News & Press

Martha Roby Announces Veterans Advisory Committee

(MONTGOMERY, AL) – The Martha Roby for Congress campaign announced its Veterans Advisory Committee today, comprising 12 members representing a wide array of military experience and background. Lt. General Ellis “Don” Parker, USA (Ret.) of Enterprise; Major General Arthur “Jake” Poillon, USMC (Ret.) of Fairhope; and Major General Will Hill Tankersley, Army of the United States (Ret.), of Montgomery will serve as honorary co-chairs on the committee.
 
The campaign’s Veterans Committee will advise Martha on issues of importance to veterans and national security.
 
“We owe a great debt of gratitude to all those who have served and sacrificed in the defense of our freedoms,” said Martha Roby, Republican candidate for Alabama’s Second Congressional District. “It is vital that we provide our military with the tools they need to protect our national security, and we keep our promises to them when they come home.  I value the advice and guidance of these men and women, and am proud to have them on my team.”   
 
“I trust Martha’s judgment and her background,” said Tankersley. “She has a proven conservative record, which is important. I am confident she will be a friend to veterans and the armed services in Washington.”

“This district has two of the most important military installations in the country and a large veteran population,” said Parker. “It’s essential that we have someone who will fight to protect Fort Rucker and Maxwell/Gunter, and listen to our veterans. I know Martha will do that every day in Congress.”

General Parker is a pioneer in Army Aviation, and served two combat tours in Vietnam. He later served as Commanding General of the Aviation Center at Fort Rucker. During Operations Just Cause and Desert Storm he served as Director of the Army Staff. General Parker retired with over 5000 flying hours and is a member of the Army Aviation Hall of Fame. 

General Poillon began his career as an enlisted man in the Marine Corps during WWII. He served as a commissioned officer from 1945 until 1986, and saw combat in both Korea and Vietnam. He was awarded the Legion of Merit with Combat “V” for his service in Vietnam. Later he served as Commanding General at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C.

General Tankersley served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs from 1974-77 and chaired the Department of Defense Reserve Forces Policy Board from 1985-1990. He served in six campaigns in the Korean War as a combat infantryman and is a 1950 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. 

Roby for Congress Veterans Advisory Committee

Lieutenant General Ellis “Don” Parker, USA (Ret.)
Enterprise
Honorary Co-Chairman

Major General Arthur “Jake” Poillon, USMC (Ret.)
Fairhope
Honorary Co-Chairman

Major General Will Hill Tankersley, AUS (Ret.)
Montgomery
Honorary Co-Chairman

Dolas “Dale” Bain, Colonel, USA (Ret.)
Millbrook
Former Deputy Director, Northwest Region, U.S. Army Installation Management Command

Frank Grizzell, USAF
Millbrook
Commander, American Legion Post 133
20 Year Veteran of City of Montgomery Fire and Rescue

Bill Harris, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army Reserve
Millbrook
Served for over 27 years in both the Alabama Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve, including deployments to Saudi Arabia, Africa, Kuwait, Germany, and the Gulf Coast

Helen Holston, USAF
Ramer
Member, Alabama State Board of Veterans Affairs
Disabled American Veterans, Commander 3rd District AL

Beau McKinney, USMC
Montgomery
Iraq War combat veteran who served two tours in Fallujah; Former Congressional candidate

Bill Peterson, Lieutenant Colonel, USAF (Ret.)
Montgomery
Retired officer with experience in air base defense, anti-terrorism, Air Force and Joint doctrine; 1980 graduate of U.S. Air Force Academy

Roger Philipsek, Colonel, USAF (Ret.)
Deatsville
Former Vice Commander of U.S. Air Force Doctrine Center at Maxwell AFB

Bob Poynor, Lieutenant Colonel, USAF (Ret.)
Deatsville
Former chief of the Aerospace Power Division at the Air Force Doctrine Center at Maxwell AFB

Tim Smith, Specialist E-5, USA
Montgomery
Commander, American Legion Post 210
Former 1st Vice Commander, American Legion Post 133
American Legion Riders Communications Officer

* Rank, service branch, and other affiliations are meant for informational purposes only and do not imply an endorsement of that organization.

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