The Cape Fear Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America celebrates the anniversary of its founding on 22 March 2024 completing 63 years of continuous dedicated service to our nation.

The Cape Fear Chapter’s long record of exemplary service to the surrounding military community representing active duty, reserve component, veterans and ROTC/JROTC is widely acknowledged and praised.

The Chapter’s steadfast support of MOAA’s military advocacy mission and legislative goals year in and year out has been instrumental in the passage of significant legislation benefiting our all-volunteer force, our military retirees and our veterans.

Every Chapter member can be justifiably proud of being a part of this great organization that remains true to the MOAA motto "Never Stop Serving". Happy Anniversary!

Review the Chapter’s history of its founding by clicking on the History tab below.

Several chapter members were recognized for special acts and/or contributions to the chapter during CY 2022 at the Annual Awards and Recognition Luncheon on 18 March 2023.

Chaplain Tim Atkinson was presented the Robert F. DeMeter Chapter Service Award for his distinguished service as Chapter Chaplain for six years (July 2015 to October 2021).

Other chapter members were recognized as follows:

Teresa Vaughn was awarded a certificate of appreciation and chapter coin for invaluable contributions and assistance to the chapter over a period of two years.

Tad & Diane Davis were presented a chapter coin for the excellent job they did as Event Managers for the Chapter’s Day at the Ball Park event in July 2022, and for recruiting two new chapter members during the year.

Chapter coins were presented to Maria Chavez and Greg Williamson for recruiting two new members each during 2022.

Chapter coins were presented to the following for their exemplary attendance at chapter meetings: Lester & Marieta Beery; Robert & Kathryn Covalucci; Tom & Maxine Donnelly; George & Elisabeth Glann; Lois Ives; Carol Ivey; Pat Stang; Ron O’Brien & Diane McGhee; and Jim & Rosi Wilde.

The streak stays intact! For the eighth year in a row, the Cape Fear Chapter was awarded a MOAA 5-Star Levels of Excellence Award for the year 2021.

This is a most remarkable achievement in that the chapter operated with half of its leadership positions vacant all year. We owe a debt of gratitude to those who went above and beyond to make things happen and keep the string of excellence unbroken.

Congratulations and thanks to all our chapter members who so loyally supported everything the chapter undertook during the year. It was a total team effort!

President Underwood will pin the 5-Star medallion on the Chapter colors awards streamer at our annual meeting on 19 November 2022.

For the ninth consecutive year, our chapter has repeated as a 5-Star Colonel Marvin Harris Communications Award winner in the website and electronic newsletter platform categories. We can all pad ourselves on the back for another noteworthy achievement.

The streak continues. For the seventh year in a row, the Cape Fear Chapter was awarded a MOAA 5-Star Levels of Excellence Award for the year 2020. The lion’s share of the credit goes to past Chapter President Ira Watkins who displayed exemplary leadership in keeping the chapter together and functioning during one of the most tumultuous years in our history. Thanks Ira, for your leadership, tenacity and unwavering dedication.

Our current Chapter President Rich Underwood will pin the 5-Star medallion on the Chapter colors awards streamer at our annual meeting on 13 November 2021.

Congratulations to all!

MOAA National announced the 2020 Colonel Marvin Harris Communications Award winners, and I am proud to announce that the Cape Fear Chapter maintained its string of now eight consecutive years as a dual 5-Star winner intact.

Congratulations to us for repeating as MOAA communications award winner in the website and eNewsletter platform categories.

All of us may add another feather to our caps!

Outgoing President Ira Watkins was presented with a much deserved MOAA Leadership Award in recognition of his extraordinary leadership as Cape Fear Chapter President for the past 2 years. The last year of his tenure was particularly notable because of the challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic.

The award was presented by incoming Chapter President Richard Underwood on behalf of Retired USAF Lieutenant General Dana Atkins, President of the Military Officers Association of America.

A copy of the award citation is at download below.

For the sixth consecutive year, the Cape Fear Chapter was awarded a MOAA 5-Star Levels of Excellence Award. This is an extraordinary streak of achievement for the chapter, a credit to the Executive Board of Directors plus the chapter membership at large.

Chapter President Ira Watkins will pin the 5-Star medallion on the Chapter colors awards streamer at the first opportunity the general membership is allowed to physically meet again.

Congratulations to all!

