Houston Military Affairs Committee

Serving all military personnel in the Greater Houston Area

2007 Meetings

January 11, 2007: Mr. Gary Rodgers spoke on the topic of Private Military Corporations - PMC's - Who and What they are and do. These are the firms that provide contracting security and high technologies/working knowledge to the DoD, State Department, DoE and " other " federal agencies. Many retired military persons are employed by these firms. Gary is a long-time member of HMAC and he works for PacAtlantic International, Global Capital Group.

February 8, 2007: Our speaker was Lieutenant Colonel Toimu Reeves, commander of Army Recruiting in Houston who informed us about the challenges and rewards of recruiting for the Army especially in the Houston area.

March 8, 2007: Our speakers for this meeting were Colonel Phil Bossert, USAF and Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Landry, USA who told us about the Air Force and Army ROTC programs at the University of Houston. These are important programs which supply a significant number of officers for today's military forces.

April 12, 2007: Our speaker for this meeting was

S. Ward Casscells, MD (COL, USAR), J.E. Tyson Distinguished Professor of Medicine(Cardiology) and Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Director, Clinical Research, The Texas Heart Institute. He has recently returned from a tour of duty in Iraq and will no doubt have some interesting war stories. For a recent article concerning his tour, click here.

As a sign of greater things to come, President George W Bush recently nominated Dr. Casscells for Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs).

May 2007: No meeting was held.

June 14, 2007: Our speaker for this month was General Ostermann is the Deputy Commander of the 90th Regional Readiness Command (RCC) headquartered in N. Little Rock, Arkansas.

RRCs exercise command and control of assigned units, including organizing, training, mobilizing and deploying units and individuals. RRCs also support the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in case of natural disasters or emergency situations. The 10 RRCs serving the continental United States are aligned with FEMA regions. An additional RRC serves Puerto Rico.

In the area of facilities management, RRCs provide engineering, utilities, physical security, environmental and contracting support to facilities. RRCs also provide the full range of base operations support. Upon mobilization, the RRCs continue to care for families of mobilized soldiers, maintain facilities and coordinate mobilization efforts. See website for further information.
 

July 12, 2007: The speaker for this meeting was Command Sergeant Major Larry Holland.  CSM Holland was the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs until CSM Holland's retirement earlier this year.  He was also appointed to the Independent Review Group which investigated the conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center a few months ago.  Previously CSM Holland was the CSM for the 75th Division here in Houston.

CSM Holland spoke about the Care of the Wounded and their Families and the great need for all of the various groups and organizations who work in these areas to put together a united effort so we can give the troops the best that they deserve.

August 9, 2007: Our speaker was LTC Marshall Bolyard, USA (Ret), the Executive Director of the US Family Health Plan for CHRISTUS Health. Mr. Bolyard directs a network of health care providers, which includes more than 100 primary care physicians, more than 400 specialists and four network hospitals in southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana. He spoke on the proposed increase in TRICARE costs and what efforts are being made to sustain the benefit; the VA’s HERO Project and other current issues regarding quality healthcare.

The US Family Health Plan (USFHP), a TRICARE Prime option, provides complete coverage to military retirees, eligible family members and eligible family members of active duty service men and women, 
including activated National Guard and Reserve families. US Family  Health Plan has been a stable and proven TRICARE option for over 20 years. The Plan maintains a high level of patient loyalty and 
satisfaction based on a commitment to quality health care, access and customer service. USFHP is strong, stable and here to  stay.

Upon retirement from active Army duty as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1989, Mr. Bolyard accepted employment with the Sisters of Charity, Houston Texas, as the Project Manager of the PRIMUS clinics at Ft. Hood Texas.  In 1990, Mr. Bolyard was promoted to Corporate Manager of Government Programs and moved to corporate headquarters in Houston, with responsibility for oversight of government contracts.  His responsibilities included significant advocacy work within Texas and at the National level. Mr. Bolyard attended the United States Military Academy at West Point where he earned his Bachelor of Science in 1967 and a MHA from Baylor University.  He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the US Army upon graduation from West Point and served for 22 years as an officer in the Army Medical Department.

September 13, 2007: Our guest speaker for this meeting was Colonel Don Outler, Commemorative Air Force.  He is the Development Officer for the Wing.

The Commemorative Air Force's unit in Houston is called the Gulf Coast Wing.  The unit consists of the "Tora-Tora-Tora" aviation air-show act and we operate one of just 12 flyable remaining B-17s called TEXAS RAIDERS.  It will be a general 25-30 minute presentation (combination historical video as well as current aircraft video display) for groups involved with the HMAC.  The mission is to maintain in flying condition the military aircraft of WWII and (most recently) Vietnam.

October 11, 2007: Our speaker was Captain Carter Conlin, USNR (Ret) the Commander General of the Naval Order of the United States.

The Naval Order has committed to raise funds for a monument to honor those sailors and maritime personnel that lost their lives in the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944. The Navy is the only service that is not represented among the more than 60 monuments that honor other services that fought at Normandy. We're about halfway home on the fund raising but need to get the message out to as many as possible by the end of the year.

November 8, 2007: The speakers for this meeting were MGySgt. Greg Treacy and Cmdr. Gene Tulich.  They reviewed the many upcoming events for Veterans Day Weekend, the Returning Veterans Initiative, the 2007 and 2008 Military Balls, possible change of venue for meetings, new initiatives and outreach, along with a myriad of other interesting topics.

December 13, 2007: Our speaker for this month was Sgt. Augustus Campbell, US Army Reserves, who discussed some of the legal issues he encountered during his recent tour in Iraq with the 358th Civil Affairs Brigade. Sgt. Campbell graduated from Texas Tech Law School in 2006 and was activated shortly after passing the Texas Bar.