Advisory Board
Alyssa Barringer, CPA
Accountant (CPA) · Business Leader · Trustee, Friends of the NYS Military Museum
Alyssa Barringer is an experienced accounting professional and business leader who serves as Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee for the Friends of the New York State Military Museum. In this role, she provides essential financial oversight, manages the organization’s budgeting and reporting efforts, and advises on strategic planning to ensure the organization’s long-term sustainability. Her financial expertise is crucial in supporting the museum's mission to preserve and promote New York's military heritage for future generations.
Professionally, Alyssa is a Tax Manager at Saratoga Business Advisors, where she provides clients with accounting, tax, and consulting services. Prior to her current role, she spent five years at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in New York City, serving in various roles with increasing responsibility. Her experience in one of the world's leading professional services firms has equipped her with broad insight into corporate finance, tax strategy, and regulatory compliance.
Alyssa holds both a Master's degree in Professional Accountancy and Taxation and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Bryant University. She is a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in New York State, known for her accuracy, integrity, and unwavering dedication to client service and professional ethical standards.
Beyond her professional achievements, Alyssa's commitment to the museum's mission is rooted in her personal connection to military service. Both of her grandfathers proudly served in the U.S. Armed Forces during the Vietnam War, instilling in her a deep appreciation for the sacrifices made by veterans and their families. Through her volunteer work with the museum, she seeks to honor their legacy and support efforts that preserve military history, educate the public, and engage younger generations in understanding the importance of service and remembrance.
Colonel (Retired) Raymond J. “Jack” Clark
Instructor · Hibernian · Decorated Veteran
Colonel (Retired) “Jack” Clark served for 30 years after being commissioned a Second Lieutenant
in 1971 through the Siena College ROTC program.
In 1973, he joined the New York Army National Guard and served with the 210th Armor in a variety of key roles:
Redeye Section Leader, Heavy Mortar Platoon Leader, Tank Company Executive Officer, Tank Company Commander,
and Battalion Motor Officer.
In 1980, he transferred to the United States Army Reserve, 1157th USAR School, where he served as a Nuclear,
Biological, Chemical (NBC) Warfare Defense Instructor, Officer Advanced Course Instructor, and Director of the
Military Occupational Specialty Branch.
Subsequent assignments included the 4th Battalion, 389th Regiment, where he served as Battalion S-3
(Operations & Training Officer), Battalion Executive Officer, and Battalion Commander. He later returned to the
1157th USAR School as a CAS3 (Combined Arms and Services Staff School) Small Group Instructor.
Colonel Clark concluded his military career at Fort Totten, New York, as Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations (G-3)
for the 77th Regional Support Command.
His professional military education includes the U.S. Army Air Defense and Armor Officer Basic Courses, Armor Officer
Advanced Course, Battalion Motor Officer Course, NBC Instructor Course, Officer Advanced Instructor Course,
CAS3 Instructor Course, and the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.
His military awards include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal,
and Army Achievement Medal, in addition to various service and campaign decorations.
In civilian life, Colonel Clark retired from the U.S. Postal Service in 2010 after 35 years of service, holding positions
including Manager, Quality Control; Budget/Financial Analyst; and Manager, Statistical Programs for the Albany
Customer Service District, which covered half of Upstate New York.
He has been happily married for 55 years to the former Kathleen Murphy and is father to Todd
(LTC Todd J. Clark, Texas A&M Corps of Cadets ’94, KIA Afghanistan, 8 June 2013, in an “insider”/Green-on-Blue attack)
and Kyle; and proud grandfather of CPT Collin Clark (Texas A&M Corps of Cadets ’20; U.S. Army Second Cavalry Regiment,
Germany; Tank Commander’s Course, Cavalry Leaders Course; Commander, Apache Troop, 1-7 CAV, 1st Cavalry Division,
Fort Hood) and Madison Clark (Texas A&M ’21; M.S. Saint Rose ’23; teacher at Guilderland Elementary School).
Colonel Clark’s affiliations include the Ancient Order of Hibernians; Elks BPOE Lodge 2480; the United States Armor and
Cavalry Association (Distinguished Knight in the Honorable Order of Saint George); the 210th Armor Association; American
Legion Zaloga Post 1520; Reserve Officers Association; Military Officers Association of America; Association of the United
States Army; Charter Member, Museum of the United States Army; Wounded Warrior Project; Team Red, White & Blue;
Life Member, Tri-County Council Vietnam Era Veterans; Life Member, VFW Auxiliary; and Gold Star Family Member.
