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.
Carroll Oates 
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 
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.
Colonel (retired) Darryle “Sam” Kouns 
Colonel (Retired) Patty Ryan
Director-at-Large
Colonel (Retired) Patricia Ryan is a 29 year veteran of the US Army
and the Rhode Island National Guard. Patty enlisted in 1983 as a
private, was commissioned in 1987 as a second lieutenant, deployed
to Desert Shield/Desert Storm in 1990-91, and deployed to Kuwait and
Afghanistan in 2008. Following retirement in 2012, Colonel Ryan
became a chef and a teacher, moving to Sebastian in 2015. In
addition to serving as treasurer of the project team for the Words From
War Monument, Patty is the Home Fire Campaign Coordinator for the
Treasure Coast to Heartland Region of the American Red Cross, and
volunteers for Literacy Services of IRC. She holds Masters Degrees in
Strategic Studies from both the US Army War College and the US
Naval War College. Patty has two children, Jennifer Ryan of Boston,
MA and CW3 Matthew Ryan, US Army.
Bruce Cady
Director-at-Large
Bruce Cady was commissioned in the United States Marine Corps after completing his undergraduate studies at the George Washington University. After completion of The Basic School he was assigned as a Data Communications Officer. His active duty tour included Data Center OIC for Marine Forces Reserve Headquarters and Data Architect for the Reserve Information Network (R-NET), a program to connect all 193 Marine Corps Reserve units across the U.S.. After leaving active duty, Cady became the S-6A for Headquarters Battalion 23rd Marines, San Bruno, California.
When Cady left active service he followed his passion for technology, joining several start up telecommunications companies in the Silicon Valley. He rose through the ranks in sales and marketing, installing high-speed digital networks on every continent with the exception of Antarctica.
During this time Cady became a commercial pilot, and carried his sales experience into the aerospace industry. He served as the Director of Sales Operations for Piper Aircraft and the Sales Director for Eclipse Aerospace. Currently he is Sales Manager for Sebastian, Florida based Whelen Aerospace Technologies.
A 18 year resident of Vero Beach. He is married to Leah and has three children; Harrison, Erin and Spencer. Harrison is serving on active duty in the United States Navy.
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.
Laura Moss
Director-at-Large
Mayor, City of Vero Beach 2016/17
Vice Mayor, City of Vero Beach 2019-present
Vero Beach City Council, 2016-present
Leadership Florida, Cornerstone Class XXXVII, 2018-2019
Chairwoman, Utilities Commission, City of Vero Beach, 2015-2016
Florida Municipal Power Agency, Board of Directors, 2016-2019
Economic Development Council, City of Vero Beach Representative, 2016-2018
Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, City of Vero Beach Representative, 2016-present
Metropolitan Planning Organization, City of Vero Beach Representative, 2016-present
Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council, City of Vero Beach Representative, 2018-present
Tourist Development Council, City of Vero Beach Representative, 2019-present
Veterans Council of Indian River County, Board of Directors, 2019-present
Mental Health Association, Fund Development Committee, 2020
Boys & Girls Club, Mentors Program, 2020
Vero Beach Museum of Art, Steering Committee of The Circle, 2015-2019
Taxpayers’ Association of Indian River County, Board of Directors, 2015 and 2016
Roseland Community Association, Board of Directors, 2014-2016
Oceanside Rotary, 2015-present
Roseland Women’s Club, 2015-present
McKee Gardens, 2017-present
Indian River County Historical Society, 2017-present
Vero Beach Women’s Club, 2018-present
Coastal Conservancy Association, 2018-present
Pelican Island Audubon Society, 2019-present
Cattlewomen’s Association, 2019-present
State University of New York at Albany, B.A., 1974
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.