Greater Austin Council

Programs, Sponsorships and Activities
The Greater Austin Council (GAC) is involved in numerous programs that support our mission and that of the Navy League of the United
States. Following is a listing of those programs and the current level of activity plus additional activities that would be possible if funding were
made available. Should there be interest in any of these additional activities a more detailed scope of work and budget can be provided. The
Greater Austin Council is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Adopted and Sponsored Units
These include a formal Navy league adoption process
with a commitment to support the ships, naval commands,
and youth programs located in, or connected with the
Greater Austin area. The commitment includes supporting
Commanding Officers, Officers-in-Charge, Senior Naval
Science and Marine Instructors in providing the best
service experience possible for their crews, staff, and/or
cadets, midshipmen, and officer candidates. These include:
USS Austin (LPD-4) This namesake ship, the third Navy
ship so named, was a favorite of the Council for almost 40
years until she was decommissioned in 2006. The Council
provided TV sets, videos, Christmas gifts and other tangible
support to USS Austin for years. She in return gave a
memorable cruise from Key West, Florida to Galveston,
Texas in 2000 for a re-commissioning ceremony followed
by the entire crew being feted by the Council in Austin as
USS Austin Day was proclaimed by the mayor.
Although USS Austin is gone, this spirit lives on in the Council’s
project “Where in the World is USS Austin”, a campaign to
convince the navy to name a new ship, USS Austin.There are a
number of LCS class ships, which are named for U.S. cities, yet
to be built. The Greater Austin Council has been advised that
naming opportunities exist and a strategy has been developed to
pursue the naming and ultimately the adoption of the next USS
Austin. Additional funding would support lobbying efforts and a
media campaign to influence the naming process.
USS Texas (SSN775) The Council has co-sponsored
this fleet attack submarine with the Houston Council and
recently presented a set of seven-foot Texas longhorns to
ship, which are now mounted on the bridge as the boat
enters and leaves port (see photos). The wonderful story of
how this came about, the logistics, and photos can be seen
viewed on the Council website.
The Council seeks to amplify its contributions to the support
of the Navy’s submarine fleet by offering a scholarship to a
UT NROTC cadet who has chosen a career in the Navy as a
submariner.
The University of Texas Naval ROTC Unit This
unit is a key focus of the Council’s support. The unit has
also been adopted by the Council and actively participates
in Council activities. The Council presents a Naval or
Marine Corps Officer’s sword to an outstanding graduating
Midshipman/Officer Candidate at commissioning
ceremonies each year.
The Council would like to increase its support of the unit by
providing support for unit training and competitive activities,
stipends for ROTC cadets and midshipmen who suffer financial
hardships, and other items as needed. (I’ve asked the CO and XO
for their wish list).
Navy Operations Support Center, Austin. A
newly reorganized command, the Council is seeking ways
to support this command. At present, this appears to be
a resource problem and the Council has been unable to
provide the support that may be needed.
The Council would like to recognize the individual augmentees
who have served in Afghanistan and Iraq and provide support to
them and their families while they are deployed. The NOSC
would be instrumental in identifying these individuals.
Junior Navy ROTC and Junior Marine Corps
Units. The Council has adopted and sponsors the twelve
(12) Junior Navy and Marine Corps units in high schools
in Greater Austin and surrounding areas. These units
receive a small stipend from the Council to cover expenses
for which their schools are not budgeted such as travel to
drill competitions. Outstanding cadets from these units
receive the Theodore Roosevelt Youth Medal from a GAC
Greater Austin Council of the Navy League of the United States—1
Navy League Council member at their school awards
ceremony each year. Senior cadets may also compete for
one of the Council’s scholarships awarded each year.
The adopted and supported Junior ROTC units are:
• Bastrop High School National Defense Corps
• Fredericksburg High School NJROTC,
Fredericksburg, Texas
• Lehman High School NJROTC, Buda, Texas
• William B. Travis High School NJROTC, Austin, Texas
• Georgetown/Eastview High School NJROTC Joint
Liberty Battalion, Georgetown, Texas
• Stoney Point High School NJROTC, Round Rock,
Texas
• Vista Ridge High School NJROTC, Cedar Park, Texas
• Brenham High School MCJROTC, Brenham, Texas
• Hendrickson High School MCJROTC, Pflugerville,
Texas
• New Braunfels High School MCJROTC, New
Braunfels, Texas
• Round Rock High School MCJROTC, Round Rock,
Texas
Naval Sea Cadet Corps, Navy League Cadet
Corps, and Young Marines. The Council founded,
sponsors and supports the COL William B. Travis Division
of the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps and U. S. Navy League
Corps The Council has also adopted the Capital Area
Young Marines. Young Marines are the youth program of
the Marine Corps League. They receive the same level of
sponsorship as the Junior ROTC units.
