About the Flying Leatherneck Historical Foundation
Provides Volunteers and Funds to Support the Flying Leatherneck Aviation MuseumOur History
The original Foundation was established in 1989 at MCAS El Toro. When Base Realignment closed El Toro in 1999, a group of retired Marines from San Diego, led by Major Generals Bob Butcher and Frank Lang, formed the Flying Leatherneck Historical Foundation and moved the aircraft and artifacts to MCAS Miramar.
The Foundation provides volunteers to restore historic aircraft and staff the Museum so it is open to the public six days per week. It also provides funds and materials to support the restoration and maintenance of the historical aircraft, fund Museum operations and educational programs, and preserve artifacts.
OUR MISSION & PROGRAMS
Our Mission
Through its support of the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum, the Flying Leatherneck Historical Foundation helps to preserve the history of USMC aviation, honor military service and inspire in all generations an appreciation of America’s freedoms and values.
School Lesson Plans and Field Trips
The Foundation established an educational collaboration with the Character Education Resource Center at the University of San Diego (USD) to develop meaningful, standards-based teacher resources for grades K-12 in history, leadership, patriotism, citizenship and aviation science. Lessons reflect unique resources available at the Museum.
Teacher workshops (below) and school lesson plans are being developed under the guidance of Edward DeRoche, Ph.D., director of the Character Development Center at USD and a nationally recognized expert and author in teaching, administrative leadership and character education.
Collect and Process Oral Histories
The Foundation records oral histories of USMC veterans and funds to help maintain a large resource library.
Join + Give & Volunteer
Flying Leatherneck Historical Foundation Memberships help support the museum’s education and preservation initiatives. Membership offers extra benefits including discounts at the shop and invitations to members-only events. Giving supports the museum and foundation’s activities from our essay contests to recognition of Marine Wives and restoration of our historic aircraft and more. Volunteers are the backbone of the museum’s education and restoration activities. They enthrall visitors with the legacy of Marine Corps aviation and share their love of history. Volunteers join a great team, have fun and also enjoy the beautiful San Diego weather.
Foundation Press
Visit the Flying Leathernecks Press page to view press and media mentions, Flying Leathernecks Foundation and Museum press releases including fact sheets and resources for the foundation and museum respectively.
Foundation Programs
Teacher Workshop
The Foundation and its University of San Diego partner host workshops for San Diego County teachers. The workshops fill a gap in teacher training. According to the U.S. Department of Education, only 12% of America’s high school seniors are “proficient” in U.S. History. Surveys of educators indicate teacher resources are badly needed.
Essay Contest for 6-12 grades
A San Diego County-wide patriotically-themed essay contest for grades 6-12 is held each year.
Art Contest for 6-12 grades
A San Diego County-wide patriotically-themed art contest for grades 6-12 is held each year. Winning artwork is displayed at the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum.
Marine Wife of the Year Award
A Marine Wife is recognized annually with a plaque and stipend for outstanding service and dedication to her community, her family and the Marine Corps.
Distinguished Service Award
Periodically an American citizen is recognized for his or her service to the nation. In 2018, Major General Charles F. Bolden, Jr., USMC aviator, patriot, astronaut and NASA administrator was recognized with the award.
LEADERSHIP
The people behind the Flying Leatherneck Historical Foundation
MAJOR GENERAL BOB BUTCHER (USMC-Retired)
Chairman of the Board
Bob is a distinguished Marine Corps aviator with worldwide service. He is a recipient of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal; the United States’ highest non-combat related military award. Serving in the Republic of Vietnam he received the Distinguished Flying Cross, 15 Air Medals and the Bronze Star.More info on Bob Butcher
BRIGADIER GENERAL MICHAEL J. AGUILAR (USMC-Retired)
Acting Executive Director
During his 31-year Marine Corps career, Mike held a variety of flying and command billets, accumulating over 4000 hours, primarily as an Attack Helicopter Pilot. Distinguished muti-decorated veteran of the Gulf War he also is the first person of Mexican descent to reach the rank of General Officer in the United States Marine Corps.
THE TEAM
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)
Board Member
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
Treasurer of the Board
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)
Board Member
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)
Board Member
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
Board Member
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 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)
Board Member
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)
Board Member
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)
Secretary of the Board
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 (USMC-Retired)
Board Member
Richard (Touch) Toettcher was commission a 2nd 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)
Board Member
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.
“Ex Officio” Members
Christopher Van Stelle
Museum Director
Christopher is the new Museum Director, as well as the Director of the MCAS Miramar Air Show. He is Vice President of the Southwest Council of Air Shows, a Regional Council of the International Council of Air Shows (ICAS) and consults on numerous aviation events around Southern California each year
Steve "Smitty" Smith
Museum Curator
Steve “Smitty” Smith is the Curator of the Flying Leathernecks Aviation Museum. Initially as a volunteer in 1994 in the restoration section he joined FLAM full-time in 1999 as Museum Librarian subsequently promoted to Asst. Curator in 2001 and as Curator in 2009.Smitty served in the United States Marine Corps from 1979 to 1999. He retired as a Staff Sergeant and Motor Transport Operations Chief at MCAS El Toro.
Jon H. Epsten
Corporate Council
Jon is a valued member of the Flying Leatherneck Historical Foundation’s team and founding shareholder in the law firm of Epsten Grinnell & Howell, APC. Jon works on behalf of community associations encompasses providing advice on all types of corporate matters.
