Patrick Ball

Board Member

Patrick Ball has devoted his career to Education. For over 27 years Patrick served the non-profit sector in various capacities at the Gemologicial Institute of America (GIA) with a career spanning public speaking, project management to public relations liaison.

Edward DeRoche, PhD

Board Member

Edward DeRoche, Ph.D., joined the University of San Diego’s School of Education as dean in 1979 and returned to the faculty as professor and director of the Center for Character Development Center in 1998. DeRoche has published more than fifty articles in education journals and many articles in daily newspapers. He has authored or co-authored several books on education topics including teaching, administrative leadership, and character education.

CAPT Ronald G. Ress

JAGC, USNR - Retired

Mr. Ress is the CFO/Treasurer of the Flying Leatherneck Historical Foundation, and a valued member of the executive management team. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Government and International Relations from New York University in 1965, and a Doctor of Laws from Cornell University in 1968. He completed his military service as the senior Naval Reserve Judge Advocate in Europe and retired with the rank of Captain in 2005 with numerous awards.

Patrick Towle

Patrick Towle is a CPA in private practice. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from San Diego State University. In 1996, Mr. Towle received his Master of Science in Accountancy, also from San Diego State. He is the son and brother of Marine Aviators.

Lt. Col. Joe Bassi, PhD

(USAF, Retired)

Joseph P. (Joe) Bassi, Assistant Professor of Arts and Sciences at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University/Worldwide, completed his PhD in History at the University of California, Santa Barbara in June 2009. A retired US Air Force officer with twenty-six years of active duty,  After retirement from active service, Professor Bassi served as a space policy analyst in the Office of the Secretary of Defense while working for the Aerospace Corporation.

Col. John Farnam

USMC - Retired

John served 26 years in the Marine Corps as a Weapons and Sensors Officer flying the FA-18D. He flew numerous combat sorties in Bosnia Herzegovina, Kosovo and Iraq. John was a Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron Instructor and selected as the Marine Corps Aviation Naval Flight Officer of the Year in 1998. He served as the Commanding Officer of Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron -533 (VMFA(AW)-533) and as a Colonel was the Commanding Officer of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. Retiring from the Marine Corps in 2015 he is now the Vice President for Business Operations at Receptos.

Lara Ryan

 Lara Ryan active duty spouse and daughter of a Coast Guard Officer Lara has 20 years working in the field of philanthropy, most recently as a CEO and Director of Development with a focus on military and veteran causes. Laura also volunteer activities include Active Valor, the USMC Executive Ball; she is a financial readiness instructor at The Honor Foundation, is on the Advisory Board of the SDMAC, and is the Chair of the planning committee for the Veteran Entrepreneur Summit. 

David Whisenhunt

Board Member

David an executive leader in corp America currently focused on non-profit health center at Family Health Centers of San Diego. David, grew up in a flying family with a US Air Force father he appreciates the value MCAS Miramar brings to San Diego and the importance of the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum to preserving Marine Corps aviation history.

Col. Victor Bianchini

(USMCR, Retired)

Victor is a distinguished Reserve Marine Corps Legal Officer, civilian lawyer, and San Diego County Superior Court Judge. His active duty tours are numerous and honors including San Diego Trial Lawyers’ Judge of the Year, served as a Senior Fulbright Scholar in the Sub-Saharan African country of Eritrea.

Frank Lorey

Board Member

Frank Lorey is a Federal and State-registered Historian and owner of Historical Archaeology Services. Including,  project manager and historical designer for Old Poway Park, and is rated as Museum Curator I and II by the State of California. He has written 15 books (most are college-level textbooks) and has authored over 530 published magazine and journal articles including multiple appearances on the History Channel, PBS, HGTV and other network shows.

Rear Admiral Lou Smith

(USN, Retired)

Lou Smith is a career naval officer in the Navy’s Civil Engineer Corps. He completed three tours in Vietnam, supervising construction of combat facilities for the Marines. Later in his naval career, he was sent to Washington, DC where he worked with the Department of Defense and Congress on military base construction projects. He retired from the Navy in 2000 as a two-star Admiral, directly responsible for more than 360 major naval bases throughout the world.

Major Francis “Mike” Wifler

(USMC, Retired)

Mike enlisted in the Marine Corps and served as a Field Radio Operator with a rifle company.  He served a tour in the Republic of Vietnam where he was wounded. He later became a commissioned officer.  Awarded:  Purple Heart, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with combat ‘V‘ for Valor.

Bob Cramsie

Board Member

Robert “Bob” Cramsie is a career aerospace maintenance and manufacturing technician. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation Technology from Everglades University and a Masters of Aeronautical Science with an emphasis on Human Factors in Aviation Systems from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Today, he is currently a volunteer in charge of restoration of the Douglas SBD-1 Dauntless that is the pride of the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum.

CAPT Bill O'Connor

Board Member

Captain Bill O’Connor began his military service in 1969 when he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps. He earned his Naval Flight Officer (NFO) wings 1971, and became a Bombardier/Navigator in the A-6 Intruder.

Lieutenant Colonel Richard "Touch" Toettcher

Richard (Touch) Toettcher was commission a 2^nd Lt in Oct.1963. His first duty assignment after being designated a Naval Aviator was with MAG-36 at MCAS Tustin, serving with HMM-363,263, and 361.  After a distinguished career  “Touch” retired from the Marine Corps in 1986.

Sergeant Major Michael Zacker

USMC - Retired

Mike is a highly decorated and accomplished Marine whose illustrious worldwide career on land, sea and air spanned two wars retiring after thirty years of service. Today he continues to serve though volunteering American Red Cross, and the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program.