Mark Balmert, Executive Director of the San Diego Military Council, discusses SDMAC’s December 18 Breakfast featuring San Diego State University President, Dr. Adela de la Torre. Balmert chats about 2020 keynote speakers and results from major 2019 SDMAC initiatives.

Jim Bedinger, a charter member of the San Diego Military Advisory Council and a decorated POW during the Vietnam War, discusses his book, Patriot, Prisoner, Survivor: An American Family at War.

Mark Balmert, Executive Director of SDMAC, chats about the recent Fleet Week and Veterans Day events in San Diego.

Mark Balmert, Executive Director of SDMAC, is joined Nicole Shina, Special Programs Assistant for the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE), and Norm Johnson, a Korean War veteran, to talk about SDCOE’s “Operation Recognition” program that retroactively issues high school diplomas to WWII, Korean War and Vietnam War vets, such as Johnson. Johnson chats about his book, Four Planes Started, Two Finished. Monica Ball, an UPLIFT Board Member, chats about her organization’s mission and it’s Star-Spangled Tribute, slated for Friday, November 15 at the Admiral Kidd Club.

Mark Balmert, Executive Director of SDMAC, is joined RADM Mac McLaughlin, USN (Ret.), President & CEO of the USS Midway Museum, and Bill Loeber, Program Manager for Vets Community Connections (VCC), to talk about the positive impact their organizations provide veterans and their families in San Diego County. McLaughlin chats about the Midway Museum as a thriving community asset, while Loeber discusses VCC’s mission to assist veterans, active duty personnel and their families successfully integrate into their communities.

Mark Balmert, Executive Director of SDMAC, is joined by Ron Stark, President of the San Diego Veterans Coalition, and Kim Mitchell, President & CEO of Veterans Village of San Diego, to discuss how their respective organizations provide much-needed support to the hundreds of thousands of veterans and their families that reside in San Diego County.

Mark Balmert, Executive Director of the San Diego Military Advisory Council, is joined by Captain (Ret.) Dale Dye, an American actor and decorated Vietnam War marine, to talk about Dye’s Wounded Warriors organization that specializes in portraying realistic military action in Hollywood films. Dye will the keynote speaker at the Saturday, November 2 Veterans Program at the annual Union-Tribune “Successful Aging Expo” on Saturday, November 2. Balmert is joined by Jenn Jordan and Rachael Medlin of The Rosie Network to discuss the Network’s mission to build stronger military families through the development of entrepreneurial programs.

Mark Ballmert, Executive Director of the San Diego Military Advisory Council and Andrew Dyer, Military Reporter for the Union Tribune, discuss the tremendous and growing impact of the military on the San Diego region. From civilian jobs and stationed soldiers to housing and NAVWAR, San Diego continues to capture military and defense industry investments. They also talk about the Miramar Air Show, the largest military air show in the United States, a source of great pride for San Diego and the military.

Christina Harner, Program Manager for Courage to Call, a program of Mental Health Systems, talks about her organization’s mission to improve mental wellness for Veterans, Active Duty and Reservists. Harner is joined by Mark Balmert, Executive Director of SDMAC, to discuss the October 10 rollout of the annual San Diego Military Economic Impact Study and the October 23 SDMAC Breakfast. Both Balmert and Harner chat about their organizations’ involvement in the November 2, Union-Tribune “Successful Aging Expo” Veterans Program.

Larry Blumberg, Executive Director of Fleek Week San Diego, discusses an array of new events that will highlight San Diego’s annual Fleet Week activities, slated to run from November 4 to 12.