He serves as President of the LTC Todd J. Clark Annual Memorial Golf Tournament (since 2011), a 501(c)(3) that raises funds
for veterans, veterans’ causes, and veterans’ organizations.
Recently, Colonel Clark partnered with Operation Song (Nashville, TN), co-writing a song dedicated to his son with
Tom McElvain, titled “It Won’t Rain Today.” He and McElvain performed the song in Nashville, and it will appear on an
upcoming Operation Song album dedicated to Veterans, Police, Firefighters, First Responders, and Gold Star Families.
Lee Coleman
Journalist · Patriot · Decorated Vietnam Veteran
Lee Coleman is a US Army veteran, a lifelong journalist, and past vice president of the Friends of the New York State Military Museum.
He served as a Specialist (E-4) from 1968 to 1970 in the Army during the Vietnam War era. The majority of his time in the Army was spent as a military policeman at Fort Riley, Kansas. He was honorably discharged. He has been an advocate for veterans and military history throughout his life.
Lee's journalism career spanned nearly four decades. He spent eight-plus years at the Post-Star newspaper in Glens Falls as a reporter and editor and 31 years as a reporter for the Daily Gazette of Schenectady. He spent nearly 30 years at the Gazette's Saratoga Springs bureau and then worked out of the Gazette's Ballston Spa bureau for a couple of years. He covered local government, politics, the environment, local history, and feature stories during the summer at the Saratoga Race Course and backstretch in Saratoga Springs.
A cum laude graduate of St. Bonaventure University with a bachelor's degree in English and a minor in philosophy. He also took graduate courses in journalism at Penn State University after leaving the Army, but never earned a master's degree. His ongoing interest in documenting military history and civic life has naturally aligned with the mission of the Friends of the New York State Military Museum, where he continues to support public engagement efforts.
Lee's deep connection to the Adirondack region is reflected in both his personal and professional life. He enjoys biking, walking, and golfing in the greater Glens Falls area where he lives. Lee treasures time with his family, which includes four grown sons, two teenage granddaughters, and a five-year-old grandson. He lost his wife, Toni Marie, to cancer in 2017 after more than 40 years of marriage.
Greg Dixon, IOM
Dedicated Civic Leader · Veteran· Patriot
Greg Dixon has a vast amount of experience in various roles, including Chief Strategy Officer at Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce; Vice President for Tourism at the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce; Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Old Sturbridge Village, and Partner at Noonmark Group, LLC. Dixon graduated magna cum laude from SUNY New Paltz with a B.S. in Business Administration with a Finance Concentration and a Professional Certificate in Sustainable Business Practices from the University of Vermont. He is also a graduate of the United States Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organizational Management program, holds a certificate in sustainable business from the University of Vermont, completed the NYSEDC basic economic development course, and is a 2007 graduate of the Leadership Saratoga program. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army and the Vermont Army National Guard.
Greg also has experience in sports management as an Assistant Athletic Director and Head Men's Basketball Coach at Johnson State College, as well as coaching positions at Bard College and SUNY New Paltz.
Greg has served as an Advisory Board Member or Board Member of the following initiatives and nonprofit organizations: Saratoga Springs History Museum where he served as President; Leadership Saratoga; New York State Travel and Vacation Association; the New York State TPA Council; The Wesley Foundation; Junior Achievement of Northeastern New York, Inc. He is a member of the Saratoga Springs Lions Club and the Veterans Business Council of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce.
