Board of Directors

Gene Crego

Chair – U.S. Marine Corps Veteran (Vietnam) & AVHOF-2017 

Travis Burns

Vice Chair – Army Veteran (Korea Service & Gulf War) AVHOF-2019

Travis Burns enlisted in the US Army Infantry in 1987, serving on the Korean Demilitarized Zone and in the Gulf War. His civilian career included operations and sales in the transportation and rental equipment industries. An author, veteran peer support and resource navigator, Travis Burns focuses on moral injury and veteran suicide.

His journey in the veteran service space began after his return from the 2014 Operation Freedom Bird Healing Journey to Washington, D.C. In 2015 he began working with the Unified Arizona Veterans and serving on the working group for Be Connected, a statewide initiative for preventing veteran suicide. Travis is the Chair of the Phoenix VA Veteran Family Advisory Council, and serves on the Phoenix VA Hospital Mental Health Advocacy Council.

Anna Lea Seago

Immediate Past Chair (IPC) – Army Veteran (Cold War & Gulf War Eras) AVHOF-2013

Lea was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1941.  Sergeant Major, U.S. Army Retired.  While serving, Lea received the Order of St. Joan d’Arc medal for significant voluntary contributions to the Armor and Cavalry Communities.  A resident of Surprise, Arizona,  Lea was a docent at the Heard Museum in Phoenix, donating over 7,740 volunteer hours.  She chaired the annual Book Sale and Treasure Market for two years, raising over $100,000 for the Billie Jane Baguley Library and Archives at the Museum.  Lea chaired the Heard Museum’s Student Art Note Card Project which raised $20,000 for twelve scholarships for Native American students.

When President of Chapter #119, Women’s Army Corps Veterans’ Association (WACVA), Lea supported women veterans residing at Mary Ellen’s Place and the State Veteran Home in Phoenix.  These two endeavors provided supplies of personal care items to women veterans residing at the State Veteran Home Phoenix as well as similar supplies to the male veterans residing at the MANA (Marine, Army, Navy and Air Force) House.  Lea has also served on the WACVA National Board as 2nd Vice President and Corresponding Secretary.  Currently, Lea is a member of the Chapter #68, WACVA Army Women United, Military Women Across the Nation (MWAN) and serves as the Secretary and Newsletter Editor of the Veterans Medical Leadership Council (VMLC).

Carol Culbertson

Secretary – Navy Veteran (Vietnam Era) & AVHOF-2007

Born Honolulu, Hawaii in 1943.  Enlisted in Navy Reserve at Pearl Harbor in 1962.  Commissioned Ensign in 1967.  Active duty in San Diego supporting antisubmarine warfare training.  Retired as Navy Captain, Reserve Intelligence, in 2003, 36 years of service.  Civil Service employee for 33 years with US Navy in Japan, US Army in Kansas, Forest Service and Internal Revenue Service in California, Arizona, Colorado.

She provides business training programs to working women, and educational history programs open to the public.  Leader in Federally Employed Women, Retired Federal Employees, Naval Reserve Association, Cactus WAVES, Naval Order of the U.S.  Active in Big Brothers Big Sisters and Cross Roads Methodist Church.  As Big Sister, has mentored three young women.  As Church Team Leader, serves meals to the homeless in Phoenix.

Gerald (Jerry) Bernard 

Treasurer – Army Veteran 

After reaching the rank of Specialist /E-5, in the U.S. Army, Jerry received an honorable discharge in November, 1969.  He enrolled in the University of Maryland and was awarded a BS in accounting in 1973.  He was employed by the IRS as a revenue agent for five years and in 1978 went into public accounting. After taking on a business partner together they operated a firm in Phoenix for over thirty years. Earning his CPA certificate in 1979, he also obtained his Personal Financial Specialist certificate from the AICPA in 2010. He was a member of the Arizona State Society of CPAS and served on their Board as well as chairing the Arizona Tax Legislation committee.

Jerry is a published author and has co – authored a six book series, IRS Audit Protection and Survival Guide, which contains advice and guidance for effective communication with the IRS on a broad range of accounting and tax subjects.  In 2020 Jerry resigned his CPA certificate leaving behind the corporate world of accounting and now operates a post retirement consulting business. A member of the VFW, Jerry’s volunteer service is an important part of his contribution to the community.  He currently serves on the board of three nonprofit organizations. His favorite, Success4Kids (S4K), provides guidance, inspiration and positive role models to inner city youth interested in organized handball competition. S4K also coordinates with the ASU handball club to provide scholarship assistance for selected students. As a coach and mentor, Jerry shares his experiences to teach leadership and life skills to the city’s youth.

