Board Members

This page is being added to as bios are received. Stay tuned.....

Joe Lumia - President

Joseph (Joe) Lumia is a US Air Force retired Master Sergeant, serving on active duty from 1978 to 1998. He initially entered the AF as a jet engine mechanic, but after a few years, retrained into the electronic warfare field. After several years supporting the A-10 and F-4 fighter aircraft, he was selected for airborne assignment to the RC-135 Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft. After 2000+ hours of airborne duty, achieving 142 operational missions, he was selected to lead the electronic warfare maintenance sections of the 6th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, Eielson AFB, Alaska followed by the 41st/71st Air Rescue Squadron/741 Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadrons, Patrick AFB, Florida. Joe retrained into Computer and Switching Systems and led the largest maintenance component of Ground Tactical Air Control Systems (GTACS). Joe then became the GTACS MCE System Manager at Air Combat Command (ACC) headquarters, Langley AFB, VA, where he later retired in 1998 after being selected for Senior Master Sergeant.

Following his military service, Joe continued his service to country as a contractor assigned as the ACC acceptance inspector for the USAF Counter Narco-Terrorism communications network in Central and South America. After 10-years of supporting the counter drug mission, he moved to supporting the unmanned aerial vehicle arena and command and control centers for the DoD, where he served as the Director of Operations Support for MAG Aerospace. After semi-retiring from the corporate world, Joe went on to help a friend/colleague at ThreatTec LLC, an "opposing force" provider, helping grow the business experience of the employees of a young company as their Vice President of Business Director.

Joe’s military awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (2), Air Medal (7), AF Commendation Medal (3), AF Achievement Medal (3), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and the Combat Readiness Medal. Joe and his wife, Zandra, moved to Valencia Lakes in February 2019.

Bill Luthke – Vice President

Al Ruggiero – Treasurer

Linda Jackson - Secretary

Linda and Preston moved from Maryland to Valencia Lakes in October 2022.

While Preston pursued his career in military service in the Air Force, Linda’s career was devoted to Real Estate Development and Finance. Linda earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan and her MBA from the University of Maryland. After many years in commercial real estate management, Linda moved to the Non-Profit arena serving as Executive Director of a Community Development Corporation in Washington DC whose mission was the creation of affordable housing opportunities for the underserved. Linda’s organization partnered with the Mayor’s office, the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Architectural firms, and the National Park Service (land acquisition). This collaboration worked together and created the first single family affordable home development in Ward 7 of the District of Columbia. After completion of this project, Linda went on to become Executive Director at Sunrise Senior Living, Senior Lifestyle Corporation, Manor Care and Victory Housing…finally, happily, retiring in August 2022 and moving to beautiful Valencia Lakes in October of 2022.

Maria Schneider– Assistant Secretary/Club Welfare

Carol Mazza - Events Coordinator

Sandra Shipton - Director of Membership

Sandra Amato-Shipton entered military service on August 23, 1978 in Buffalo, New York. She retired in 1996 from the United States Army Nurse Corps as a Lieutenant Colonel. Sandra has a BSN and Masters of Science in Healthcare Administration.
Sandra served at military assignments in Texas, Alabama, Virginia, Germany, Georgia and Washington, DC. She completed many military schools for competency in the advancing assignments she held in the Medical Field including leadership and

administration. Other credentials include Academy of Health Sciences Instructor Designee and Infection Control Practitioner with
Basic and Advanced courses at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD. She also completed military combat training to include Command and General Staff School which prepares officers for command roles during combat. Sandra was assigned to McDonald Army Community Hospital, Ft. Eustis in Newport News, Virginia, as the Director of Surgical Services when she was deployed to the Middle East with the 5 th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH). This medical unit supports the 82 nd Airborne unit at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. She deployed August 8, 1990 and returned home April 17, 1991.
Sandra is married, has 4 children, 9 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, with 9 & 10 due in 2022. She has lived in Valencia Lakes since 2016 with her
husband, is fully retired and has been in nursing 50+ years.

Charlie Brown -- Director

Charles “Charlie” Brown was a U.S. Marine Corps (1966 -1969) rifleman in Vietnam with the 26th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division. For 7 months during 1967 – 68’ he was in a Marine Combined Action Platoon (“CAP”) living full time with his Marine squad mates in a Vietnamese village fighting alongside South Vietnamese Popular Forces soldiers against Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army units. After completing his enlistment, Charlie, (“Sergeant Brown”) graduated from Michigan State University and Emory University Law School. Following law school, Charlie was a Marine Judge Advocate Officer at Camp Pendleton, California, in court martial proceedings. After his “JAG” obligation, Charlie became a state and then federal prosecutor with the U.S. Department of Justice, followed by a 20-year career in corporate law with General Motors and Delphi Automotive Systems. Charlie, because of his experiences, has a deep appreciation for what it means to be a veteran, and why it matters so much to him and other veterans. As with many veterans whether drafted, enlisted or retired, military service remains a “Hallmark Event” in their lives. Before “retiring” to Florida, Charlie worked as a volunteer counsel in the Veterans’ Court program in Novi, Michigan, and as a pro bono counsel for veterans in Oakland County, Michigan. Charlie’s military awards include the Navy Cross, Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Service Campaign Medals and National Defense Service Medal. Charlie and his wife, Terrie, have resided in Valencia Lakes since 2012.

Bill Solan - Director

Bill enlisted in the US Marine Corps after graduating from High School in July of 1978. He served during peace time until 1982. After the Marine Corps active duty service, he was sworn in as a New Jersey Police Officer in March of 1982. He also continued on with the Marine Reserves until 1986. Bill served as a Police Officer and Detective until April of 2011.

Bill is married to his wonderful wife Ivana for 35 years. They have three sons, two in Florida one in New Jersey.

Ron McKenzie - Director - Transportation Fund Coordinator

Keith Schneider - Sergeant at Arms

Keith went into the army in October 1966. He received his basic training at Ft. Ord, California and advanced infantry training at Ft. Polk, Louisiana. After graduation he went to Viet Nam with the 1st Cavalry Division. My unit was the 1st of the 7th, Charlie Company. Keith was a rifleman in the infantry unit from April 1967 to April 1968. In May of 1968, he returned home to San Diego, California, to finish my tour of duty at Fort Rosecrans Cemetery, helping with the internment services for Viet Nam Veterans.

Allen Lalk - Assistant Sergeant at Arms

Allen retired after a 25-year career in 2015 with International Paper Company. Allen and his wife Maggie moved to Florida in 2004 and finally to Valencia Lakes in 2012. They have 3 sons, 2 daughter-in-laws, and 6 grandchildren.

Bill Schaefer - Chaplain