Chris Gibson
U.S. Army Retired · Former Congressman · Author
The Honorable Christopher P. Gibson, PhD, is a lifelong resident of Kinderhook in Columbia County, New York, Chris Gibson enlisted in the New York National Guard at the age of 17 and later earned an Army ROTC Commission at Siena College where he graduated magna cum laude with a BA in History. He later earned an MPA and PhD in Government from Cornell University. Over the course of his 24 year Army career, Gibson rose to the rank of Colonel and deployed seven times, including four combat tours in Iraq. He also had deployments to the Persian Gulf War, Haiti, and Kosovo. He earned two Legions of Merit, four Bronze Star Medals, the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge with Star, the Master Parachutist Badge and the Ranger Tab. For their actions in Mosul in support of the first national election in the new Iraq, Gibson's Battalion Task Force earned the Valorous Unit Award. For their actions in Tal Afar during the 2nd and 3rd national elections in Iraq his Battalion and the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment were recognized for excellence and earned a 2nd Valorous Unit Award. His military career included roles in various capacities, including leadership positions and strategic planning. Gibson's experience in the military has deeply influenced his approach to national security and public policy. Gibson spent 29 years in the military where he rose to the rank of Colonel in the US Army. In his last assignment, Gibson commanded the 82nd Airborne Division’s 2nd Brigade, leading them to Haiti on a humanitarian relief operation after the devastating earthquake there in 2010.
Gibson retired from the U.S. Army in 2010 and was subsequently elected to represent the 20th Congressional District in 2010 and re-elected in 2012 and 2014 to represent the 19th Congressional District. In Congress, Gibson served on the House Armed Services Committee (Subcommittees: Tactical Air and Land Forces; Intelligence, Emerging Threats and Capabilities; Military Personnel), the House Agriculture Committee (Subcommittees: General Farm Commodities and Risk Management; Livestock, Rural Development, and Credit), and the Republican Policy Committee. Gibson’s record included a focus on local issues like expanding access to broadband and better treatment of Lyme disease. January 2015, Gibson, a supporter of term limits, announced that he would not seek re-election in 2016. Gibson has over 35 years of distinguished public service. From 2011-2017, Chris served as a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives (NY-19). In Congress, Chris was recognized for Statesmanship, finishing #1 among all Representatives of both political parties in the U.S. House in the inaugural report of the Lugar Policy Center Bipartisan Index in 2014. Serving on the House Armed Services, Small Business, and Agriculture Committees, Chris played an integral role crafting important legislation in strengthening national security, supporting veterans, revitalizing infrastructure, supporting family farmers, advancing rural economic development, recovering from devastating hurricanes, expanding broadband, fighting Lyme Disease, enhancing mental health, and reforming education policy. His distinguished congressional service was recognized by the Lugar Center in 2014 when he finished #1 in the country in the House of Representatives in their inaugural report on bipartisanship. After three terms in Congress, Gibson self-imposed term limits and moved to academia.
While in the military, Gibson taught American politics at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point (1995-1998) and earned his War College credit as a Hoover National Security Affairs Fellow at Stanford University (2006-2007). Gibson earned a Master of Public Administration (1995), Master of Arts (1996) and Doctorate in Government (1998) from Cornell University. Additionally, he holds an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from the State University of NY (2017). Gibson served as the 12th President of Siena College (2020-2023) and as the Stanley Kaplan Distinguished Visiting Professor of American Foreign Policy at Williams College (2017-2020); and as a Member of the Hoover Institution’s Working Group on the Role of Military History in Contemporary Conflict.
Gibson is also a writer and analyst. He is the author of three books, The Spirit of Philadelphia published by Routledge in May 2025, Rally Point: Five Tasks to Unite the Country and Revitalize the American Dream published by Twelve Books in 2017, and Securing the State: Reforming the National Security Decision Making Process at the Civil-Military Nexus published by Routledge in paperback in 2019 (the hardcover edition was initially published by Ashgate in 2008). He has also published numerous scholarly journal articles, opinion pieces, a book chapter and a book review. As an analyst, he has appeared on Fox, Newsmax, CSPAN and NPR, among other outlets. Gibson’s published works on national security and civil-military relations have appeared in Armed Forces & Society, Military Review, Hoover Digest, and with Harvard University’s Project on Post-Cold War Civil-Military Relations. He also contributed a chapter to the book, American Civil-Military Relations 50 Years after Samuel Huntington’s The Soldier and the State, published by the Johns Hopkins University Press in October 2009. He has also published numerous opinion-editorial pieces on wide-ranging topics in both national and local media outlets.
Gibson is married to Mary Jo and they have three children: Katie, Maggie and Connor. Gibson is active in several civic organizations in Kinderhook, including the American Legion, VFW, NRA, the Knights of Columbus, and St. John’s Church of Valatie.
