AFCEA Leadership Reorganizes

AFCEA International has launched a major reorganization to improve engagement with every part of the association’s members, including government, industry and academia. Six headquarters elements now focus on specific areas. The new leadership configuration went into effect October 1.

Because 25 percent of the association’s membership resides outside the United States, AFCEA now includes two engagement elements that support international needs. Maj. Gen. Klaus-Peter Treche, DEUAF (Ret.), general manager, AFCEA Europe, coordinates activities of the European regions, chapters and pan-European AFCEA activities. Gen. Treche also will serve as AFCEA’s vice president, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Operations. In this role, he will explore opportunities in the Middle East and Northern Africa.

Col. Mike Warlick, USMC (Ret.), vice president for regional and chapter outreach, now focuses on the Asia-Pacific region and will search for opportunities to expand AFCEA’s presence there while working with existing chapters in Argentina and Canada, which could lead to establishing additional chapters in or near those locations.

In his role as the leader of regional and chapter outreach, Col. Warlick continues to oversee regional vice presidents’ activities and coordinate chapter support. In addition, he serves as the lead for individual membership, individual and chapter award programs, and Young AFCEAN activities.

AFCEA’s new defense engagement element consolidates the association’s efforts with the defense community into one organization led by Lt. Gen. John Dubia, USA (Ret.). A new Defense Committee, with a core group of 12 members of senior defense leaders with diverse backgrounds, now falls under this department.

Col. Steve Ritchey, USAF (Ret.), vice president of intelligence, continues in his role leading AFCEA’s intelligence element. His staff will support other departments and strengthen the connection among the other engagement elements.

Master Chief Petty Officer Vince Patton, USCG (Ret.), heads the new homeland security engagement element. His group will facilitate opportunities with the U.S. homeland security establishment at the federal, state, local, tribal and international levels. The Homeland Security Committee has been disbanded in lieu of a new committee designed to facilitate full engagement with the greater homeland security community. This element also assumes staff responsibility for the association’s cybersecurity mission and the Cyber Committee.

The industry programs element now facilitates life-cycle support to corporate members and nonmembers who interact with AFCEA. Led by Linda Millis, vice president, who came to AFCEA from several positions in the intelligence community including the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, this department will ensure full attention to all corporate members through a single person as the contact point for each company. In addition, Millis’ department is establishing an Innovation Committee to promote idea sharing within the global security community.

AFCEA’s remaining headquarters staff—the Support Elements—will continue to assist the entire association. In addition to his role as chief financial officer, Pat Miorin has been promoted to executive vice president and chief of staff and will coordinate these efforts.