpresentedtheNoncommissionedOfficersSword,representingasymbolicex-changeofthesacredtrustplacedintheNoncommissionedOfficersCorpsforthecareandkeepingoftheunitanditsservicemembers.TheCeremonyalsosymbolizestherelinquishingandassumptionofresponsibilityforleadership.TheWHCACommandSergeantMajorservesasthePrincipalEnlistedAdvisortotheAgencyCom-manderonallmattersrelatedtothequalityoflife,training,discipline,andprofessionaldevelopmentforallenlistedservicemembers,aswellasthehealth/welfarefortheirfamilymembers.
TheNoncommissionedSwordwasadoptedbytheWarDepartmentin1840.Itisahandsomeandgracefulappearingweapon,butsomewhatheavyinthehilt,andill-balanced.Nevertheless,itwaswornbyAmericanSergeantsforoverseventyyearswhichincludedsuchhistoricconflictsastheMexicanWar,TheCivilWar,andTheSpanish-AmericanWar.ThepassingoftheSwordsignifiestherelinquishingoftheresponsibilityfromtheoutgoingCommandSergeantMajortotheincomingCommandSergeantMajor.TheSwordrepresentsthe‘CuttingEdge’ofProfessionalismandthelivingspiritoftheorganizationanditsmission.CommandSergeantsMajormaycomeandgo,buttheSwordremains“’RazorSharp”.
Bidding FarewellAftertheceremony,allinattendancebidafinalfarewelltoCSMWillieC.ClemonsashedepartedtheAgencytoassumedutiesastheCommandSergeantMajorfortheUnitedStatesArmyRecruitingCommandinFortCampbell,KY.
WHCA Welcomes New Command Sergeant MajorCSMNathanielJ.JettreceivedawarmwelcomeasheassumedresponsibilitiesastheWhiteHouseCommuni-cationsAgency’sSeniorEnlistedAdvisor.CommandSergeantMajor.Hisabbreviatedbiographyandphotoareincludedinthisnewsletter,page3.
WHCA Change of Command Ceremony
ColonelClintonR.Bigger(USA)transferredcommandoftheWhiteHouseCommunicationsAgency(WHCA)toColonelDonovanL.Routsis(USAF)duringaceremonyhostedbytheDISADirector,LieutenantGeneralRon-nieD.Hawkins,Jr.(USAF)onTuesday,November5,2013.ColonelRoutsis,the27thCommanderofWHCA,previouslyservedastheCommanderofthe55thCommunicationsGroup,55thWing,OffuttAirForceBase,Nebraska.The55thCommunicationGroupprovidesvitalcommunications,computersystemssupport,andcommandandcontrolcommunicationsforthe55thWing,thelargestandmostdiversewinginAirCombatCommand,andmorethan50associateunits,includingtheAirForceWeatherAgencyandAirForceSpaceCommand.Hisabbreviatedbiographyandphotoareincludedandappearsonpage2ofthisnewsletter.
ColonelBigger,whoretiredonNovember8,2013,spokeofsomeoftheAgency’sachievementsduringhistenure.
TheAssociationthanksColonelBiggerforhissupportduringhistimeasWHCACommander.
Financial & Membership Report as of October 15, 2013
Bank Account Balances as of October 15, 2013Checking $2,180.04CD1 $2,394.15CD2 $5,946.42CD3 $4,001.39ScholarshipWorkingAccount $7,826.52ScholarshipCD $11,003.60
Scholarship Donations AdonatedhandmadeAfghanThrowBlanketwasraffledattheCampDavidChapterPicnic,netting$92.00fortheScholarshipFund.
Membership - October 2013AsofOctober15,2013wehaveprocessed114membershiptransactions.Ofthose33arenewmembersand22signedupandpaidforLifeTimeMembership.Unfortunatelywehadtomove44memberstoinactivestatusduetonon-paymentoftheirdues.Thisbringsthetotalcurrentactivemembershiprosterto551.