Garth Lloyd
Dedicated Museum Docent · Purple Heart Recipient · Decorated Vietnam Veteran · Trustee, Friends of the NYS Military Museum
Garth D. Lloyd is a decorated Vietnam veteran, Purple Heart recipient, and dedicated museum docent who serves as a Trustee on the Board of the Friends of the New York State Military Museum. With a lifelong commitment to service—both in uniform and in his community—Garth has become a respected advocate for veterans and a vital contributor to the preservation of New York’s military heritage.
Drafted into the U.S. Army in 1969, Garth served with distinction as an 11B Infantryman in 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, during the Vietnam War. On February 12, 1970, while leading operations and fighting in CuCui near the Cambodian border, he was seriously wounded by a booby trap and medically evacuated to the United States. He was subsequently discharged as a Specialist Fourth Class. For his bravery and sacrifice, Garth was awarded the Purple Heart, Air Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and Good Conduct Medal.
After returning home, Garth dedicated himself to public service, working in the water treatment department for the City of Saratoga Springs until his retirement in 2012. His commitment to the veteran community deepened in retirement, as he became a mentor in the Saratoga County VA Mentor Program, supporting disabled and returning veterans through peer engagement and advocacy.
Garth has also served for many years as a volunteer docent at the New York State Military Museum, where he plays a key role in welcoming visitors, sharing historical insights, and working with the Docent Advisory Committee and Education Opportunity Program to engage middle and high school students in military history. His approachable storytelling and firsthand experience have inspired countless guests and students.
In recognition of his enduring service and dedication, Garth was honored as the 2020 Veteran of the Year by the Friends of the New York State Military Museum and the Capital District Chapter of the Association of the United States Army. He and his wife, Diane, reside in Saratoga Springs. Together, they have instilled a legacy of service in their family. Their son serves as a physician assistant at Albany Medical Center, and their grandchildren continue to carry forward the values of dedication and resilience that define Garth’s life.
Hon. Roy McDonald
Dedicated Public Servant · President Emeritus, Friends of the NYS Military Museum · Purple Heart Recipient & Decorated Vietnam Veteran
An Army veteran, McDonald is from Troy, NY and served in Vietnam from 1970-71 as an Artillery Forward Observer with C Troop, 1-9th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division. For 23 years, McDonald was Town and County Supervisor for the Town of Wilton, New York and in 1986, served a term as Chairman of the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors. He served in the New York State Assembly from 2002 to 2009 and in the State Senate until 2013.
Roy McDonald was born and raised in the Lansingburgh section of Troy, New York. He currently resides with his family in Saratoga County. Roy graduated from the Lansingburgh Public School System and received his associate degree from Hudson Valley Community College. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the State University of New York at Oneonta. Both schools have honored Roy with Distinguished Alumni Awards.
A decorated veteran of the Vietnam War, Roy served as an Artillery Forward Observer with the U. S. Army’s First Cavalry Division. He participated in numerous combat assaults on the South Vietnamese and Cambodian border, as well as in Cambodia itself. Roy is a member of the Saratoga VFW, Saratoga American Legion, Vietnam Veterans of America, and the Lansingburgh Veterans Association.
Roy was elected to the 43rd Senate District in 2008. Prior to the Senate, Roy served as an Assemblyman in the 112th District. He had served in the Assembly since February 2002. Roy had a distinguished record for 23 years as the Town and County Supervisor from Wilton. He proudly served as Chairman of the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors. Some of his achievements included the total elimination of local town property taxes (general and highway funds) for 20 consecutive years, the creation of the 3000-acre Wilton Wildlife Preserve and Park, building the Town’s Gavin Park Complex, the Wilton Veteran’s housing facility and playing a major role in the extremely successful economic development of Wilton. As a member of the Board of Supervisors he proposed the County Budget which led to the success of Saratoga County being the lowest taxed county in the State.
Roy had a number of major initiatives passed by the legislature and signed into law. The New York State Patriot Plans I, II & III were designed to provide safeguards, benefits and incentives to our New York State military personnel including the National Guard and Reserves. He was also the author of the Saratoga-Washington on the Hudson Partnership; legislation to address collaborative agriculture, open space protection, tourism as well as to promote preservation of the cultural and historic significance of the Revolutionary War sites within the Saratoga Region.
