Our Board of Directors
President
​Rich Higgins, LCDR, USN (Ret.)
Membership Chair
Roy Yaple, CDR, USN (Ret.) 
Vice President
Rob Kull, 1LT, ARNG
Surviving Spouse Liaison
Noreen Diedo, COL, USA (Ret.)
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Secretary
Larry Powell, LTC, USA (Ret.)
Treasurer
Rich Higgins, LCDR, USN (Ret.)
What We Are
The Southeastern Michigan Chapter of MOAA is an organization of commissioned and warrant officers. While we are an organization of officers, we are for all active, reserve, and National guard members of the Armed Services. We advocate for a strong national defense and hard-earned military benefits. Our service focus includes not only the service member, but also spouses, family members, those who support the military, and the community and country at large. 

We are the national MOAA affiliate chapter in the Detroit metro area including Wayne, Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw, Monroe, and Livingston Counties. MOAA is a national organization of over 360,000 officers headquartered in Alexandria, VA. We are one of over 390 MOAA chapters nationally and one of four chapters in Michigan. Our chapter was formed in 1960. We are managed by a Board of five elected officers and meet as a general membership four times each year. The chapter issues a chapter newsletter on a regular basis. The chapter is a member of the Michigan Council of Chapters of MOAA. 
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We encourage each veteran to become aware and knowledgeable of their legally entitled and earned Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits through resources such as the Veterans Facilitator YouTube channel.

We honor the value of military service education programs and recognize the outstanding performance of JROTC and ROTC students by providing MOAA medals to students at 12 area high schools, Eastern Michigan University, and the University of Michigan. 

We encourage members to join the national MOAA organization and advocate for important military legislation on a national and state basis.  Current legislative focuses include but are not limited to:
  • ​Passage of the Major Richard Star Act to ensure service members receive both their earned retirement (DoD) benefit and their earned (VA) disability benefits without offset.
  • Restoration of Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for military service members and their families from 95% to 100%.
  • Protection of TRICARE For Life against continuing efforts to impose costly fees on current and future military retirees.
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We encourage chapter members to volunteer for service opportunities in the local community including but not limited to:
  • The Michigan Freedom Center military lounges in the Evans and McNamara Terminals at Detroit Metro Airport.
  • The Veterans Home in Chesterfield Township, Michigan
  • Participation in Wreaths Across America programs in December at participating cemeteries.
  • Future veterans service initiatives in association with the southwest Michigan organization, MISIDE.

We are happy to welcome you to membership and allow you to determine your own place in the chapter.  We have multiple service opportunities in leadership, member recruitment, personal affairs, and military-to-civilian transition.  We also elect chapter officers annually in November and encourage you to consider running for an office.  Among openings are:
  • Membership coordinator.
  • Meeting/event/activity coordinator.
  • Personal affairs team staff.
  • Newsletter editor/staff/contributor.
  • Nominations committee member.
  • ROTC/JROTC medals program coordinator.
  • ROTC/JROTC Medal presenter- normally one ROTC or JROTC letter at a time.
  • Representative to Michigan Council of Chapters.
  • Chapter officers.
  • Patient Family Advisory Council (PFAC) Member, VAMC, Detroit.
  • Something we need but don’t know yet.
 
We will train and guide you; experience is a plus, but not required.