About Our Chapter
WHO WE ARE
Our Chapter is an affiliate of the Military Officers Association of America, the largest and most effective lobbying association in the country. We are a very active chapter as you can tell if you browse through our web site.
- We are a member of the Florida Council of Chapters (FCOC) the state organization of 37 Florida MOAA Chapters with 5,000 members.
- Most importantly, we serve as a communications link, a Veterans’ Voice, between our local veteran community and our state and national MOAA affiliates, advocating for the rights and the benefits of veterans of all our military services.
- Our Foundation is active in sponsoring community events, granting scholarships to local high school students, providing educational financial aid to our returning veterans, and promoting patriotism and respect for our flag in our elementary schools. To date, we have sent more than 50,000 care packages to our deployed troops in the Middle East.
- We welcome all active duty, retired, and former uniformed service officers, their spouses, surviving military spouses, and officers of allied nations to join our Chapter, the third-largest Chapter in the State of Florida.
CHAPTER PROGRAMS
We normally meet monthly for lunch on the third Friday of each month, except in December, when we hold our Annual Military Gala. Luncheon programs feature military oriented speakers, city and county officials, representatives of local organizations (e.g. Mote Marine Laboratories, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens), and entertainment showcasing the Sarasota Opera, the Sarasota Ballet, the Pops Orchestra, authors, and many others. In short, our monthly luncheons provide something for everyone. You need not be a member to attend.
Not a luncheon person? Then YAHOOs will surely have something for you. The Young at Heart Officers Organization (YAHOO) holds a wide variety of events each month. Whether it is a Super Bowl or a St. Patrick’s Day Party, fishing trips, cruises on Sarasota Bay, a kayak trip, a day at the Polo matches, the Army-Navy football game, bowling or our annual picnic in the Pillippi Estate Park, we’re sure that you will find something of interest.
And, then, there are our Meet & Greets, held at various locations in Sarasota. A casual opportunity to make new friends or reconnect with old ones.
It is not uncommon for a member to take a group out in the Bay or offshore for a bit of fishing or just enjoying the water.
While fostering camaraderie and sharing good times may be the reason many of us joined the Chapter, we are much more than a social club. We are active in our community – making an impact on veterans’ issues and giving back to our community.
Chapter LEADERSHIP
DIRECTORS
Steven L. Carnes
PRESIDENT
Steve received his BA from Penn State, graduated from Stetson University College of Law, and commissioned through Air Force ROTC, entered active duty as a JAG at Charleston AFB. Separating from the active AF in 1982, he was appointed Assistant Counsel to New Jersey Governor Thomas Kean. He spent 10 years at McGuire AFB as an ASJA, appointed a NJ state judge in 1986, a Military Judge in 1989, a federal judge in 1994 and reassigned to Air Force Legal Services Agency at Maxwell AFB. In 1999-2000 Steve served in NATO as Ass’t Legal Advisor to the High Representative of Bosnia Herzegovina, and upon return to the US was promoted to Colonel and assigned to 2nd Air Force. His final assignment was at MacDill AFB as the senior AF legal advisor to the Commander, USSOCOM. In 2012, Steve transferred to Tallahassee, FL and became the chief federal judge, retiring in 2023.
Wesley Moy
1ST VICE PRESIDENT
Wesley Moy, Ph.D. retired from the U.S. Army as a Colonel after serving in the infantry and military intelligence. He has commanded at the company, battalion, and brigade levels including command of all Army Reserve strategic intelligence units worldwide. In 2019, he retired from the Department of Homeland Security where he held a variety of senior positions. He was also Associate Deputy Director and a founding officer at the National Counterterrorism Center. He has master’s in business administration, strategic intelligence, and strategy and a doctorate in business administration. Dr. Moy is an adjunct lecturer at Johns Hopkins University.
Christopher V. Nind
2ND VICE PRESIDENT
A graduate of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Army Command and Staff College and Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va, Chris served in Germany, Northern Ireland, Canada, Cyprus, United States and UK, and retired in 1990 as a Lt Col at age 41.
He moved to USA in 1991 and began a nonprofit career: Executive Director of Therapeutic Horseback riding organizations in Naples and in New England, Executive Director of Camp for underprivileged children in Boston, and Executive Director of bereavement program for children in Boston. He moved back to Naples in 2006 and was Director of Development for the Salvation Army in Naples., retiring in June 2015 and started work for Literacy Volunteers of Collier County in April 2016. Chris moved to Longboat Key in 2020 and is married to Cynthia Crane.
Peter Dering
SECRETARY
Pete enlisted in the US Army in 1969, transferring to the Reserves in 1972 as an E-5. He earned his BA in speech correction; worked as a public-school speech therapist in Marlboro Township, NJ; and returned to school to pursue a master’s degree in communication disorders. Entered the USAF in 1979, serving at Minot AFB, ND for five years, with subsequent assignments in Germany and Vandenberg AFB, CA. Pete closed out his Air Force career at the Pentagon as executive officer for DCS Logistics, and as a staff missile maintenance officer. While at the Pentagon, he began work towards another master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology, a career that spanned 23 years. Pete and Claudette moved to Sarasota and became MOAS members in 2014.