Roy has been a leader among his colleagues regarding disability and autism awareness. He has two grandsons, Jacob and David, both of whom suffer from autism. Working at the local and state levels, Roy hosted forums to listen and learn from community members that were dealing with autism spectrum disorders. In turn, he sponsored legislation to guarantee that informational booklets would be given to emergency first responders on persons with autism, so that they would be more adequately prepared to react in those situations. Roy also created the Saratoga County Autism Council, an organization charged with providing education, respite and early intervention to those suffering from developmental disabilities and their families.
With passage of the three Patriot Plan bills, Roy is working on expanding the incentives given to veterans and their families. He has been actively involved on a rural recovery proposal aimed at assisting volunteer emergency and fire services, as well as addressing rural health care, education, infrastructure, transportation and economic development. Roy has advocated for the creation of the Agricultural Empire Zone Program providing major incentives to assist the farming community. Additionally, Roy is working hard to help the old urban areas of the 43rd Senate District, such as the cities of Troy, Mechanicville, and Rensselaer. He is especially concerned about the health care and school systems in these cities.
Roy is a banker by profession, and is proud of his career journey which began several years ago as a laborer in the same local steel mill that employed his father and many other relatives who also worked as laborers.
Roy serves as a foundation board member for Hudson Valley Community College, the Rensselaer County Commission on Economic Opportunity, as well as the Saratoga County Economic Opportunity Council. He is an active member of the Friends of 112th Street Park in Lansingburgh, the Saratoga-Wilton Elks and the American Irish Legislators Society.
Roy is proud of his community service as a member of the Lansingburgh Boys and Girls Club Board of Directors, and a former member of both the Saratoga YMCA Board of Directors and the Saratoga County Retired Seniors Volunteer Program. In recognition of his leadership and hard work, Roy has been the recipient of many awards including those from the Saratoga County ARC, the Saratoga Economic Development Corporation, the Wilton Volunteer Fire Department, the Wilton Emergency Medical Squad, the New York State Correction Officers Police Benevolent Association, the New York State Nature Conservancy and Saratoga Plan. Roy has also been the recipient of the Saratoga Good Scout Award; as well as the Saratoga-Wilton Elks Man of the Year and has been inducted into the Lansingburgh High School Foundation Hall of Fame.
Roy and his wife, Angelina Zaccagnino-McDonald, are the proud parents of daughters Julie, Jessica and Stephanie, sons-in-law Matt Veitch and Jeff Youngberg, and grandsons Jacob and David McDonald Veitch.
Roy currently serves as the Chairman of the Senate's Mental Health Committee and is also a member of the Alcoholism & Drug Abuse, Commerce Economic Development & Small Business, Health, Labor, Local Governments, Racing, Gaming & Wagering, and the Veterans, Homeland Security & Military Affairs Senate Standing Committees.
Chief Warrant Officer Three (Ret.) Robert Nevins
Congressional Gold Medal Recipient · Combat Medevac Pilot · Decorated Vietnam Veteran
Chief Warrant Officer Three (Ret.) Robert Nevins is a decorated Vietnam War combat veteran, medical evacuation pilot, and national advocate for trauma healing and suicide prevention among veterans and first responders. He currently serves as an Advisory Board Member of the Friends of the New York State Military Museum, where he brings unparalleled insight into combat service, healing, and resilience.
Nevins served in Vietnam from 1970 to 1971 as a medevac pilot with the 101st Airborne Division (DUSTOFF), conducting hundreds of high-risk rescue missions in enemy territory. On January 15, 1971, while attempting an urgent extraction under fire, his helicopter was shot down. Though severely wounded, he courageously evacuated fellow crew members from the burning wreckage, an act for which he received the Soldier’s Medal, the military’s highest award for valor outside of combat. He was also awarded three Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Purple Heart, and multiple Air Medals for heroism and aerial achievement. In 1978, he was named New York State’s Vietnam Veteran of the Year, and in 2016, he received the Veteran of the Year Award from the Friends of the NYS Military Museum and the Capital Region Chapter of AUSA. In November 2024, Nevins was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for his pioneering role in helicopter medical evacuation during the Vietnam War.
Following his military service, Nevins continued flying as a helicopter pilot in the New York Army National Guard and then as a commercial airline captain for 24 years. He was in the air on September 11, 2001, and safely diverted his aircraft to Canada as part of the national response. In 2011, he retired from commercial aviation to focus full-time on his mission to heal the psychological and physiological wounds of war.
