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, 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.

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 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.

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.

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.

Patricia Laubach has dedicated more than 30 years to helping organizations define goals, track and increase customer satisfaction, perform internal service audits and launch new products and services. For nearly a decade she also was a highly rated instructor at the University of San Francisco (Orange County Division) where she taught courses in marketing and in evaluation

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.

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.

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.

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.