New Members This Report WelcomenewmembersDonovanL.Routsis,SeanL.Clinton,RogerW.NewtonandFrankH.Smith,Jr.
Bad Address List Wehavelostcontactwiththefollowingmembers.IfyouknowanyofthemandhavecontactwiththempleaseaskthemtolettheAssociationknowtheirnewmailingandemailaddresses:HowardR.Turney,ArmandoHiraldo-Cruz,JoshuaH.Snoke,HughSt.Martin,MatthewJ.Leimer,LeeR.Hamilton,JosephA.Gancie,Thom-asBoaston,WilliamR.Garvin,andJohnK.Baker.
Membership Renewal Tosavepostage,wedonotmailaspecialduesinvoice.WeremindeveryoneinthenewslettersthattheduesyearisJanuarytoDecember.Ifyouhavealreadysentyour2013dues,thankyou. Please remember dues are $20.00 per year and were due in January. Belowisaformtofilloutandsendwithyourdues.Also,pleaseletusknowofanyaddress,emailaddress,orotherinformationchanges.Rosterdataformatis:Name,Address,Spouse,HomeTelephone,Email,andWHASA/WHCAservicedates(fromandto).
1600 Communications Association Membership Renewal
NAME: ____________________________________SPOUSENAME:___________________________
ADDRESS:_________________________________________________________________________
HOMEPHONE:_________________________WORKPHONE:_______________________________
EMAILADDRESS:___________________________________________________________________
WHCAServiceDatesfrom____________________to________________________
Makecheckpayableto1600CommunicationsAssociationandmailtoP.O.Box160,Washington,DC20044.Pleaseallow4to6weeksforreply.
www.1600commassoc.org Page5 Fall,2013
www.1600commassoc.org Page6 Fall,2013
23rd Annual Camp David Chapter Picnic (Submitted by Nick Young)
For23yearsmembersofthe1600CommunicationsAssociationhavebeenholdingtheannualCampDavidChapterPicnic.ItwasapictureperfectdayinCascades,MDwhenWarrenandCarolSukeropenedtheirhomeforallgueststoenjoy!Wethankyouforyourwarmhospitality.
ThewordonthestreetisthatCaroldidallthecooking;withthatbeingsaidI’mnotsurewhyWarrenandBuckkeeptryingtotakeallthecredit.InallseriousnessWarren,Buck,BillandPatthanksforsacrificingyourtimetocooksuchawonderfulmeal.Iwouldliketoalsothankeveryoneelsethathelpedmakethiseventasuccess.
Thisyear’spicnicbroughtnearly100individualswithsomesortofconnectiontoCampDavid,WhiteHouseCommunicationsAgencyorthe1600Association.Thecake-cuttinghonorswenttwomosthistoricalmemberspresentatthepicnic,SteveKerchnerandJimBeck.CaseyDennistraveledthegreatestdistance,allthewayfromWashingtonState…WOW!
Peers,friends,andfamilyenjoyedagreattime,provingonceagaintobeahighlightontheAssociation’scal-endarthisyear.Ifyouhaveneverattendedorifit’sbeenawhile,besuretoplanonbeingtherein2014.
Additional photos are available via www.1600Commassoc.org under the Photos tab.
