The national MOAA organization exists to preserve the benefits earned by all service members, past and present, and offers resources that can’t be found elsewhere. Most importantly, its mission is to help connect its membership with others, because MOAA believes in taking care of those who take care of us. For more information go to MOAA-National.

The Military Officers Association of America – Houston Area Chapter, is one of many local chapters across America and is organized as a 501(c)(19) nonprofit corporation and is governed by a Board of Directors.

We serve the Houston area military community,  retired, Active Duty, Reserve Component, National Guard and Surviving Spouses with information, education and outreach programs regarding issues and topics important to them. Concurrently, the Chapter connects our membership, their spouses and surviving spouses with other fellow members, as well as other current and former military officers throughout Texas and across the nation. MOAA – Houston Area also supports a number of local programs in response to military and veteran events and in recognition of the sacrifices made by loca service members and their families. Our Chapter is especially committed to veterans and the surviving spouses of former military members in the Houston Area. Click here to go to the Surviving Spouse page.

MOAA-HA’s Board of Directors is comprised of Officers formally elected by the membership and, as necessary, other appointed volunteer directors. The Board meets monthly and all members are invited to attend. At the board meetings the Officers and Directors review the financial condition of the chapter, discuss current topics that are of particular interest to the chapter, approve the expenditure of resources, recommend and refer to the membership issues that require chapter approval, among other pertinent matters. The Board annually develops and approves a slate of officers for the following calendar year and reviews the Chapter By-laws to ensure they are current and the Board submits the slate and any recommended By-laws changes to the membership for a vote at the last luncheon meeting each year. Prior to the vote, the slate of officers and recommended By-law changes are delivered to the membership for review prior to the membership meeting.

The Board publishes a slate of prospective officers to the membership which elects the officers from that slate of nominees at the last member luncheon of the calendar year for the following calendar year. The Board also reviews the Chapter Bylaws annually and submits all recommended changes to the membership for a vote at the last luncheon meeting each year. Prior to the vote, the slate of officers and recommended changes are emailed to each member for review.

The Elected Board Officers for 2024  are:

• COL Robin Ritchie, USA (ret) – President
• CAPT John (J.C.) Nicholson, MC, USN (Ret) – Vice President
• MAJ Dan Gutierrez, USA (Ret) – Representative to the Texas Council of Chapters and Past President
• MAJ Alan R. Ostendorp, USAF (Ret) –Treasurer
• Surviving Spouse Liaison
• Chief Warrant Officer Five Ivan L. Santiago, USA (Ret) – Secretary

The Appointed Board Members for 2024 are:

• MAJ David Essells, USA (Ret), Chapter Chaplain
• Surviving Spouse Liasion
• CMDR Eugene Tulich, USCG (Ret) Chairman – Houston Area Military Affairs Committee
•  LTC Rollins Collins, USA (Ret) – ROTC/JROTC Liaison
• COL Andy Parsons, ISA (Ret) – Nominating Committee Chair
• Kathy Frank – Newsletter Editor & Web Master