Dylan J. Dalzotto

Director – Sponsorships, UAV Past Chair 2017-2019 – Army Veteran (Operation Iraqi Freedom) & AVHOF 2015

Born in Springfield, Illinois in 1981. As a member of the US Army Reserves, Dylan Dalzotto deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. Upon his return, he pursued a Master’s Degree in Education. Dylan is dedicated to bringing veterans into classrooms, and as a Joe Foss Institute Coordinator, he has brought volunteer veterans to over 70,000 high school students in Arizona.

Dylan is an avid supporter of the Veterans Heritage Project. Dylan supports both the Grand Canyon Boy Scouts and the Boys and Girls Clubs. He is committed to an Arizona Department of Education program entitled “Excellence in Civic Engagement” to qualify and recognize Public and Charter Schools. He has served on the Attorney General’s Veterans Task Force. As a member of The American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Dylan supports the Maricopa County StandDown.

Jhennicea Morrow

Director – Navy Veteran (Vietnam Era)

Jhenni is the President of the Central/Northern Regional Group of the Blinded Veterans Association (BVA).  She also serves as a Volunteer Service Officer (VSO), and as Director of District Four of the Blinded Veterans Association.

Jhenni is a graduate of the Mobility & Orientation Training Program and the Computer & Technology Program of the Southwest Blind Rehabilitation Center, Tucson, AZ.  She participates in yearly 5K Vision Walk fundraisers to raise awareness and funds for retinal diseases.  Jhenni participates in Low Vision Support Group meetings and communicates regularly with VA leaders regarding the needs of blinded veterans.

Jhenni is a lifetime member of The American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, and the Paralyzed Veterans of America.  She was the driving force behind the successful quest of the BVA joining the UAV.

Ed Logan

Director – Air Force Veteran (Cold War) AVHOF 2020

Born in New York City, New York in 1941, Ed Logan’s twenty years of service in the US Air Force included duty in Okinawa, Thailand, and Korea. After retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Office of Special Investigations (OSI), Ed conducted security investigations for US government agencies and corporations.

In 1982 Ed co-founded the Phoenix Chapter of the Association of Former Air Force OSI Special Agents, a nonprofit organization which presents $30,000 in annual scholarships to dependents of former OSI personnel. Ed’s proudest achievement as Chairman, ASU Alumni Chapter, is the ASU Veterans Memorial Wall honoring 135 ASU alumni who died in military service since WWI. As an active member of the Air Force Association and the Tempe and Glendale Chambers of Commerce Military Affairs Committees, Ed Logan supports many educational and veterans’ programs.

Jeanne Joachim Blaes

Director – Army Veteran     AVHOF 2016

Born in Miami, Florida in 1956, Jeanne Joachim Blaes served in the US Army/Arizona Army National Guard, retiring in 2007 as Colonel/Chief of Staff, Arizona Army National Guard. She worked as the Deputy, Construction and Facilities Management Office for the Army Guard until her State retirement in 2015. A Life Member of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), Military Order of the World Wars (MOWW), National Guard Association (NGAAZ), and Association of the US Army (AUSA). For the past ten years, Jeanne has been serving as President of the Arizona Territorial Chapter, AUSA and since 2017 as the SR Vice for the Phoenix Chapter of MOWW. She is extensively involved in many events which support Arizona’s military, veterans, and cadets/students, including pre-/post-deployment Yellow Ribbon ceremonies, the Maricopa County and Coconino County StandDowns, and Reserve Officers’ Training Corps/Junior ROTC developmental training. Dr. Blaes serves on the AUSA Reserve Component Advisory Board, Upper Iowa University Alumni Advisory Committee, and on her church’s Leadership Council. Jeanne supports the AZ Youth Leadership Conference and Grand Canyon Chapter of the Sierra Club. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration – Public Administration from North Central University, Arizona.