Welcome WHCA Deputy Commander Colonel Scott D. Baer
AWashington,DCnative,ColonelScottD.BaerenteredtheArmyasanInfantryOfficerin1988aftergraduat-ingfromBloomsburgUniversitywithaBachelorofSciencedegreeinBusiness.COLBaerhasservedinkeycommandandstaffpositionsintheSignalCorps.HestartedhiscareerintheInfantryatFortBenning,GAwhereheservedasaRiflePlatoonLeader,MortarPlatoonLeader,andaBattal-ionMaintenanceOfficerin2-18thInfantryBattalion.AfterattendingtheSignalOfficerTransitionandAdvanceCoursesatFortGordon,GAhewenttoHawaiiandwasassignedtothe25thInfantryDivisionastheBattalionSignalOfficerin4-87InfantryBattalion.FromtherehewentFredrick,MDtocommandACo.,1110thSignalBattalion.HisnextassignmentwaswiththeIntelligenceElectronicWarfareTestDirectorate,FortHuachuca,AZtestingintelligencesystems.AfterCommandandGeneralStaffCollege,COLBaerwastheBrigadeSignalofficerfor525thMilitaryIntelligenceBrigade(ABN),FortBragg,NC.Next,hewastheExecutiveOfficerfor50thSignalBattalion(ABN),FortBragg,NC.COLBaer’snextassignmentwasinRiyadh,SaudiArabiaastheSecurityandAssistanceSignalAdvisortotheSaudiArabianArmyNationGuard.FromtherehewentbacktoFortBraggtoserveastheJ6,AviationTacticsEvaluationGroup,JointSpecialOperationsCommand.Next,COLBaerservedastheCommanderofthe69thSignalBattalioninGrafenwoehr,Germany.Hisnextassign-mentwasastheDeputyChiefofStaff,G-3for5thSignalCommandinMannheim,Germany.COLBaer’sfullbiographycanbeviewedontheAssociation’swebsiteunderthemembers’restrictedlink.
To stay abreast of Association activities and events, please con-tinue to monitor the web site at www.1600commassoc.org. In ad-dition to routine distributions via email, we post updated information to the site home page, news page and members’ restricted link from time to time.
Call for Content ... and Volunteers!
Doyouhaveatopicofinterestyouwouldlikeforustoreportinanupcomingnewsletter?Wouldyouliketocontributeanarticle?Doyouenjoytheannualeventsandwanttovolunteertoparticipateinafutureone?Wewouldlovetohearfromyou!
PleasecontactanyBoardmember.BoardRos-tercanbefoundonpage3ofthisnewsletter.
www.1600commassoc.org Page7 Fall,2013
Ballot for Election of Board of Directors for the
1600 Communications Association for 2014–2015
Please enter an “x” to vote for the current slate.
“x” to
Vote
Name
Current Role
Danny Young President
Nicholas Young VP
Tanika Hart Secretary (new role)
Glenn Arnett Treasurer
Helen Pennington Director at Large
Sam Watkins Director at Large
Write-in Candidates - please type in the name and desired role for your write-in
candidate(s), as applicable.
Name
Position
Name
Position
Name
Position
If you wish to vote via paper ballot, please complete the above form and
send it for receipt NOT LATER THAN 11/22/13:
1600 Communications Association
P.O. Box 160
Washington, DC 20044
1600 Communications Association 45th Annual Holiday Dinner Dance
will be held at the Ft. Myer, VA, Spates Community Club
Saturday, December 7th, 2013
Cocktails Begin at 6:30 p.m.
Dinner at 7:30 p.m.
Followed by the Official Program and Dancing
Music by DJ Lee of Smooth Groove DJs
Cost: Active Duty: $35.00 per person
All Others: $45.00 per person Please make your dinner selections and reservations NLT 2 Dec
Cancellations cannot be accepted
Menu Options;
Salmon with Orange Caraway Sauce
Or
Baked Chicken with Shiitake Mushrooms Served with Salad, Vegetables, Rolls, Potatoes, Wine, Coffee and Tea
Dessert Options: NY Cheesecake or Pecan Pie
RSVP – NLT 2 December 2013 Name: _______________________________________________
Spouse / Guest Name: ___________________________________
Self: ______ Salmon _____NY Cheesecake
Self: ______ Chicken _____Pecan Pie
Guest: ______ Salmon _____NY Cheesecake
Guest: ______ Chicken _____Pecan Pie
Total Amount Included: ___ x $35.00 = ______
___ x $45.00 = ______
Special Seating Requests:
____________________________________________ Make checks payable to: 1600 Communications Association
Mail to: Larry Feast, 11025 Melissa Court, Fairfax VA 22030
P.O.Box160WashingtonDC20044
