USPS Board of Directors: Immediate Past Chief Commander Frank Dvorak, SN; National Administrative Officer Louie Ojeda, SN; National Executive Officer Robert Baldridge, SN; Chief Commander John Alter, SN; National Educational Officer Robert Brandenstein, SN; National Secretary Jean Hamilton, SN; and National Treasurer Gary Cheney, SN.
Meet the Board
USPS names 2012 Board of Directors
Chief Commander
John Alter of Whispering Pines, N.C., is a member of Raleigh Sail & Power Squadron. He joined the Toledo Power Squadron in 1970 and transferred to the Rocky River Power Squadron in 1977, where he served on the squadron bridge. He was squadron commander in 1985 and again in 1987. Alter transferred back to Toledo and served as district commander in 1995. He has taught Boating, Seamanship and Piloting.
At the national level, Alter has served on the Governing Board, Strategic Planning Task Force and Budget Committee. He was also the national treasurer from 2003 to 2006, and he served as national administrative officer and national executive officer.
National Executive Officer
Robert Baldridge of Baton Rouge, La., joined the Baton Rouge Squadron in 1976 and eventually served as Seamanship instructor, administrative officer, executive officer and squadron commander. He continues to serve as newsletter editor, instructor development chairman and operations training chairman.
At the district level, he has served as Computer Systems Committee chairman, Rules Committee chairman, Nominating Committee chairman, administrative officer, executive officer and commander.
National Educational Officer
Robert Brandenstein of Freedom, Pa., has served on various national Education Department committees for 15 years and has been a member of the Education Department leadership team for six years. He most recently served on the national Finance and Marine Environment committees.
In addition to being past commander of District 7 and Pittsburgh Power Squadron, Brandenstein is also past rear commander of the Weather and Cruise Planning courses. He has taught all USPS courses.
National Administrative Officer
Louie Ojeda of southwest Georgia joined the Ponce Power Squadron in 1988. He served on the squadron bridge in various leadership positions, becoming commander in 1991. He then served on the district bridge as treasurer and became district commander in 1997. He has taught every USPS course.
At the national level, Ojeda has served on the Governing Board, Planning, Membership, Meetings and Member Benefits committees. As the chair of the ad hoc Vessel Safety Check Committee, he created and organized the program from its inception.
National Secretary
Jean Hamilton of Houston joined Houston Sail & Power Squadron in 1984, where she served as cooperative charting chair and squadron educational officer. She taught Weather as well as many elective and advanced grade courses. She is a certified instructor and an advanced BOC certifier.
Nationally, Hamilton chaired the Weather, Cruise Planning and Environmental committees. She has served as assistant national secretary. She has also served as District 21 administrative officer, executive officer and commander.
National Treasurer
Gary Cheney of Atlantic Beach, N.C., is a member of Erie Power Squadron and an associate member of Fort Macon Sail & Power Squadron and Raleigh Sail & Power Squadron. He has served as budget officer for the Executive and Administrative departments.
Cheney served as squadron executive officer and commander and then served on the Navigation Course Committee for six years. He was commander of District 11 in 1998 and again in 2007. He has spent nine years on the Budget Committee and served as treasurer of the National Meetings Committee, chaired several squadron and district events, and has taught all advanced grade courses.
Immediate Past Chief Commander
Frank Dvorak of Bellevue, Wash., joined Bellevue Sail & Power Squadron in 1975. He taught basic boating classes and served as squadron educational officer, administrative officer, executive officer and commander. He also served as district commander in 1995.
On the national level, Dvorak has served on the Navigation and Planning committees and the Governing Board. He progressed through the national bridge, serving as assistant national secretary, national secretary, national administrative officer, national executive officer and chief commander.
