Veterans Council of IRC

Col. Marty Zickert, USAF, Ret.

Chairman

Martin J Zickert served in the United States Air Force for 30 ½ years including Thailand, the Philippines, Germany and numerous stateside locations.  He has accumulated over 4500 flying hours in the KC/RC-135, C-124 and the F-4 Phantom.  He was the Base Commander at Spangdahlem AB, FRG. As the Air Force Operations Test and Evaluation Center Detachment Commander at Edwards AFB, CA, he oversaw the successful testing of the B-2 Stealth Bomber, the C-17 Cargo aircraft, the Fly off of the F-22 and F-23 Fighter aircraft and other aircraft related testing.    He was President of the Veterans Council, a 501(c)3, for three years and helped raise awareness of veterans in Indian River County establishing the Upward American Veterans helping financial distressed families and Veterans Outreach which serves to integrate those veterans who were involved in the War against Terror.  During his tenure, the Veterans Council was able to procure two buses used to transport Indian River County veterans to the VA Medical Center in West Palm Beach.  The Council also established The Victory Center Military Store, a 501(c)3, in the Indian River Mall which is not only a retail store but also a meeting/greeting place for veterans.  He has been the Liaison for the Blue Angels for the 2014, 2016 and 2018 Airshow.  He was instrumental in helping United Way set up their VITA tax program to prepare taxes for those people with limited funds. 

 

Curtis Holden

Vice Chairman

Curtis served as an enlisted Marine and as an Army officer with over 25 years of service.  He was deployed four times and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.  He graduated from Army ROTC at Northeastern University and received a Masters Degree in Criminal Justice from Western New England College. Curtis’ first deployment was as a Military Police Combat Officer during Operation Desert Storm, serving in Iraq.  Months after the terrorist attack on 9/11 he was deployed a second time, serving as the J-1 for Joint Task Force GTMO at Guantanamo Bay Cuba, which house Afghanistan Detainees. From 2005 to 2006 Curtis was in charge of 11,000 Iraqi Police Officers in Salah ad Din Province, Iraq.  He served under the 3rdBrigade Combat Team (Rakkasun), 101stAirborne Division. From 2009 to 2010 Curtis was the BLD Commander responsible for transferring 30,000 detainees to the government of Iraq. He served under Joint Task Force 134. Curtis served as a civilian police officer in the Metropolitan Boston area, holding numerous positions during his career.  Before retiring, he was a Police Supervisor during the Boston Marathon Bombing and shutting down the city of Boston in 2013.

 

Ken Dale

Treasurer

Ken enlisted in the military in June 1972 serving in both the Army and the PA National Guard until 1985. During those years, he qualified in 3 military occupation specialties. His last assignment was training NCO of a National Guard Company. Ken left active duty as a SRNCO (E-7.) After leaving the Army, he became involved with the Disabled American Veterans, becoming a chapter commander and district commander holding various state positions. Ken received a governor’s appointment to the advisory board at a VA nursing home. These positions allowed him to work with and help veterans. 
 
Currtently, Ken is the Treasurer of the Veterans Council of IRC, still serving veterans and their needs. He has been involved with the Upward American Veterans and Veterans Outreach program along with other committees. Ken is also a Trustee at the Vero Beach Veterans.
 

 

 

Carroll Oates

Director-at-Large

Carroll entered US Army September 1969 as an enlisted soldier and was commissioned a 2ndLT. in 1972. Spent a total of 27 years in Army and active Army Reserves. Retired March 1997 as a Lt. Colonel. Deployed overseas three times:

1977 to Europe as a member of a logistics team surveying potential depot sites for prepositioning of equipment in preparation to fight the Russians.

1984 to Honduras as a Company Commander with Joint Task Force BRAVO operating out of Soto Cano Joint Base, Honduras.

1990 -1991 to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait & Iraq as S4 of a major support brigade to the 3rdArmored Division during operations Desert Shield & Desert Storm during the Persian Gulf War.

Was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, 4 Army Achievement Medals, 4 Army Commendation Medals and various overseas and campaign ribbons. Upon retirement from service was employed by primarily by Honeywell in various leadership positions mostly dealing internationally with military and non-military aircraft propulsion engines and power production equipment. Very active with the IRC Veterans Council and the Military Officers Association of America. Was awarded The Leadership award for 2017 by the Florida MOAA Chapters Council. Team Leader of Vets in the classroom programs for IRC-VC. A manager (volunteer) at Victory Center Military Store (at IR Mall) and is a Director at Large for the Veterans Council of IRC.

 

Father Dave Newhart

Director-at-Large
 
Father Dave Newhart was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania and grew up in a military family. After graduating from high school and one year at the University of New Mexico, he entered the Air Force in January 1975 serving at Eglin AFB FL, Spangdahlem AFB, Germany, and Luke AFB, AZ. His specialty was 43171C working on F-4 D, E’s and F-15-A fighters. Following his service in the military, he earned a BS from the College of Engineering and Applied Science at Arizona State University. He continued doing two years of post-graduate studies. He worked 18 years in the food industry in Quality and Continuous Process Improvement Management until 2002 when he entered the seminary. As an Episcopal priest, he served in Boerne, Texas and is currently serving at St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church in Sebastian. He is an active member of the American Legion 189, a Legion Rider, and is a member of the Brevard County Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution.

 

 

 

Colonel (retired) Darryle “Sam” Kouns

Director-at-Large
Sam served 29 years in the United States Army which included three combat tours in Vietnam. He is a West Point graduate and also received a Master’s Degree from Purdue University. Sam is a Director of the local Military Officers Association of America and a member of the West Point Association of Graduates and Chapter 1038 of the Vietnam Veterans of America. Sam served as President of VCIRC 2016-2019

 

 

 

 
 

Jim Romanek

Executive Director

Jim Romanek assumed the position of Executive Director for the Veterans Council of Indian River County on April 22nd , 2019.
Jim is a long time resident of Vero Beach, Florida. He and his wife moved to Vero Beach in 1991 and had a family business doing Landscaping and Facility/Ground Maintenance. While doing that, Jim was consulting for Indian River County in the area of Parks and Irrigation Systems.


Jim became the Park Superintendent for Indian River County in 1993 and held that position until 2007. He moved up in his career taking an Executive Director’s position for the Illinois Association of Park Districts. Serving as CEO in Kankakee and Mokena. Jim served four years overseas in the United States Air Force as a Sergeant in the 86th SPS Ramstein AB, Germany and was honorably discharged with 2 Accommodation Medals and
various recognitions.