Additional funding would allow the Council to provide increased
stipends to all of the above-listed individual units to help with
transportation, uniforms, drill materials, unit activities, and
additional support enabling more cadets to attend their summer
leadership programs.
Scholarships
The Council awards scholarships to deserving and
meritorious senior cadets of the Naval Sea Cadet Corps
and Junior Navy and Marine Corps ROTCs. The
Scholarship Fund was built slowly and is barely adequate
to award more than about $4,000 per year in $1,000 to
$2,000 scholarships. The Council gets great satisfaction
from the quality of applicants and the opportunity to help
2 — Greater Austin Council Navy League of the United States
the best ones with their further education.
The student scholarship program was initiated by the family of
George T. Jones, a former council member and Navy veteran for
whom it is named. The Council desires to expand its scholarship
ability to include returning sea service veterans who wish to
continue their education and get back into the workforce. This
would be a new program and could be named.
Education
Distinguished Speaker Series. The Council
conducts six educational programs each year. Entitled the
Distinguished Speaker Dinner Series, the are held at the
Austin Woman’s Club, feature flag and general officers,
senior enlisted advisers, DOD officials, historians, and
others with insight or affiliation with the Sea Services.
The programs pursue our primary mission, to educate
the public and public officials as to the importance of Sea
Power to our economy, national defense and humanitarian
efforts across the globe. Further, the programs serve as part
of the curricula of the JROTC units as the cadets come
in large numbers to hear informed discussion about the
Sea Services, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, and US Flag
Merchant Marine.
Additional support in this area would allow the Council increase
the number of free reservations given to area students. It would
also allow the Council to bring in speakers who meet our
educational criteria but who may live in another city or state.
Naming opportunities exist for the individual dinner programs or
for an entire year-long speaker series.
Special Projects
Toys for Tots. Each December, the Council teams with
the Marine Corps to support their Toys for Tots Christmas
drive to collect new toys for children who are in need.
Veterans Affairs Austin Outpatient Clinic
Welcome Home
Coordinated by the Greater Austin Council, approximately
75 cadets from four area JROTC programs participated in
a “Welcome Home” event, celebrating the returning Iraq
and Afghanistan veterans and their families.
The event was held at the Austin Outpatient ClinicCentral Texas Veterans Health Care System, the free event
for veterans, active duty and their families featured live
entertainment, food, a job fair and information about
veterans’ benefits, health care and community services.
volunteers for the VA and other needs as they arise.
“The cadets were OUTSTANDING!” said Michael
Wittrock,Voluntary Service Specialist for the Austin VA
Outpatient Clinic. “The cadets assisted with escorting
veterans and their families from the curb to the main
entrance, working with the grillers to prepare hot dogs,
hamburgers and sausage, passing out water bottles and
other activities. Throughout the day, the cadets worked the
refreshment table and assisted wheelchair-bound veterans
travel from table to table to speak with vendors and support
services.”
Honor Flight
Austin Honor Flight is a program of the National Honor
Flight network that has been instrumental in taking
hundreds of Central Texas World War II veterans to
Washington, D. C. to see their memorial. Members of the
Greater Austin Council have served as volunteer guardians
for the 10 -12 flights out of Austin per year.
This important event provided a way to celebrate and
thank service members. The VA Clinic expressed is
appreciation to the Greater Austin Council for facilitating
the youth involvement! And to the Georgetown/East
View “Liberty Battalion” JNROTC, Travis High School
JNROTC, and Bastrop High School U. S. Defense Corps
(Navy).
Christmas
The Austin VA Outpatient Clinic hosts an annual Holiday
Refreshment Table for the clinic’s patients in December. The
refreshment table contains all manner of cookies, cakes,
pies, and other goodies. When the veteran comes to the
table they also receive a wrapped gift. Some of the more
popular gifts last year were fleece blankets, afghans, gloves,
mittens, scarves, stocking caps (beanies), socks, ear warmers,
wallets, watches, etc.
