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. 

 
Currently, 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.
 

Samantha Brackett

Director-at-Large

Samantha grew up in the military as the daughter of an enlisted Sergeant in the US Army.  She was able to travel extensively, living on bases around the world like Fort Bliss, Fort Campbell, Yongsan, Fort Richardson, Kitzingen and Fort Dix.  A civilian, she brings business strategy, marketing and advertising experience to the Veterans Council.  She is the CEO of Media BD Inc. where her focus is on business development and strategy for advertising agencies throughout the southeast. She has a proven executive management track record and over 20 years of experience driving sales growth in the media and commercial real estate industries. Prior to Media BD Inc., Samantha was the Director of Market Strategy for a national, commercial architectural firm located in New York, NY, and Washington, DC. She worked for many years in broadcast radio as Vice President & Market Manager and National Director of Sales and also television, where she developed regional and local business for dozens of highly rated networks like ESPN, Fox News, CNN and MSNBC. Her passion to help clients understand media led her to open her own agency that she operated for almost a decade. Her extensive experience has given her the insight to build powerful marketing strategies.

Samantha stays active in the community with her family and gives back as a Director for the Veterans Council.  She is also a member of Impact 100, the Brackett Family Foundation, and a Director for St. Francis Manor. 

 

Carlos Halcomb

Director-at-Large

Colonel Carlos Halcomb, retired from the United States Air Force in 2014 after 30 years of active duty service, both Officer and Enlisted. He is a native of Merritt Island and attended both Florida Institute of Technology and University of Central Florida. He has a Masters Degree in Military Operational Art and Military History from the Air Force’s Air University. Colonel Halcomb’s Officer career was spent as an Air Force Air Commando flying special operations helicopters and commanding special operations forces worldwide. Following retirement, Colonel Halcomb flew for NASA at Kennedy Space Center and was also the Airport Administrative Manager for Vero Beach Regional Airport. He is currently the CEO/President of Mach Performance, LLC, a consultancy for high performance industry which provides leadership training and mentoring to all levels of an organization. Colonel Halcomb is a combat veteran of Operation DESERT STORM, BOSNIA/CROATIA, Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM, and other combat operations other than war.

Colonel Halcomb is married to Dr. Doris Ferres-Halcomb, and they have two daughters and four grandchildren that have all settled in Vero Beach.

 

Stephen Hume

Director-at-Large
Stephen Hume is the President and owner of Hume Technology and Cyber Solutions, a local technology company that focuses on protecting and maintaining the security of businesses.  Program Director of Digital Forensics and Incident Response Keiser University, Professor DFIR Keiser University, Professor Advance Computer Technology Indian River State College. 
 
Stephen has spent the last 12 years working in Information Security and Information Technology or as a Technology Manager within financial institutions, non-profits, logistics, and for the US Military. Stephen served in the US Air Force in the Office of Special Investigations PP for USAFE commander General Welsh and served on the USAF Elite Guard.  After separating from the Air Force, Stephen studied at the University of Akron in Ohio, where he graduated with a BS in Criminal Justice and a BA in Criminology and Sociology.  Stephen later earned his Master’s degree in Information Technology and Management/Security from Florida State University. 
 
Stephen has been a resident of Vero Beach since 2016, where he now raises two children with his wife Tori 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

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.

 

 

Lt. Col (ret.) Karen L. Nuccitelli

Director-at-Large
 
Karen retired from the Air Force in 2020 after 25 years of service, 15 of which were spent in International Affairs, working in numerous states and several countries with personnel ranging from the Department of Defense, to Interagency, the State Department and many other national and international civilian and governmental organizations. She served in executive and headquarters level positions, command and multiple overseas deployments. In addition to these accomplishments, she served as a Logistics Specialist during her enlisted career and over her officer career as a Services (Hospitality career field), Communications, Public Affairs and Protocol Officer.
 
Most recently, she taught senior military officers strategic planning in post-conflict and post-disaster environments and now applies her vast international strategic experience to consulting individuals and companies who desire to develop productive and sustainable solutions of their own. Her undergraduate degree is in Psychology from the University of Illinois and her graduate degree is in Diplomacy from Norwich University.
 
Prior to her military career, she was about to complete a Master’s in Counseling from Eastern Illinois University when she realized her greater calling at that time was to pursue International Affairs through Diplomacy. Wellness and personal development continued to be something she actively pursued and was able to apply her education and further training to became an Air Force Master Resiliency Trainer. Ultimately, training hundreds of Air Force personnel essential resiliency skills. In addition to her service and entrepreneurial endeavors, she is now revisiting her wellness background by working toward a life coach certification.
 
She was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago and lives in Vero Beach, FL with her husband, Lt Col (ret.) Kevin M. Nuccitelli, and is a proud-bonus Mom to 3 step-sons and enjoys running, tennis, horseback riding and traveling to experience and appreciate different cultures and meet new people. 

 

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.

 
 

Tracey Zudans

Director-at-Large

Tracey Lockwood Zudans has a mission to improve the health of our community. She has a passion for volunteering and philanthropy particularly in areas indigent healthcare. She has collaborated with many local organizations such as TCCH, We Care, VNA, Healthy Start Coalition IRC, Gifford Health Clinic, The Source and Childcare Resources IRC Task Force to name a few.

Tracey has always had a heart for those that serve our country and has most recently worked closely with the Next Generation Veterans of Indian River County to help raise funds and awareness for the monument that will be built just outside the entrance to Veteran’s Memorial Island. Volunteering and supporting our local veterans is just one small way she feels that she can give back to those that give so much.

Tracey serves as a board member on the Live Like Cole Foundation. She is the chairman on the Gifford Health Advisory Committee, is a member of Impact 100, and attends church at Calvary Chapel. She was appointed by Governor Rick Scott to the Indian River County Hospital District in 2017 and re-elected where she currently serves as a Trustee. Tracey earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Advertising from the University of Florida.

Tracey has lived in Vero Beach and served our community for the last 18 years. She is the wife of 23 years to former Mayor Dr. Val Zudans, mother to 22-year-old Zane, 20-year-old Tyler, 18-year-old Kira, and 14-year-old Zeo.

 

 

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.

 

To contact our Board of Directors or Executive Director, please call 772-410-5820 or email us at info@veteranscouncilirc.org.