BOARD OF DIRECTORS
2025
Chairman: Patrick Donahoe
Major General (Retired) Pat Donahoe was commissioned as an Armor officer upon graduating from Villanova University in 1989. Over his military career, he served in a variety of leadership positions across the United States, Korea, Germany, Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Since retiring from active duty, he has focused on connecting military families with opportunities in higher education.
MG Donahoe is a graduate of the Naval War College and a former National Security Fellow at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. He is a passionate student of military history and frequently travels to historic battlefields across the U.S., Europe, and Asia.
Vice-Chairman: Tom Smart
Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Thomas Smart, a New Jersey native, was commissioned as an Armor officer in 1974 through Gettysburg College’s ROTC program. Over 23 years of service, he led and supported Armor and Cavalry units in a range of assignments.
LTC Smart holds an MBA from the Florida Institute of Technology and is a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. Following his military retirement, he held program management and leadership roles with SY Technology and Engility Corporation. He later founded Advanced Consulting Resource Professionals, Inc., a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business serving government and commercial clients.
Secretary: Jim Oldham
Major (Retired) Jim Oldham was commissioned through the ROTC program at Auburn University in 1973 as an Armor officer. He served in various leadership roles from Platoon Leader to Operations Officer, including division staff and instructor assignments.
After retiring from the Army, he held key positions in human resources and training with Pagenet, Aramark Uniform Services, and Republic Services. His civilian career included roles as Area HR Manager, Regional Director, and Corporate Training Director.
Treasurer: Nicole Young
Nicole Young was born into a military family and grew up as an Army brat. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Tarleton State University in 2008 and has gained extensive experience in both administrative and retail roles throughout her career. She currently serves as the Team Operations Manager for a leading real estate team in Columbus, Georgia, where she oversees administrative operations, transaction coordination, and overall team efficiency. Nicole has served in an administrative role with the National Armor and Cavalry Heritage Foundation since 2019 and has held the position of Treasurer on the Board of Directors since 2023.
Directors:
Kris Thompson
Clint Anderson
Brigadier General (Retired) Clinton T. Anderson was commissioned as an Armor officer upon graduating from the Virginia Military Institute in 1974. He served for 33 years in a wide range of command and staff positions in the Armor community, the Army, and on the Joint Staff.
Following his military retirement, he joined Mistral Incorporated, where he served as Senior Vice President for Business Development and later as President. BG Anderson is active in veterans’ affairs and currently serves on the board of directors of the National Armor and Cavalry Heritage Foundation at Fort Benning, Georgia.
Otis Smith
Command Sergeant Major (Retired) Otis Smith entered the Army in 1975 as a cavalry scout and served for 34 years in
uniform followed by 15 years as a Department of the Army Civilian. His military career included leadership roles from Drill Sergeant to Command Sergeant Major of the U.S. Army Armor School at Fort Knox, Kentucky.
He currently serves as Chief of the International Military Student Office at Fort Novosel, Alabama. CSM Smith is actively involved in supporting the military community through his service on the boards of the National Armor and Cavalry Heritage Foundation and the U.S. Cavalry and Armor Association, along with multiple veterans' and military organizations.
Doug Morrison
Colonel (Retired) Doug Morrison graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a Bachelor of Science degree and served over 30 years in the U.S. Army, specializing in operations and defense programs.
Following retirement, he founded GarryOwen LLC to provide business development support for defense-sector companies. He joined Soucy Defense in 2016 and currently serves as Director of U.S. Defense Business Development. COL Morrison actively supports veterans through organizations such as TAPS, the Knights of Columbus, and various veterans service groups, and serves on several nonprofit boards focused on Army-related initiatives.
Michael Hamilton
Colonel (Retired) Mike Hamilton graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1976 with a BS Degree in Engineering (Nuclear). In his 26-year career, he served in a variety of leadership roles first in Armor and Cavalry units, and then in Army Acquisition. His last assignment was Program Manager for all Army unmanned aircraft systems.
After military retirement, he was VP for both Business Development and Programs with DRS and then formed his own strategic planning service company. Mike’s schooling includes both the Army and the Air Force Command and Staff Colleges, the Army War College, and he holds a Master of Arts degree in Physics from the University of California, Davis.
Andy Hilmes
Brigadier General (Retired) Andrew “Andy” Hilmes was commissioned as an Armor officer upon graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1995. He served nearly 28 years, culminating as the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center at Fort Rucker, Alabama.
Since retiring, he has served as Executive Vice President for Economic Development and Recompete Pilot Program Coordinator for the United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley in Columbus, Georgia. He is also a founding board member of the Chattahoochee Hub for the Innovation and Production of Semiconductors (CHIPS4CHIPS). BG Hilmes remains deeply engaged in community and veteran affairs, serving on several nonprofit boards including the National Armor and Cavalry Heritage Foundation.
Julian Burns
Major General (Retired) Julian Burns was commissioned from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point as an Armor officer. He commanded units from Cavalry Platoon to Joint Task Force and held key assignments along the Russian and North Korean borders. He served as Commanding General of JTF Israel, NATO Chief of Operations in Bosnia and Kosovo, and Deputy Commanding General, FORSCOM.
After retiring, he held executive leadership positions in two major defense corporations and served on several defense and historical boards. MG Burns is an accomplished speaker and author of two national security books. He remains active in veterans’ affairs and the 250th commemoration of the American Revolutionary War, while maintaining a farming enterprise in Kershaw County, where he also served as County Chairman.
Executive Director: Ricky "Rick" Young
Command Sergeant Major (Retired) Rick Young entered the Army in 1983 as an Armor Crewman and held leadership positions from Tank Commander to CSM of the U.S. Army Armor School at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he retired in 2012. He has served as the Executive Director of the National Armor and Cavalry Heritage Foundation since 2014 and has been active in the defense industry serving in corporate business development and program management roles. He is a member of the Order of Saint George (Gold), Order of Saint Maurice, and the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club. He is active in several local and veterans’ associations.