The vets are 75% male and 25% female and approximately
60% of them are Vietnam era, 25% Iraq/Afghanistan and
the remainder are peace time veterans.
The Council promotes the event to its members and
friends and provides for collection at the December Dinner
Speaker Program. Greater Austin Council will bag and tag
the gifts and provide them to VA Austin Outpatient Clinic
to gift to the veterans.
This is currently an unbudgeted item as there is no expense
involved. However, the Council looks to be able to sponsor a
flight for sea service veterans. Sponsorships run at approximately
$1,000 per veteran per flight. The Council would be responsible
for recruiting the veterans, serving as guardians on the flight and
donating the funds to Honor Flight to underwrite the cost.
Amplify Austin
Amplify Austin is a local “Giving Day” that has taken off
in the community over the past three years. It is run by
“I Live Here, I Give Here”, which is a local nonprofit
designed especially to improve philanthropy and giving in
the Central Texas area. (It’s one of several programs they
offer). The the third Amplify Giving Day will be March
2015
Approximately 500-600 non profits participate in a day
of giving and last year raised over $5 million. How much
an organization makes depends on how much it markets
and sells it. The most successful groups have a matching
grant that can be leveraged. Matching donors is a huge
component for those groups raising six figures and a
sponsor was matching it dollar for dollar.
The council is currently exploring participation in Amplify and
Bell Helicopter has been approached by the GAC for matching
support in this area.
Additional funding in this area could provide transportation for
increased student involvement, assistance to the VA to underwrite
items such as the Holiday Refreshment/Gift program, soliciting
Greater Austin Council of the Navy League of the United States—3
11 Years of Greater Austin Council
Distinguished Speaker Series Programs
2003 to Present [Photo#]
2003
• LGEN Donald A. Peterson, USAF Ret., ED, Air Force Association (Joint Meeting with the Air Force
Association) (May 2003)
• VADM David L. Brewer III, USN Commander, Military Sealift Command (April 2003)
• Dr. Hans Mark (August 2003)[#1]
2004
• MCPO of the Navy, Terry D. Scott (February 2004)
• RADM Stansfield Turner (April 2004)
• Honorable Dale E. Klein, Asst. Sec’y Defense for Nuclear and Chemical and Biological Defense Programs
(April 2004)
• LCDR Marvin L. Morgenroth, USNR (December 2004)
2005
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ADM Bobby Inman, (May 2005) [#2]
Dr. Victor Gubareff, Stratfor.com (June 2005)
Jack Fletcher, Intelligence Research Specialist for US DOJ (June 2005)
Arthur Nicholson III Author Hostages to Fortune: Winston Churchill and the Loss of the Prince of Wales and
Repulse (September 2005)
• RADM Albert Garcia, III Civil Engineer Corps, Commander, Engineering Field Activity, Pacific (Dec. 2005)
2006
• VADM Charles W. Moore, Jr. (June 2006)
• BGen Darrell L. Moore, USMCR, Commanding General, Marine Corps Mobilization Command (April
2006)
• RADM Alan B. “Brad” Hicks, Director AEGIS Ballistic Missile Defense Program, Missile Defense Agency
(August 2006)
• VADM Vivien S. Crea, USCG and CAPT John Litherland, USN (Feb 2006)
• James D. Hornfischer, Author Ship of Ghosts: The Story of the USS Houston, FDRs Legendary Lost Cruiser and
the Epic Saga of Her Survivors
2007
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Prof. Henry W. Brands, UT Austin (February 2007)
ADM John B. Nathman, Commander US Fleet Forces Command (March 2007)
VADM John G. Cotton, Chief of Navy Reserve and Commander, Navy Reserve Forces (April 2007)
CAPT Larry N. Ash Commanding Officer, Fleet Intelligence Training Center Pacific (June 2007)
RADM Mary E. Landry, Director of Governmental and Public Affairs, USCG (August 2007)
Dr. Thomas M. Hatfield, Director and Sr. Research Fellow, UT Center for American History (September
2007)
Greater Austin Council of the Navy League of the United States—5
2008
• RADM Stanley D. Bozin, Director of Budget, Office of the Asst. SECNAV (February 2008) [#3]
• RADM Jerry R. Kelly, Asst. Chief of Staff, Navy Medicine National Capital Area (April 2008)
