Page 16 - Mariner Winter 2023 Volume 65 Issue 3 Jan

NEW NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, continued

Meet Your New NEC, continued from page 15

Eugene (Geno) Koelker, National Counselor
[email protected]

Eugene (Gene) Koelker is cur- is associated with NERA’s Windy City Chapter, and was
rently the National Counselor, the Treasurer for this chapter. He served on several other
he held the position of National NERA committees for regional and national conventions
President from 2013-2015. and participated in numerous chapter events and programs.
Geno joined NERA in 1987
and is a Lifetime Member. Geno is a member of the Navy League, the American
After serving 4 years in active Legion, Vietnow, Winnebago County Veterans
duty (’65-‘69), he drilled for 22 Association (local) and the Navy Club of the USA. He
years at VP-90 until the squad- served as the National Commandant of the Navy Club
ron was de-commissioned and Glenview was closed. He USA. Geno currently lives in Rockford, IL.

Stephen R. Sandy, Past National President
[email protected]

Master Chief Stephen R. Sandy Master Chief Sandy was awarded numerous awards and
is the National Past President ribbons the last and highest being the Meritorious Service
(2015-2019) of the Naval Medal (MSM).
Enlisted Reserve Association
(NERA), after having served Master Chief Sandy’s civilian career with the District of
as the Executive Director of Columbia Fire Department was equally as long as his naval
NERA for nine years. Steve is career. Beginning on March 17, 1974 and ending with his
a retired 32 year veteran of the retirement as a Lieutenant on March 17, 2007 (33 years),
United States Navy Reserve. Sandy qualified for just about every certification in the fire
His career spanned from 1967 and the Commissioning service from Firefighter/ Emergency Medical Technician
Crew (Plank Owner) on the John F. Kennedy (CVA 67) to Homeland Security’s Weapons of Mass Destruction
thru his retirement in 2003. He was the Command Master “COBRA” program. Sandy also graduated from the
Chief of Navy Reserve Navy Command Center 106, in Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute’s Fire Service Instructor
support of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV) N3/ program and taught Basic and Advanced Firefighting at
N5 under the command of (at the time Captain) now the D.C. Fire Department Fire Training Academy.
Rear Admiral Jeffrey A. Lemmons. During his navy career,

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16 The Mariner • 2022 WINTER Edition • Volume 65 • Issue 3