President: Terry Sparks
Terry was elected as the president of the Washington State Council (WSCOC) in October 2023 at the WSCOC Fall Meeting.
Terry is retired Navy Commander and has been a life member of MOAA since the 1990s. Terry has been on the Board of Directors for the Whidbey Island Chapter of MOAA (WICMOAA) and was elected president of WICMOAA and has served as the president since January 2022.
Past President: David Casteel
Dave Casteel was elected as President, Washington State Council of Chapters (WSCOC) in October 2017 and re-elected November 2019. Terms of office as set by the By-Laws are for a period of two years. He represents approximately 9,000 MOAA members and their families. Previous to serving as president, he served as WSCOC Vice President for Government Relations and Affairs. In these roles, he represented MOAA on the Veterans Legislative Coalition (VLC) in Olympia along with representatives of 17 other Veterans Service Organizations. The VLC monitors veterans-related legislation and testifies in support of bills in the Washington State legislature that support veterans and their families,
A life member of MOAA, Dave is a past chapter president of the Columbia River Chapter where he also served in roles of VP, Membership chair, and Legislative Affairs chair. He has been a chapter member since 2004.
He also serves as the President of the Columbia River MOAA Foundation (CRMF). The CRMF is the IRC 501(c)3 public nonprofit charity of the chapter which manages the chapter’s Scholarship and Support the Troops Funds.
Dave retired from active duty in 1994 with 24 years of service in the Air Force in the grade of Colonel. His last active duty assignment was at MAJCOM HQ/AETC (Air Education and Training Command) as Chief, Plans and Readiness Division (XOX). Previous to that he served as Chief, Navigator Training Division at the HQ.
A career master navigator, Dave has over 2000 flying hours in the B-52G and T-43A aircraft, including 861 combat hours.
His decorations include the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with 1 OLC, Air Medal with 3 OLC, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and Vietnamese Service Medal among other decorations and awards.
He graduated from the University of Puget Sound with a B.A. and from the University of Southern California with a M.S. in Systems Management. He attended the Air Force Command and Staff College.
He resides in Camas.
Vice President Legislative and Government Affairs: Heinz Haskins
Heinz was elected as the Vice President Legislative and Government Affairs at the January 21, 2022 semi-annual WSCOC Meetings of Chapters. He is currently the President of the Military Order of World Wars, past DAV chapter president, and past WSCOC Council President. As the Vice President Legislative Affairs, Heinz will focus on federal legislative issues.
Government Affairs and Veterans Legislative Consortium : Jerry Jackson
Jerry serves as the MOAA Representative to the state Veterans Legislative Coalition (VLC) in Olympia where he also serves on the executive committee as Treasurer. He is he immediate past president of the Mt Rainier chapter.
Vice President Chapter Affairs: Dana Clay
Dana was appointed as Vice President Chapter Affairs in February 15, 2021. She is chapter president of the of the Kitsap Chapter and was elected as the Vice President Chapter Affairs at the January 21, 2022 semi-annual WSCOC Meetings of Chapters.
Vice President for Surviving Spouse Affairs: Cheryl Toland
Cheryl was appointed to the position of Vice President for Surviving Spouse Affairs August 2021. She was elected as the Vice President Chapter Affairs at the January 21, 2022 semi-annual WSCOC Meetings of Chapters. As the Vice President Surviving Spouse Affairs, Cheryl supports chapter surviving spouse liaisons by advocating for them and serving as a two-way communications conduit between chapters and MOAA. Cheryl is a member of the Mt Rainier Chapter
Treasurer: Lorri Gilchrist
Lorri has served as both the Council’s Secretary and Treasurer for many years. In October 2023 Darlene Iskra stepped up and is now the Secretary if WSCOC. Lorri has the uncanny ability to transcribe minutes nearly word for spoken word. Lorri is a member of the Olympic Peninsula Chapter where she has served in most leadership positions including Chapter President. Her mother was a charter member of the Olympic Peninsula Chapter.
Secretary: Darlene Iskra
At the October 2023 WSCOC fall meeting Dr. Darlene Iskra PhD relieved Lorri Gilchrist as Secretary for WSCOC.
Darlene is a retired United States Navy officer. Upon assuming command of the rescue and salvage ship USSÂ Opportune on December 27, 1990, she became the first woman to command a U.S. Navy vessel. She continued to serve on Guam as a liaison officer for the Commander Naval Forces Marianas. After being transferred back to the continental United States, she resigned from the Navy in 2000.[3]
After earning her BA at San Francisco State University, she earned an MA in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College and an MA and Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Maryland.[4][5]
She wrote Women in the United States Armed Forces: A Guide to the Issues (United States, ABC-CLIO, 2010.)[6]
Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee Representative: Bob Mead
Bob is the MOAA appointed representative to the Governor’s Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee and works very closely with the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs. Bob is a member of the Spokane Chapter where he serves on the chapter leadership team.