• CDR Catherine A. Leahey, Author A Centennial Tribute to Navy Nurses: First Women to Serve Above Navy
Ships (June 2008)
• RADM J. Scott Burhoe 39th Supt. of the U. S. Coast Guard Academy (July 2008) [#4]
• Fred Burton, STRATFOR, Author Ghost: Confessions of a Counterterrorism Agent (September 2008)
• RADM Steven G. Smith (November 2008)
• RADM Dan W. Davenport, Dir. Joint Concept Development and Experimentation (J9) U.S. Joint Forces
Command (December 2008) [#5]
2009
• Donald Kehn, Author A Blue Sea of Blood: Deciphering the Fate of the USS Edsall (February 2009)
• CAPT Henry S. Domeracki, Dir. U. S. Pacific Command Joint Intelligence Operations Command (April
2009) [#6]
• John Knox, Vexologist (June 2009)
• CAPT. James M. “Trapper” Spence, Commander UT NROTC (August 2009)
• RADM John D. Butler, V.P. Fleet Ballistic Missile Program, Lockheed-Martin (September 2009) [#7]
• Dr. Hans Mark (December 2009)
2010
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LCDR Mike Evans, CO, NOSC (February 2010) [#8]
R. V. Burgin, WWII Marine Corps Vet, Author Island of the Damned (April 2010) [#9]
F. Michael Pestorius, PhD, Sr. Research Engr., Applied Research Labs, UT Austin (June 2010) [#10]
ADM Bobby Inman (September 2010) [#2]
Dr. George Friedman, Founder CEO STRATFOR (October 2010) [#11]
RADM William R. Kiser, Commandant Medical Education & Training Campus, Ft. Sam (December 2010)
[#12]
2011
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James D. Hornfischer, Author Neptune’s Inferno (January 2011) [#13]
Lee Leffingwell, Mayor City of Austin (February 2011) [#14]
Honorable Juan M. Garcia III, Asst. SECNAV (March 2011) [#15]
CAPT. Dan Dixon, UT Prof of Naval Science (June 2011)
ADM Bobby Inman and Congressman Michael T. McCaul (September 2011) [#16]
Thomas M. Hatfield, Dir. of the Military History Institute, Dolph Briscoe Ctr. for American History at
University of Texas (October 2011) [#17]
• Gen. Michael W. Hagee, 33rd Commandant, U.S. Marine Corps (December 2011) [#18]
2012
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Professor Jeffrey F. Addicott (January 2012) [#19]
Phil Dunmire, National President NLUS (February 2012)
RADM Garry J. Bonelli, Deputy Commander, Naval Special Warfare Command (March 2012) [#20]
Austin Bay, Author and Syndicated Columnist (May 2012) [#21]
Fred Burton, VP of Intelligence STRATFOR (Border control & illegal crossings) (July 2012) [#22]
ADM William McRaven, Commander, US Special Operations Command (October 2012) [#23]
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2013
• RADM Terence McKnight, Author Pirate Alley, Commanding Task Force 151 Off Somalia (February 2013)
[#24]
• CAPT Walter W. Wilson, Author James D. Bullock; Secret Agent and Mastermind of the Confederate Navy
(April 2013) [#25]
• CAPT William G. Shubert, U. S. Maritime Admin. (May 2013) [#25]
• RADM Patrick D. Hall, Commander Carrier Strike Group NINE (September 2013) [#26]
• Dr. Hans Mark, Prof. Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics UT Austin (October 2013)
• CAPT. George T. Fadok, USN Ret, Sr. Naval Science Instructor Fredericksburg H.S. (December 2013)
2014
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Fred Burton, Author Under Fire: The Untold Story of the Attack in Benghazi (February 2014)
Arthur Nicholson, Author Operation Bowery: The USS WASP and the Battle of Malta (June 2014
VADM Peter Daly, CEO U. S. Naval Institute (July 2014) [#27]
RADM John D. Butler, Vice President Naval Strategic Systems, Lockheed-Martin Space Systems
Company (November 2014)
Greater Austin Council of the Navy League of the United States—7
Distinguished Speakers 2007 to Present
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8 — Greater Austin Council Navy League of the United States
Distinguished Speakers 2007 to Present
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Greater Austin Council of the Navy League of the United States—9
Distinguished Speakers 2007 to Present
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10 — Greater Austin Council Navy League of the United States
Distinguished Members and Associates
Lieutenant General Jefferson Davis “Beak” Howell, Jr.