Motivated by a near-death experience in Vietnam and a deep desire to address the invisible scars of trauma, Nevins co-founded Alliance180. This nonprofit equine-assisted program connects veterans with retired racehorses for transformative, peer-led healing. His work has expanded to support first responders and healthcare professionals, offering powerful new tools in the fight against veteran and first responder suicide, challenges that have reached crisis levels nationwide. He has worked with over 1,000 participants to date.
Bob’s enduring legacy is one of compassionate leadership, courage under fire, and an unwavering commitment to the well-being of those who serve. As a trusted advisor to the Friends of the New York State Military Museum, he continues to advocate for the preservation of history and the emotional well-being of America’s military community.
Captain (Retired - USN) William S. O’Brien
Naval Aviator · Chief Operating Officer, NYS Teachers’ Retirement System · Decorated Vietnam Veteran
Captain O’Brien graduated from the State University of New York, entered the Naval Aviation Officer Candidate Program in 1970, and earned his wings in September 1971. Completing his Replacement Air Group training at VP-31 at Moffett Field, California, he joined VP-17 on deployment in March 1972. Captain O’Brien deployed with VP-17 on three tours to Southeast Asia in support of 7th Fleet operations in North and South Vietnam. During this period, he also participated in Persian Gulf operations, flying out of Bandar Abbas, Iran.
While operating out of U-Tapao, Thailand, Captain O’Brien was decorated for the initial location of the hijacked U.S. merchant ship Mayaguez and for his support of the combat operation that resulted in the rescue of that vessel, despite having his aircraft hit by hostile fire from Cambodian naval units. VP-17 was awarded the Battle “E” for this period.
Captain O’Brien left VP-17 in 1975 and reported to Ocean Systems Pacific Command as Operations Officer of the SOSUS station at Centerville Beach, California. He directed a tactical equipment upgrade at his facility culminating in its designation as the operational reporting center for West Coast SOSUS stations.
Captain O’Brien left active duty and affiliated with the Naval Reserve in March 1978. He joined VP-66, serving as Safety, Administrative, and Executive Officer. His operational commendations during this tour included the national Liberty Bell Trophy for tactical excellence. Captain O’Brien commanded VP-66 from December 1988 to August 1990, spanning two operational deployments to the eastern Atlantic/Mediterranean in support of CTF 84 and CTF 67. He was then selected as Commanding Officer of Readiness Unit 902 in the Surface Reserve Force. This reinforcing unit mobilized 30% of its personnel to a destroyer tender, ship repair facility, and Fleet Hospital 15 in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm.
Captain O’Brien next served as Executive Officer of COMSTRIKFLTLANT 102 – Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic’s (SACLANT) major subordinate-at-sea commander. This unit was the primary reserve component of Commander Second Fleet and provided direct support in this NATO role to his afloat battle staff onboard the USS Mt. Whitney.
Captain O’Brien served as Commanding Officer of NAS Keflavik, Iceland 0293 from October 1995 to October 1997, completing several major upgrades to the NATO base with the unit’s Seabee detachment. He next served as Commanding Officer of Naval Station Rota, Spain 0393 from October 1997 to October 1998. A new reserve command was established to support eastern Mediterranean/Balkan operations at NSA Souda Bay, Crete, in October 1998 – Captain O’Brien served as the first Commanding Officer of this unit through October 1999.
Captain O’Brien’s military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, and Combat Action Ribbon, as well as various personal, service, and campaign awards.
Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Patrick Piccirilli
Vice President & Trustee, Friends of the New York State Military Museum · AUSA & MOAA Member · U.S. Army Veteran
Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Patrick Piccirilli is a dual-service U.S. Navy and U.S. Army veteran, civic leader, and dedicated military historian, currently serving as Vice President and Trustee of the Friends of the New York State Military Museum. A career officer and lifelong advocate for veterans, his leadership spans five decades in the military, government, and educational service.
Born and raised on Staten Island, NY, Patrick enlisted in the U.S. Navy Reserve following his graduation from St. Peter’s Boys High School in 1964. After graduating from Pace University, he was called to active duty in 1968, where he supported oceangoing minesweeper crews as a Yeoman Second Class at the U.S. Naval Reserve Training Center in Perth Amboy, NJ. After completing his active duty, he remained in the Naval Reserve while launching a civilian career in pharmaceutical sales.
