The Coalition of Veterans Organizations elected its Executive Committee at the last meeting. The Executive Committee has elected Willie Mack the Chair of the Coalition. Dr. Mack is a Life Member of VII Corps LRRP (Abn) Association, 75th Ranger Regiment Association, Inc., Illinois AMVETS, 555th Parachute Infantry Association, and an Annual Member of the American Legion. He served with the 1/502nd (Strike Force), 101st Airborne Division, VII Corps Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol Company (LRRP), and Co C (LRP) 58th Infantry (Germany). He graduated from the Seventh Army Noncommissioned Officer Academy and was promoted to Sergeant E-5.
He is a financial planner and formerly served as a school superintendent and visiting assistant professor. His academic credentials include a Ph.D. in public policy analysis from the UIC, Masters of Public Administration degree from Roosevelt University, Masters of Education in Reading degree from Loyola University and a Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Administration from the University of Chicago. He writes and speaks on financial issues related to veterans, the youth, and families. He educates and advocates for veterans’ rights to speedy and quality health care and benefits.
He believes what Abraham Lincoln once spoke: “With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds, to care for him, who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.”
Also elected were Vice-Chair Larry Nazimek, a member of CVO, Veterans Strike Force and other veterans organization. Larry has been acting as Chair for the past year and heads up the Veterans Affairs Committee of CVO. Bruce Parry, Past Coalition Chair, was elected Treasurer. Dr. Parry is a decorated Vietnam combat veteran and social activist. He has been active in the veterans movement for almost 40 years. Col. (ret) Dr. Connie Edwards was re-elected Recording Secretary. She has held that position for a number of years. Dr. Edwards is a Vietnam veteran, having served in-country as a nurse. She has a Ph.D. in Nursing and taught at Governor’s State University for 30 years. She retired from the Army as a full Colonel.
Other members of the Executive Committee include the founder, director and past-Vice-Chair of the Coalition, David J. Rogers; Christopher LaFayelle, Chair of the Veterans Housing and Employment Assistance (VHEA); Carlos Luna, Chair of the Chicago Veterans, and long-time CVO Director Darryl Howard, who is also a member of the 555 Parachute Infantry Association.
Pictures and bios of the Executive Committee – as well as full information about CVO – can be found on our website at CoalitionofVets.org//executive-committee.