Christa I. Friedlander
TREASURER
Christa was born, raised, and educated in Berlin, Germany. She was a senior member of a major health maintenance organization administrative team in the Washington DC area, providing extensive experience in budgeting, purchasing, human resources, marketing, labor relations, staff assignments, and clinical oversight. While stationed in Turkey with her husband, Christa was on the Executive Board of the Turkish American Archaeological Society, providing logistical and financial support to American archaeologists working at university-sponsored excavations. She has been the MOAS Treasurer since Oct 2011 with a one-year hiatus, served as the 50/50 chair, and has been involved in her local community, MOAS /FCOC conventions, and FCOC Leadership forums. The Friedlander’s have two children, three grandchildren (two serving in the US Marine Corps), and five great-grandchildren.
David R. Downer
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
Commissioned through ROTC at Harvard in 1963, David attended the Harvard Graduate School of Design for 2 years and 2 years with Civil Engineering Squadrons at Lockbourne AFB, OH and Eielson AFB, AK. Assigned to Minot AFB, ND as a Missile Combat Crew Commander, he completed a master’s degree in public administration. Follow-on assignments were to Ubon AB, Thailand, Langley AFB, VA concentrating on CE projects needed to “bed down” the first operational wing of F-15 aircraft., and Tehran, Iran to assist the Iranian Air Force in bedding down F-14 aircraft with the Phoenix missile. Following evacuation from Iran, David was assigned to HQ Strategic Air Command at Offutt AFB, NE. with subsequent assignments to Sembach AB, Germany, and March AFB, CA. I retired in September 1986, with 23 years of active duty. I am a life member of MOAA, having first joined its predecessor, TROA. I was president of the TROA Paul Revere chapter which met at Hanscom AFB, MA.
William F. Lawyer
Bill was born on May 1, 1943, in Austin, TX, and his family moved to Cambridge, Ohio shortly after that. Bill attended The Ohio State University, graduating in August 1965 and commissioned a 2LT in the US Army. I attended Infantry Officer’s Basic Course at Ft. Benning then on to Ft. Holabird for the Intelligence Officer’s Basic course. Deployed to Vietnam in July 1967, Bill organized the District Operations and Intelligence Coordination Center, was awarded the Combat Infantryman’s Badge and promoted to 1LT. Later in his tour he worked with the CIA executing the Phoenix Program. After Vietnam, Bill was commander of the San Francisco Office of the 115th Military Intelligence Bn, conducting background investigations for security clearances and surveilling anti-war protests in the Bay Area. (We sent reports back to headquarters via telex!) Leaving the Army in 1969 Bill pursued several different career paths including aircraft sales, banking and IT support. Bill fully retired in 2022. Barbara and Bill have been married for a little over 50 years and have two sons and one grandson.
Richard J. Greenspan
Dr. Richard J. Greenspan DDS served in the US Army, completing six years of service as a Captain in 1972. His service included 4 years of Inactive Reserve, while completing post-graduate Studies in Dentistry at the NYU College of Dentistry. While on active duty (1970-72) he deployed to the Republic of South Korea for 13 months, and was assigned to Ft. Jackson, SC for nine months performing Oral Surgery for troops heading directly overseas to SE Asia.
In a past life Rich was on the staff of Danbury Hospital dental staff for the inhouse clinic and recently retired from his General Dentistry practice in New York State, Connecticut, and Florida. Married for 51 years to Betty, a former Air Force dental assistant, they have four children.
Michael A. Lindquist
Michael was born into a military family and spent his childhood living abroad. He began school in England, moved to Panama, and later graduated from Seoul American High School in South Korea. He earned a BS degree from the University of Tampa, a MS from the Florida Institute of Technology, and a Doctorate from Argosy University in Sarasota.
Enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1966, Michael received a commission as a 2LT in Field Artillery by January 1968. Throughout his 31-year military career, he held leadership positions in Aviation, Field Artillery, and Logistics, eventually retiring as a Colonel.
After retirement, he served as Executive Director of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, focusing on preserving the legacy of America’s Medal of Honor recipients. He later founded Adrian Leadership and Healthcare Consulting, offering expertise in leadership development, business operations, and performance management. He is also an author, having written books of poetry and children’s literature, including Iza and Her Magic World. Today, Michael is a faculty member at the University of Phoenix’s School of Business & IT, where he has been teaching since 2002, both online and at the West Florida Campus.
Leonard Friedlander
A Brooklyn NY native, Len served 36 years in the Air Force, with duty stations in Germany, Turkey and the United States in staff and command positions. He retired in 1994 with the rank of Colonel. He earned his BS degree from Syracuse University, an MBA from Michigan State University, and is a graduate of the Air Force Squadron Officers School, Air Command and Staff College, and the Air War College. Len joined MOAA in 1983 and has been active in the Sarasota chapter since 2004; serving as a Director, VP, President, Immediate Past President, and is the editor of the Sarasota Breeze newsletter. He has also served as the Florida Council of Chapters (FCOC) Southwest Area Vice President, Vice President, President, and Immediate Past President.