In 1979, Patrick earned a direct commission in the U.S. Army Reserve Medical Service Corps. He served with both the 331st and 364th General Hospital Units, later becoming an Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) serving as Garrison Comptroller at Fort Detrick, Maryland, until his retirement in 1995. His military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and Armed Forces Reserve Medal.
In civilian life, Patrick built a distinguished 28-year career with the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH), holding leadership roles at Letchworth Village, Utica-Marcy Psychiatric Center, Middletown Psychiatric Center, and Capital District Psychiatric Center. He also served as an adjunct instructor at New School University and co-founded Fairport Financial, a financial advisory firm.
After retiring from state service, Patrick continued to support military education as an Outreach Assistant for Military Programs at SUNY Empire State College. He is a life member of MOAA, the American Legion Zaloga Post, and the Tri-County Council of Vietnam Era Veterans. He was honored with the American Red Cross Real Heroes Military Award in 2019. He was also nominated by the Jewish War Veterans Albany Post 10 and received the Four Chaplains Brotherhood Award in 2022.
Patrick comes from a proud lineage of military service. His father, a U.S. Army Sergeant, was captured during the North African campaign in WWII and spent more than two years as a prisoner of war. His son, Sean, is a U.S. Air Force Colonel serving at the Pentagon. Patrick is a proud father and grandfather, and his deep respect for military service continues to inspire his ongoing commitment to honoring New York’s veterans.
As Vice President of the Friends of the NYS Military Museum, Patrick plays a vital role in advancing educational initiatives, preserving historical artifacts, and ensuring the stories of New York’s service members are shared and remembered.
Master Chief Petty Officer, USN (Ret.) William (Bill) F. Schmeelcke
American Legion Post 70 Commander · 27 Year U.S. Navy Veteran of the Cold War · Docent Volunteer
Master Chief Bill Schmeelcke is a highly decorated U.S. Navy veteran who served in the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program onboard Nimitz class aircraft carriers USS Nimitz, Uss Dwight D. Eisenhower, and USS George Washington. He also served as an instructor and class advisor at the Naval Nuclear Propulsion School and as the senior enlisted instructor at the Kesselring Site Naval Nuclear Prototype Training Unit in Ballston Spa, NY. His time at sea took him to all corners of the globe during the Cold War and Desert Shield. Master Chief Schmeelcke is the recipient of the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (2 awards), Navy Achievement Medal (2 awards), Navy Good Conduct Award (7 awards), numerous unit and campaign awards, and was certified as a Master Training Specialist in the Naval Nuclear Power Program.
After retiring from the U.S. Navy in 2003, Bill pursued a career as a Project Manager in pharmaceutical construction commissioning and validation until 2015. Retiring from his civilian life career, he pursued community involvement, becoming active in his church (St Peter Lutheran Church in Malta), where he serves on church council and as the church secretary. He joined the ranks of the docent volunteers at the NYSMM, joining the docent advisory board, and serving as a Board of Trustees member from 2019-2022. A member of the American Legion since 2000, he has served in leadership positions at the Post and County level, actively serving the veteran community. Since 2017 he has been delivering Meals-on-Wheels weekly to Saratoga County shut-ins. For several years he was a volunteer AARP Driver Safety classroom instructor, teaching several classes a month in the area. Bill currently is employed part-time at the Kesselring Nuclear Facility as a security escort for uncleared contractors working on the site.
Bill has been happily married to his high school sweetheart, the former Linda Gilluly, since September 11th, 1979. They have resided in Greenfield Center since 1999 with their son Billy, and his wife Thanagi. They have two wonderful grandchildren.
Brigadier General (Ret.) F. David Sheppard
Aviator, Flight Instructor, and Commander · Former Deputy Adjutant General, New York State · Former Director, NYS Office of Homeland Security · College Professor · Decorated Vietnam Veteran
F. David Sheppard began his military career in 1970 by attending U.S. Army Basic Training at Fort Polk, Louisiana, subsequently graduating from U.S. Army Helicopter Pilot Flight School, Fort Rucker, Alabama, in 1971. In 1972, after receiving his U.S. Army pilot wings, he reported to South Vietnam and served as a combat helicopter pilot, flying 841 hours during his one-year tour of duty. He completed his active duty service as an Instructor Pilot at Fort Rucker before joining the New York Army National Guard in 1975.
