Middle Tennessee Chapter Newsletter September 2024
Editor: COL Doug Minton, USA Retired
Upcoming MOAA Middle Tennessee Chapter Meeting
24 September 2024;11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
MTC Monthly Luncheon Meeting
"TN Office of Homeland Security"
LT Greg Mays, USN
Deputy Commissioner, TN Office of Homeland Security
& Middle TN Chapter Member
ONCC, 115 Gardengate Drive, Franklin TN 37069
Deputy Commissioner Gregory A. Mays joined the Tennessee Office of Homeland Security in January 2020. In his current role, Mr. Mays leads Tennessee’s effort to prevent, prepare for, and respond to a terrorist attack or other threat to the security of Tennessee and its citizens. During his tenure, Deputy Commissioner Mays has focused Homeland Security’s efforts on investigating threats to life, evaluating and responding to threats to schools, and protecting the state’s critical infrastructure.
Prior to his appointment as Deputy Commissioner, Greg had a distinguished career with the United States Secret Service, retiring as the Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Nashville Field Office. During that time, he managed the Secret Service’s integrated missions of protecting the nation’s key leaders and conducting criminal investigations to protect the nation’s financial system.
In his 25-year career with the Secret Service, he also served as the Resident Agent in Charge of the Atlantic City, New Jersey office. He held supervisory positions in Secret Service Headquarters, to include the Office of Protective Operations and Special Operations Division, where he coordinated security for several National Special Security Events including a Presidential Inaugural, and two State of the Union Addressees. Director Mays also completed assignments at the Vice-Presidential Protective Division and the Jacksonville, Florida Field Office.
Prior to joining the U.S. Secret Service, Greg served on active duty as an officer in the United States Navy. After receiving his commission through the Naval ROTC program and following Naval Flight Officer training, Mr. Mays was assigned to Patrol Squadron Five (VP-5) where he was designated a Patrol Plane Mission Commander and completed multiple deployments, including numerous missions flown in support of Operation Desert Storm.
Deputy Commissioner Mays holds a bachelor’s degree from Auburn University. He is also an FAA licensed commercial pilot and certified flight instructor. He is also an active member of the Middle TN Chapter, MOAA.
Greg resides in Franklin, TN with his wife and two daughters.
MTC President's Letter
9/9/2024
Let’s stick with the legislative advocacy focus this month as we need to jumpstart Chapter member participation in the MOAA Legislative Action Center (LAC). We are trying to get everyone with internet access to sign into the LAC and use it to correspond with our elected representatives on issue important to former, current, and retired military members and surviving spouses. The site provides an excellent means of keeping up with current legislative activity. As you know, Congress is focused on stopgap funding (when the members aren’t running for their own seats or supporting others who are, of course!), but that only means providing support at current levels or not at all through the first week of November. I have consistently used the LAC to support those issues that are most important to me, and I highly recommend using the process since it’s the easiest way to do it! Please sign into MOAA’s Legislative Action Center at https://moaa.quorum.us and if you need any assistance in doing so, just ask any member of the MTC Board of Directors.
Our chapter supports military-related issues locally and nationally through the MOAA Foundation. If you are not aware of the Foundation, here is it’s focus: “The Foundation creates, enhances, expands, or supports high-impact, proven-successful programs and services for servicemembers and veterans of all ranks, and their families.” The Foundation is the source of the MOAA Grants that we have put to such good use over the past three years. We also actively support good local events and organizations. This month we’re going to help pack food bags at Operation Stand Down TN (OSDTN) in support of its Hunger Action Project. Please join us on 20 September from 12:00 to approximately 3:00 pm.
Our Chapter recruiting relies on our members! Please continue to let your contacts know about MOAA and our chapter. Invite them to one of our luncheons and let them witness what we are about. When they join, there are no dues for the year of joining, and if they join at the meeting their meal is on us.
Finally, I greatly look forward to seeing you at the September luncheon where we will hear from one of our newest members: Former Navy Lieutenant Greg Mays, who now serves as the Deputy Commissioner for TN’s Department of Safety and Homeland Security. His appointment to this position comes after a distinguished career in the United States Secret Service. Once again, we will meet at the Old Natchez Country Club, on 24 September at 11:30 am. Please don’t forget to RSVP via the link you will receive with the September Newsletter, which helps the Club staff provide their great level of support. See you there!
Larry Cotton, CAPT, US Navy (ret.)
President
“OSDTN Hunger Action Project”
Our Chapter has a Community Service Project coming up in association with Operation Stand Down TN (OSDTN).
On 20 September 2024 we will meet from 12:00 - 3:00 PM, at OSDTN , (1125 South 12th Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203) to assist in packing community food bags for the middle Tennessee veterans community, in conjunction with the OSDTN Operation Commissary program.
The project involves packing and loading food bags that will be delivered by OSDTN to registered participants. There is some bending and lifting involved, and depending on the number of MTC members that participate it normally does not take the full three hours. It is a casual opportunity for camaraderie with fellow members in support of a very good cause.
We have emailed an RSVP form for this event, and the upcoming Heroes Breakfastat the end of August. If you do not find the email, and want to participate, please send an email so indicating to info@mtcmoaa.org.
Please volunteer and show up at OSDTN on 20 September if you can!
In Process: MOAA Online Account Changes
8/28/2024
The modifications to the MOAA Website continue to be a work-in-process; however, you should now be able to login and validate your account. Please remember that your email address will be your new username and when you first login to the new application you may be asked to create a new password. If your first attempt at this update does not take, please try again. And please remember to vote for the election of Lt Col Karon Uzzell-Baggett, USAF (Ret.) to the MOAA National Board!
The online dues payment portal is down again and is now being replaced. No date avaiable for when it will be live again.
The Legislative Action Center can be accessed by opening the website, clicking on “Advocacy” and then choosing the “Legislative Action Center” from the list on the left side of the page. Please visit the MOAA Legislative Action Center soon!
We need your assistance!
We use a combination of methods to reach out to our members for dissemination of information, and for our annual membership dues and scholarship solicitations. Each method relies on one important factor, we have to use current email or postal addresses. And when mail is returned or emails are undeliverable we need valid phone numbers so that we can reach out to rectify the situation.
Each member provided current information when they joined; however, we know that as circumstances change , in many instances there are changes to email addresses, postal addresses and phone numbers.
This affects the Chapter, as well as the MOAA National database; so we need your assistance in keeping our records up to date for yourself as well as for your fellow Chapter members.