E.E. Smith High School and Terry Sanford High School AFJROTC units were selected as two of 79 units across the globe and two of seven in North Carolina to receive the 2019-20 Air Force JROTC Distinguished Unit with Merit Award.

This award recognizes Air Force JROTC units that have performed well above and beyond normal expectations, and that have distinguished themselves through outstanding service to their school and community while meeting the Air Force JROTC citizen development mission for America.

The Cape Fear Chapter is proud to extend its heartiest congratulations to both units, their leaders/instructors, and their entire corps of cadets for a significant achievement.

The E.E. Smith High School AFJROTC program’s leaders and Aerospace Science Instructors are: Retired USAF Lt. Col. Tom Glockzin, and Retired USAF CMSgt James Mitchell, Jr.

The Terry Sanford High School AFJROTC program is led by Aerospace Science Instructors: Retired USAF Capt. Timothy K. Peedin, and Retired USAF SMSgt Thomas Albanese.

It was my pleasure to announce at our monthly Board of Directors Meeting held by video conference on 7 April 2020 that LTC (Ret) Martin “Marty” Williams is the recipient of the 2019 Robert F. DeMeter Chapter Service Award. The DeMeter award is the most prestigious award the Chapter can bestow upon one of its members.

The citation on the award certificate reads as follows: “For sustained outstanding service as 3rd Vice President for ROTC Affairs, Cape Fear Chapter from December 2015 to December 2019. His faithful and unselfish service on the Chapter’s Executive Board and his work as Chairman, ROTC Scholarship Awards Committee are without equal. Marty discharged his wide-ranging responsibilities in support of 5 university and 25 high school ROTC programs with unparallel dedication and excellence. He routinely drove hundreds of miles traversing a six-county area visiting ROTC units to administer the chapter’s ROTC scholarships and leadership awards programs. His vast contributions to include his donation of travel expenses, are worthy of the highest esteem and his selection as the 2019 recipient of this coveted award.”

Congratulations Marty, you have the eternal gratitude of all our members for your dedicated service and unselfish contributions to the chapter. You are an inspiration to all of us. Our only regret is that we could not present the award to you in person because of the COVID-19 social distancing constraints.

List of previous DeMeter award recipients is at download below.

Congratulations to us for repeating as MOAA communication awards winners in 2019. Our chapter was awarded a 5-Star COL Marvin Harris Communication Award for its website “www.cfmoaa.org”, and a 5-Star Award for its eNewsletter “Gram of Info” for 2019.

This is the seventh consecutive year we have received this distinction for our communications platforms. All of us may be justifiably proud.

For the fifth consecutive year, the Cape Fear Chapter was awarded a MOAA 5-Star Levels of Excellence Award. This is an extraordinary streak of achievement for the chapter.

Chapter President Ira Watkins will pin the 5-Star medallion on the Chapter colors awards streamer during the annual general membership meeting on 15 November 2019.

Congratulations to all!

Congratulations to us for repeating as MOAA communication awards winners in 2018. Our chapter was awarded a 5-Star COL Marvin Harris Communication Award for its website “www.cfmoaa.org”, and a 5-Star Award for its eNewsletter “Gram of Info” for 2018. This is the sixth consecutive year we have received this distinction for our communications platforms. All of us may be justifiably proud.

For the fourth consecutive year, the Cape Fear Chapter was awarded a MOAA 5-Star Levels of Excellence Award. This is an extraordinary achievement of which all chapter members can be justifiably proud.

Chapter President Chavez will attend the MOAA Annual Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona in November 2018 to accept the 5-Star medallion on behalf of the chapter. Congratulations to all!

Congratulations to us for repeating as MOAA communication awards winners in 2017. Our chapter was awarded a 5-Star COL Marvin Harris Communication Award for its website “www.cfmoaa.org”, and a 5-Star Award for its eNewsletter “Gram of Info” for 2017. This is the fifth consecutive year we have received this distinction for our communications platforms. All of us may be justifiably proud.

For the third successive year, the Cape Fear Chapter was awarded a MOAA 5-Star Levels of Excellence Award. This is an extraordinary achievement of which all chapter members can be justifiably proud.

Chapter President Chavez will be attending the MOAA Annual Meeting in Arlington, Virginia in October 2016 to accept the 5-Star Streamer on behalf of the chapter. Congratulations to all!