Meet the Advisory Board
MISSION STATEMENT:
Serving those who serve us...
Our mission is to provide a world-class reception and hospitality center for military personnel at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport. Our goal is to provide a relaxed, home-like atmosphere that embraces and meets the needs of traveling service members and their families. This facility is supported and staffed by individual volunteers and organizations from surrounding communities and the airport. Our doors are open to individuals on active duty, National Guard members, Reservists, and service academy cadets. We also welcome military spouses, dependents, and retirees.
Kenneth S.Pratt, President:
Colonel (Retired) Kenneth S. Pratt is one of the founding members of The Michigan Armed Forces Hospitality Center. He is a member of the Board of Directors and currently serves as President. In his civilian career he is in his 25th year as a Captain, based in Detroit, for Delta Air Lines. Ken's military career spanned three decades of service in the United States Air Force and the Michigan Air National Guard. He retired in 2001 as the Director of Air Operations in Lansing. He holds a Bachelor of Science from Michigan State University.
John G. McCandless, Vice President:
John G. McCandless is one of the founding members of The Michigan Armed Forces Hospitality Center. He is a member of the Board of Directors and currently serves as Vice President. John is a communications professional with over 30 years experience as a public relations executive with automotive manufacturers. He is also a retired Captain in the US Naval Reserve. A graduate of Michigan State University, he has been a frequent lecturer at MSU, as well as the University of Michigan, the University of Detroit/Mercy and the Naval War College. He retired from Toyota Motor Sales, USA as National Field Operations Manager in 2010.
Stephen D. Ihrig, Treasurer:
Stephen D. Ihrig has practiced law for over 30 years, predominately in the corporate area. Stephen D. Ihrig has been in private practice for ten years, focusing in the areas of corporate, real estate, estate planning, probate, and family law. He retired as a Navy Captain after 30 years of active duty and reserve service. During his naval career he served as Commanding Officer of Patrol Squadron 93. He is a graduate of Michigan State University, received an MBA from Pepperdine University, and a JD from Thomas M. Cooley Law School.
Senator Patrick Colbeck, Board Member:
Patrick Colbeck is a resident of Canton and graduate of Catholic Central High School. He earned both a Bachelor's and Master's in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Michigan. He has also studied at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Michigan State University, and the International Space University in Strasbourg, France. Patrick has more than 20 years of professional experience spanning a wide variety of industries including Aerospace, Defense, Pharmaceuticals, Health care, Telecommunications, Automotive, Information Technology, and Financial Services.
Now in his first term in the State Senate, Patrick is chair of the State Police and Military Affairs subcommittee, as well as vice chair of the Reforms, Restructuring and Reinventing Committee and the Transportation subcommittee. He also sits on the Appropriations Committee, Education Committee, General Government Committee, and the Retirement Committee. In addition, he has introduced legislation that would designate the week surrounding Veteran’s Day as Celebrate Freedom Week.
Gary M. Hermsen, Board Member:
LTC (Retired) Gary Hermsen is one of the founding members of the Michigan Armed Forces Hospitality Center and serves as a member of the Board of Directors. In his civilian career, he has worked on the Abrams tank program for General Dynamics Land Systems for the past 32 years. He also serves on the GDLS Employee Association Board of Directors as Vice President of Professional Development and has been the founding member and Project Lead of GDLS' Adopt-A-Unit program supplying Care Packages to deployed combat units and recovering wounded warriors since March 2003. Gary was commissioned an Armor Officer in 1974 and served in the U.S. Army on active duty and in the U.S. Army Reserve for 22 years. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Marquette University and a Masters in Business Administration from Baker College. He is also a graduate of the U.S. Army's Command & General Staff College.
Howard F. Rundell, Jr, Board Member:
Howard F. Rundell, Jr joined the AFHC, Inc. Board of Directors in August 2011. He came to the AFHC while continuing his work with local veterans’ organizations both those serving the general South East Michigan veterans population and specifically those associated with all branches of the military serving at Selfridge ANG Base. He is a thirty-year General Motors Corporate Flight Department retiree as well as having served thirty years as a Naval Aviator both on active duty and as a reservist, retiring as a Captain. He has had extensive aviation command experience as well as senior staff tours with NATO and with the Department of the Navy at the Pentagon. A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he attended Youngstown State University (Ohio) with a degree in Business Administration.
For more information please contact
.
