2023 ACA Election Ballot

CANDIDATES FOR TREASURER:

---------------- Dave Mobley, Col, USAF (Retired) ----------------
Dave Mobley is the current treasurer and is running unopposed for an additional term.

CANDIDATES FOR DIRECTOR:

---------------- Bob Bieber, Capt, USAF (Retired) ----------------
I graduated from St. Louis University with a B.S in Psychology/Sociology. Commissioned a 2/Lt in USAF entering active duty on 31 July 1964. DQ'd from Pilot Training due to deficient visual acuity I received assistance from ROTC Prof. of Air Science, then Capt. George 'Bud' Day, to get assigned as an Admin Officer to the 1st Air Commando Wing at Hurlburt Fld, Fl. Remained as an Air Commando at Hurlburt Fld until 1971. Certified as a Phase III Combat Ready Combat Controller(CCT) in Dec 1966. Service as an Air Commando/Special OPS CCT at Hurlburt in the 1960s involved support of LZ/DZ/EZ, Comms,FAC/FAG(now known as JTAC) training/operations of the thirteen aircraft types assigned to the 1st ACW to include the A-26, A-1E,AT-28D, A-37,A/C-47,C-123,O-1,O-2, OV-10, U-10, &UH-1 aircraft.
Assignments & positions in USAF: 1. SQ OIC CCT, 1st ACW/1st Spec Ops Wg, Hurlburt Fld, Fl. (TAC) 1964-1970; 2. SQ OIC CCT, 8th APS, Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN (PACAF) 1971-1972. Twenty Two missions to include Lam Son 719 at Khe Sahn; 3. SQ Chief CCT, 2nd APS, LRAFB, AR. (MAC) 1972-1976.; 4. Sq OIC CCT, 1300 MAS, Howard AFB, CZ (MAC) 1976-1979. Was separated (RIF) from the service as a Captain in Feb 1979. Enlisted as SSG (E-6) in the U.S. Army Special Forces (Reserve) at Richards-Gebaur AFB, MO in Oct 1965 assigned to A/1/12th SFG(A) with duty as Air Ops Specialist and Ops Intell NCO coinciding with Dept of Army (DA) Civil Service (GS-12) employment as Military Analyst for Combat Developments - Special Ops Aviation and Low Intensity Conflict (LIC) at Ft. Leavenworth KS; 1985-1999. In April 1998 I secured a position as an Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) In USSOCOM'S Strategy and Policy Division (SOOP-PGD) in the counterdrug cell at MacDill AFB. Following the 11 Sep 01 attack on America was mobilized to active duty; Special Operations Joint Interagency Collaboration Center (SOIO). Retired as CPT(USA) in April 2002.

I have always identified my USAF career as, first and foremost, an Air Commando with primary specialty and duty as a Combat Controller (CCT). The ACA, which I've been a member (#105) of since the first year of its founding- ca 1967 has enabled me to continue to honor that identity to the "Quiet Professionals" and "Any Time, Any Place" community/family. Now that I'm retired - retired, with much energy, I would now like to devote my primary efforts to promoting the stated Goals/Objectives and Programs of the ACA.

---------------- Brenda Cartier, Brig Gen, USAF (Retired) ----------------
AETC DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS (A3/6)| San Antonio, TX | 2021 - 2022
-Led operations of one of the world's largest training organizations
VICE COMMANDER, 19th AIR FORCE | San Antonio, TX | 2020 – 2021
-Led 36,000 civilian and military personnel and 1,608 aircraft assigned to 17 active duty, reserve, and guard wings across the U.S.
AFSOC DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS (A3) | Fort Walton Beach, FL | 2018 – 2020
-Led operations, training, and global readiness for Air Force Special Operations Command. Supervised 150+ military and civilian personnel developing and implementing operational command policy for
AFSOC’s worldwide special operations units including 20,800 personnel, 300 aircraft, and $17 billion in assets.
COMMANDER, 58th SPECIAL OPERATIONS WING | Albuquerque, NM | 2016 – 2018
-Commanded an organization of 2,300 military and civilian personnel teaching 90 courses to over 16,000 students annually.
VICE COMMANDER, AIR FORCE SPECIAL OPERATIONS AIR WARFARE CENTER | Fort Walton Beach, FL | 2014 – 2016
-Led 1200+ military and civilian personnel training, educating, and developing 13,000 Air Commandos. Directed 27 aircrew training pipelines in 7 aircraft weapon systems. Oversaw AFSOC’s Irregular
Warfare operations and global deployment of Combat Aviation Advisors in support of international partner objectives.
SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE 18TH CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF | The Pentagon | 2013 – 2014
-Assisted the Chairman in his role as the senior military advisor to the President, Secretary of Defense, and Congress."

I want to serve because I’m excited to continue serving our community with leadership, energy, strategic insight, and a deep commitment to the ACA mission. ACA is in a unique period in its history to ignite growth. I see massive opportunity in ACA’s mission and will effectively help guide the association, ensuring the welfare of members and their families. My passion & extensive AFSOC background uniquely position me to contribute to the association's growth and success, honoring the legacy that brought us here while driving it to new levels of achievement.

-------------- Rene Leon, Col, USAF (Retired) --------------
I am a 31 year veteran of the United States Air Force, retiring last summer as the longest serving A4 (Director of Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection) for Headquarters, Air Force Special Operations Command. During my career as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer, I have supported over 25 types of fixed, rotary and tilt-rotor aircraft with fleets as large as 255 aircraft valued at up to $18B. I have served across four different Major Commands, Headquarters Air Force, and USSOCOM. My command tours have all been either war-time commands in CENTCOM or within AFSOC and like many of us, I have accumulated several years of deployed experience mostly in the CENTCOM AOR. I have spent 12 of my last 15 years of service in the Special Operations community.
I am married with four children and when not working, enjoy kayaking, paddle boarding, and hiking.

I want to serve because I want to serve our Air Commandos in order to give back to the community that has borne the brunt of over 20 years of conflict and with whom I've served almost half of my Air Force career. Moreover, with my experience both in and out of AFSOC, I want to expand our "Air Commando" identity deeper into those Support Tribes that don't traditionally stay within AFSOC for an entire career, yet compose the majority of the command at any given moment. I think the Air Commando Association is an excellent resource, but currently under-utilized.