Arizona Chapter
The chapter’s April luncheon meeting featured $2500 scholarship awards being presented to three ROTC cadets/midshipmen enrolled in their respective service programs at Arizona State University. The 2026 recipients were:
Army – CDT Gabriel Luhman
Navy – MIDN Evan Donnelly
Air Force – CDT Ezekiel Spann
Command representatives attending from their respective ROTC units were SFC Nicholas Wilson, USA; CAPT Kati Hill, USN; and Lt Col Gaven Hagens, USAF. The chapter’s scholarship program is intended to help ROTC students with the cost of their education so that they can be commissioned into the U.S. Armed Forces. The Scholarship Luncheon gives chapter members a chance to see where the money they donated to the Scholarship Fund is going and to hear from the recipients about their plans for military service.
Catalina Mountains Chapter
The chapter’s March 2026 luncheon speaker was Dr. Connie Mariano a retired Navy Admiral and former White House doctor to three past presidents (serving nine years in the position). She was an amazing speaker with quite a sense of humor. Dr. Connie started her presentation with her life as a Navy dependent child born in the Philippines, to being the first Filipino American in U.S. history to become a Navy Rear Admiral, to becoming the first woman to be appointed as a White House Physician and describing her overall 44 years as a physician. Her life was filled with many achievements: High school valedictorian, graduate with honors at the University of California at San Diego, a medical degree from the Uniformed Services University’s School of Medicine and a distinguished 24-year career in the U.S. Navy. More on Dr. Connie’s life and achievements, can be found in her book The White House Doctor.
Coronado Chapter
In what is rapidly becoming a local tradition in Sierra Vista, the chapter’s annual Army/ Navy game watch party at Doc’s Watering Hole was another resounding success. The chapter brought in just over $3,000 in support of our scholarship fund in addition to the $12,000 already on hand. As a result of the generosity and support of the local community the Chapter continues to assist numerous high school students to continue their academic careers.
Grand Canyon Chapter
Chapter members participated in the first of five Northern Arizona Stand Downs, Camp Verde and Flagstaff. In addition to providing non-perishable food kits to homeless veterans, they manned a MOAA info table providing attendees with information on how they could use the MOAA Legislative Action Center to advocate for the protection of earned benefits.
In addition to their community outreach efforts, the chapter celebrated the 104th birthday of their oldest member, Lt Col Ollie Cole, USAF (Ret), a WWII veteran with 50 combat missions in the B-17 who then went on to a distinguished Air Force career flying the B-52, C-141 along with numerous other aircraft. He is a cherished source of inspiration for the entire chapter.
Green Valley Chapter
The chapter worked together with the Tucson Veteran’s Administration Hospital’s PTSD Program to design, develop, and produce 150 Challenge Coins to support this unique and very valuable VA Hospital program. A large donation from Lisa Larkin, Esq, one of the Green Valley Chapter’s Corporate Sponsors, made it possible for the Chapter to develop, finance, and donate these coins for the program’s use. Program Administrator, Dr. Daniel Moritz, was highly appreciative and stated these coins would greatly enhance the success of their program. The Challenge Coins will be presented to those Veterans who successfully complete the program requirements specifically designed to help PTSD victims.
Luke Chapter
The chapter’s Community Fund assisted a disabled Navy veteran living in near destitution—who was about to have her utilities shut off and lose her apartment—by paying her March rent, overdue utilities, and providing a gift card from Safeway for food support.
Additionally, they have given grants for housing support to nine veterans, several with dependent children in the home, and their food and commissary gift card support to the Luke AFB ‘Turkeys for Troops’ program reached about 115 families with children.
In total, they provided about $25,700 in financial support to veterans and active-duty members and their families this fiscal year.
Northern Arizona Chapter
In March, the chapter supported Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Air Force ROTC cadets’ participation in the Memorial Battan Death March at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico (pictured President Steve Woods presenting check for $500 on parade field). Most recently, the chapter awarded $1000 scholarships to cadets of both Army and Air Force ROTC at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and multiple scholarships to JROTC cadets in area high schools (pictured Vice President Ray Jordan presents scholarship award at Bradshaw Mountain HS).
Tucson Chapter
The chapter presented the Lieutenant Col John A. Devine Memorial ROTC Scholarship awards at their 22 April chapter luncheon/meeting. Each year, the chapter awards a $2,000 Scholarship to the outstanding cadets or midshipmen in each of the military services’ ROTC programs at the University of Arizona. Each scholarship is presented in memory of or to honor a United States Military Services veteran. The scholarships are sponsored jointly by the Tucson Chapter, its members, families, friends, and other veterans to honor the service and sacrifices of veterans, past and present.
All three 2026 Scholarships were sponsored in whole or in part by Chapter Surviving Spouses who were also in attendance. USAF ROTC: Mrs. Sherry Ford sponsored the scholarship in memory of her late husband, Col John E. Ford, III. USA ROTC: Ms. Polly Parks sponsored the scholarship in memory of her late husband, Col George Luis Cajigal. USN ROTC: Mrs. Kristi Scully sponsored the scholarship in memory of her late husband, CDR Donald G. Scully.
As part of the program, 2nd VP/Scholarship Chair Col. John Davee, USAF (Ret), gave a brief overview of the sponsor’s careers.
Yuma Chapter
Kofa High School MCJROTC held their awards ceremony on Thursday, 14 May 2026 at their MCJROTC Parade Field. Chapter members Rob Filbey, Nancy Filbey, and Jim Adler attended. Rob had the great pleasure in representing Yuma Chapter and presenting the MOAA JROTC Award and Medal to Cadet/Capt Mildreth Hernandez, a graduating senior that will be moving on to a pre-med program after graduation.