Kenneth R. Queen                                                                                  

Director (American Legion) – Air Force Veteran (Vietnam Era)

Kenneth R. Queen was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina, to James and Hilda Queen: his father James was a WWII U.S. Army veteran. Ken enlisted in the United States Air Force (USAF) in 1966 and served at Karamursel Air Station, Turkey, and Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.  He separated from the Air Force as sergeant (E4) in 1970 having completed his four year service obligation.

Ken joined The American Legion in 1991 and is a proud 32 year Paid-Up-For- Life (PUFL) American Legion member. He served as The American Legion Department of Arizona as Department Commander (2019-2021), President of the Arizona National Convention Commission (2020-Present), and Area Vice Commander, District Commander, and Post Commander and has served on a number of National, Department and Post committees.  Ken is also a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and is a Grand Chef de Gare Passe (2016-2017) of La Société des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux (more commonly known as the Forty & Eight).

Johnny Stewart

Director (DAV) – Air Force Veteran (Desert Shield/Storm) & AVHOF-2016

Born in Guntersville, Alabama in 1949, Johnny Stewart served 24 years in the US Air Force retiring as a Master Sergeant. Johnny then worked 18 years in fuels logistics at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson.

Johnny joined the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 2 in Tucson, and served two years as Department Commander, DAV. In 1995 Johnny founded the Touch of Class community service organization to raise funds for underprivileged children. Over $90,000 was raised for college tuition and donated to 50 children in low income families.  Johnny is a certified Veteran Service Officer and has volunteered over 700 hours helping veterans file VA claims. Johnny is also the Co-Founder of the DAV Arizona Legal Clinics program which has resolved the legal issues of over 1,000 veterans. In 2016, Johnny was inducted into the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame.

Atlas Reginald “Reggie” Yates

Director (VFW) – Army Veteran (Vietnam), Past UAV Chair (2016-2017) & AVHOF-2013

Born in Loris, South Carolina in 1945.  Major, US Army, Airborne, retired in 1990 with 25 years of service.  Vietnam veteran, participated in the only combat jump in the war on 22 February 1967.  Also served with the 3rd Infantry (Old Guard) where he was assigned as a White House Aide.  Resident of Phoenix, Arizona.

From 1990 to 1991, Reggie served as a volunteer teacher for the Arizona Department of Youth Rehabilitation and Correction.  Beginning in 1991, Reggie has mentored students, veterans, and seniors to better their lives and livelihoods.  From 1996-1998, he led a group of veterans at Unity Church Phoenix who raised 2.5 million dollars to assist other veterans. From 2002 – 2008, while employed at Grubb Automotive, Inc., he referred over 90 veterans to VA Phoenix and other support facilities for veterans benefits assistance; and also coordinated a program which recognized the achievements of veterans in the community.  Reggie regularly volunteers at the annual Arizona StandDown and other outreach services for veterans.

Chuck Byers  

Director (Legislative Chair) – Army Veteran (Vietnam) & AVHOF-2018

Born in Houston, Texas in 1948, Chuck Byers served in the US Army for 6 years, including service as a combat medic in Vietnam. Chuck, a retired registered nurse, was a staff member in Congresswoman Debbie Lesko’s office. Chuck is a lifetime member of Veterans of Foreign Wars, Military Order of the Purple Heart, and VVA/Vietnam Veterans of America. Chuck trains veterans to become Veterans Service Officers to assist veterans to file claims for VA benefits. Chuck conducts town hall meetings addressing Agent Orange/Toxic Exposure Awareness, Hepatitis C, Post Traumatic Stress, Suicide Prevention, and Contaminated Drinking Water at Camp Lejeune. As a National Board Member of VVA, Chuck educates VVA members on VA programs and legislation written to help veterans; he also meets with members of Congress to advocate for legislation related to veterans’ benefits, and women veterans.

Vacant

Director

Richard “Rick” Palmatier

Statutory Agent – Army Veteran 

Richard “Rick” Palmatier, Jr., retired as a Colonel with over 29 years of service in the Army, Army Reserves, and National Guard (21 years active, 8 years reserve & Guard).  He is a University of Arizona graduate (BA 1977, JD 1980), serving as a Judge Advocate throughout his military career.  He also held assignments as the Human Resources Officer and Chief of Staff for the Arizona National Guard.  He is currently in private practice representing Veterans in the VA disability claims process.