From the Chairman

Hail and Farewell

by RADM Thomas F. Brown III, USN(Ret)

It is with regret that I announce the departure in November of our executive director, CAPT Charlie Robinson, who was selected from a group of 200 candidates to be the executive director of the Navy League of the United States in Washington, D.C. This is a terrific opportunity for he and his wife Alice, who are excited about the new challenge. Charlie, as you know, did an outstanding job for us for three years under the most trying of circumstances. His successes on behalf of Tailhook were many, and included engineering a particularly successful 1996 Tailhook convention. For that and many other difficult tasks, together with the long hours and professionalism he brought to the Association, we say thanks, well done, and Bravo Zulu!

It's a pleasure to welcome our new executive director, CAPT Tom Finley, USN(Ret). Tom is a Tailhooker who went on to command a helo squadron on board USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), has served tours in Washington and at sea, and was the executive assistant for VADM Jack Fetterman, ComNavAirPac. All of us were extremely impressed during his interview with the Board with Tom's ideas, values, positive attitude, enthusiasm and demeanor. I am confident he will serve us well as we press on with the challenges ahead.

We sincerely appreciate the fine efforts of those members of the Board whose terms are expiring. Specifically, we are sad to say farewell to CAPTs David Oberholtzer, Wynn Foster, Cal Swanson and Mr. J. Wesley Fry. I thank them on behalf of Tailhook for their exceptional contributions over many years of service. Wes Fry will continue as General Counsel and Cal Swanson will remain as our Treasurer.

I am proud to serve as your Chairman during my final year on the Board of Directors. For a summary of issues for the future and our objective, please refer to my comments in the Summer '96 issue. Also, take another look at the President's remarks in the Fall '96 issue--CAPT Lonnie McClung's remarks are right on the mark. I know we have your support, but if you did not sign up a new member in 1996, resolve to "bag" one prior to your receiving the Spring '97 issue. We need your continuing individual commitment to help our membership grow.

For our part, we will be looking for opportunities to move forward in our relationship with the Navy's civilian leadership as the revised Presidential administration takes hold in Washington. We are planning to hold our April 1997 Board of Directors' meeting in Virginia Beach and couple it with an evening social event and a golf tournament. CAPT J.R. Davis has agreed to serve as the 1997 convention coordinator, and is moving out to make that event top-notch. Of course, we will continue our efforts to attract new members from the active-duty Navy and Marine Corps Tailhookers, and improve public relations as well as fundraising efforts. As always, we welcome your thoughts and feedback in making The Tailhook Association even stronger.

In order to introduce the new members of the Board, we have invited them to share their thoughts with you in their comments that follow.

LCDR Jim "Guido" DiMatteo, USNR

Civil Engineering, Univ. California, 1985; commissioned from AOC (named AOC of the Year), 1986, designated, 1987; VF-124, VF-211 (Operation Desert Storm), Topgun graduate, VF-126, VFC-13. Flies with VFC-13, NAS Fallon, owns and operates a successful restaurant in San Diego, Calif As the "youngster" and the only active reservist currently flying on the Board, I am honored to be the voice for the active-duty junior officers. I plan to function as a "reality check" for the Board on current issues and attitudes from the fleet. The next time you're at Fallon, come by and give me a data dump on what I can do to make The Tailhook Association better for you. Check six.

CAPT Stephen L. "Spider" Webb, USN(Ret)

BA degree, Pomona College (Calif ); AOC, commissioned 1966, designated 1968; VA-112 (Vietnam), VT-25, VA-94, VA-122, VA-27, VA/VFA-25 (XO/CO); navigator USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70); ComCVW-11; 1,025 traps. Employed by Hughes Training, Inc., resides in Poway, Calif. It's an honor to be selected by the Association membership to serve on the Board. I look forward to the challenges and our bright future. My goal is to perpetuate our rich history and continue the tradition and cause of Naval Aviation by improving our contact and support of active duty personnel, increasing our individual and corporate membership and improving The Hook magazine. I ask your support and advice on how we can do better.

CAPT W. Stewart "Bud" Orr Jr., USN(Ret)

BS degree, public relations/advertising, Uniu Oregon; commissioned 1965, designated 1967; VA-113 (Vietnam), VMA-513, VA-146 (CO); ComCVW-14, USN Senate liaison; 1,026 traps. Former executive director, Presidential Commission on Women in the Armed Forces. Employed as Director, Marketing for Military Programs, Rolls Royce Corp., resides in Alexandria, Va. There is no affiliation with which I more closely identify than being a Naval Aviator. We are unique in that we fly off ships, and because of that we attract a wonderfully unique type of aviator. New Tailhookers continue to be generated monthly, and we owe them the pride in being one of us that we have had. I am committed to assist in that effort. In particular, I hope that my being a Washington, D.C, resident and experienced in the city's ways will contribute to a better strategy to bring industry back to our team and make our organization grow.

CAPT J.R. Davis, USN(Ret)

BS degree, Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, 1970; AVROC, commissioned 1971, designated 1972; VF-213, VF-51, VF-I91 (XO), VF-114 (CO, Persian Gulf); 1,009 traps. Glider instructor, tow pilot, resides in San Diego, Calif As a life member of Tailhook I want to see our organization prosper. I am optimistic about the future, and see our continued growth and financial stability improve into the next century. We must preserve carrier aviation skills and traditions that made our Navy great. I plan to help with our membership efforts as we seek ways to attract former members and adding each new Naval Aviator that completes carrier qualifications. Junior officers are the key to our future. "Trap" a new (or old) member today.

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