United States Marine Corps, Retired
Senior Research Fellow and Adjunct Professor, Lyndon B.
Johnson School of Public Affairs, The University of Texas
Former Director, Johnson Space Center
Admiral Bobby R. Inman
United States Navy, Retired
Lyndon B. Johnson School of. The University of Texas
Former Director, National Security Agency
Former Deputy Director, Central Intelligence Agency
Chairman and Member of Boards of several technology venture
and start up companies
Chairman, Federal Reserve Bank, Dallas
Nominated to be Secretary of Defense by President Clinton
Admiral William R. McRaven
United States Navy, Retired
Chancellor, The University of Texas System
Former Commander, Special Warfare Command
Former Commander, Navy Special Forces Command
James D. Hornfischer
Acclaimed Naval Historian, Author and Literary Agent
Samuel Eliot Morison Award from the Naval Order of the
United States, for The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors
United States Maritime Literature Award, for Ship of Ghosts
Hans M. Mark, PhD
John J. McKetta Centennial Energy Chair in Engineering as a
professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering and
Engineering Mechanics
Former Secretary of the Air Force
Former Deputy Director, National Aeronautics and Space
Administration
Former Director, NASA Ames Research CenterMax K. Miller
United States navy, Retired
National Vice President for Development, Navy League of the
United States
Jack Ritter
National Vice President for Legislative Affairs, Navy League of
the United States
Mary Virginia Pittman-Waller
Executive Director, Welcome Home Wounded Warriors USA
Spokesperson, Keep the Spirit of ‘34 Alive in 2015
Rear Admiral Donald Muchow
United States Navy, Chaplain Corps, Retired
Pastor, Lutheran Missouri Synod
Former Chief of the Navy Chaplain Corps
Rear Admiral Brady Cole
United States Navy, Supply Corps, Retired
Former Fleet Supply Officer, United States Pacific Fleet
Former Deputy Commander for Logistics, Defense Logistics
Agency
Thomas M. Hatfield
Professor of History, The University of Texas
Director of the Military History Institute, Dolph Briscoe Center.
for American History at The University of Texas
Donald S. Inbody, PhD
Captain, United States Navy, Retired
Senior Lecturer, Department of Political Science, Texas Sate
University
Former Professor of Naval Science and CO, Naval ROTC Unit,
The University of Texas
Rear Admiral J. Weldon Koenig
United States Navy, Retired
Chairman, The Midshipmans Foundation, The University of
Texas
Served as President and Board Member of several companies
Served and serves on multiple advisory councils within The
University of Texas
Rear Admiral Donald S. Maseraang
United Sates Navy, Medical Service Corps, Retired
Colonel Steve Smith
United States Marine Corps, Retired
Former Professor of Naval Science and CO, Naval ROTC Unit,
The University of Texas
Colonel William D. Wischmeyer
United States Marine Corps, Retired
Former Professor of Naval Science and CO, Naval ROTC Unit,
Texas A&M University
Numerous honorable retired and veteran Sea Service officers and
enlisted men and women serving in all wars from World War II
Numerous successful business leaders, distinguished educators,
and past and present officers in State of Texas government
Greater Austin Council of the Navy League of the United States—11
Current Leadership of the Greater Austin Council
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Glenn Looney, Chairman of the Board of Directors
Kathy M. Pillmore, President
Timothy Hunsberget, Secretary and Vice President for Education
LuAnn Reyes, Treasurer and Chief Financial Office
Stephen Smith,Vice President for Development & Marketing
Randy Patterson,Vice President for Military Affairs
Jeanie Coffey,Vice President for Legislative Affairs
Jim Brotherton,Vice President for Youth Programs
Michael Murray, Judge Advocate General
Directors
Jim Brotherton
Bruce Byron
Jeanie Coffey
Mike Jackson
Don Jones
Max Miller
Randy Patterson
Mary Virginia Pittman-Waller
Jack Ritter
Steve Smith
Kathy Pillmore
NLUS National Directors and Members of the Greater Austin Council
• Max Miller,Vice President for Development
• Jeanie Coffey
• tim Hunsberger
• Glenn Looney
• Jack Ritter
• Mary Virginia Pittman-Waller
12 — Greater Austin Council Navy League of the United States