General Sheppard served in a variety of military assignments with the New York Army National Guard, including Director of Aviation and Safety, Chief of Staff, and Deputy Adjutant General (DAG) of the State Division of Military and Naval Affairs (DMNA), before his assignment as Commander of the 53rd Troop Command, New York Army National Guard. He directed and coordinated the New York National Guard's military support to civil authorities after the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center. General Sheppard also served as the Joint Task Force Commander of military security forces protecting critical infrastructure during the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York City, and is a rated military and commercial fixed-wing and rotary-wing aviator.
General Sheppard's military decorations and awards include the Bronze Star for Valor, the Bronze Star for Meritorious Service, an Air Medal for Valor, fifteen Air Medals for Combat Missions, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Star, the Army Aviation Broken Wing Award, and the New York State Governor's Medal for Valor.
F. David Sheppard also previously served as a Public Service Professor at Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, University at Albany. Professor Sheppard is a former Director of the New York State Office of Homeland Security, serving in this capacity from 2006 through 2008. During this period, he directed and coordinated federal, state, and local homeland security strategies to prevent terrorist attacks, protect critical infrastructure, and prepare first responders to respond to natural and man-made disasters. As the director of both the New York State Office of Homeland Security and the State Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Task Force, Sheppard also managed more than $2 billion in Federal Homeland Security Grant Program funds involving 14 separate preparedness grants. He developed a Critical Infrastructure – Suspicious Activity Report (CI-SAR) model for law enforcement and intelligence analyst use at state intelligence fusion centers and authored numerous classified homeland security advisories and intelligence products.
A native of Utica and raised in the Capital District area, General Sheppard holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the State University of New York at Albany, a certificate from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government, and is a graduate of the U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, with a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies. He and his wife, Vicki, have one daughter and reside in Niskayuna, Schenectady County.
Command Sergeant Major (Ret.) Robert W. Van Pelt
AUSA Leader · Decorated Vietnam Veteran · Patriot
Command Sergeant Major (Ret.) Robert W. Van Pelt is a highly decorated U.S. Army veteran whose distinguished military career spanned more than four decades of Active Duty, National Guard, and Reserve service. Drafted in 1969, he began his service as a Fixed Station Automatic Digital Network Technical Controller with the 1st Signal Brigade in Phu Lam, Vietnam. He later served in Italy with the U.S. Army Strategic Communications Command before transitioning to the New York and Tennessee Army National Guards, where he held key leadership positions, including Communications Chief and Construction Chief. Rising steadily through the ranks, he became a sergeant major in 1987 and graduated from the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy (Class 37) in 1991.
Throughout his career, CSM Van Pelt held a series of significant senior leadership positions. He served as Command Sergeant Major for multiple major units, including the 242nd Signal Battalion, 1-101st Cavalry Squadron, 187th Signal Brigade, 53rd Troop Command, and the 42nd Infantry Division, one of the most historic formations in the U.S. Army. In 2001, he was appointed Command Sergeant Major of the New York Army National Guard, a position he held until his retirement in 2011. His leadership and mentorship directly impacted thousands of soldiers across New York State, helping to shape the readiness and professionalism of the Guard.
After retiring, CSM Van Pelt continued to serve the military community through several critical roles. He worked as the New York National Guard’s ESGR (Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve) Program Manager and later as a Transition Assistance Advisor, where he supported service members in their transition to civilian life. He has served for over a decade as a leader within the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Capital District Chapter, first as Treasurer, then as Chapter President, and now as First Vice President for Membership. He also serves on AUSA’s national Retiree and Veterans Affairs Committee and is Chairman of the Grants Committee for the National Guard & Naval Militia Relief Society of New York.
A passionate advocate for soldiers and veterans, Van Pelt is a member of the Veterans Business Council of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce and serves as the military advisor to Operation Adopt a Soldier, and remains deeply committed to his community. His post-military contributions were recognized with the prestigious 2018 Sergeant Major of the Army William G. Bainbridge Medal for outstanding support to the Noncommissioned Officer Corps and the U.S. Army. A proud “Soldier for Life,” CSM Van Pelt resides in Malta, New York, with his wife Debbie, and continues to inspire through a lifetime of selfless service and steadfast dedication to those who serve.