Tuesday, May 17, 2005
Contact: Spence Jackson, (573)751-0290
Blunt Appoints Members to Military Preparedness and Enhancement Commission
JEFFERSON CITY—Gov. Matt Blunt has appointed five members to the Military Preparedness and Enhancement Commission.
Blunt signed SB 252 into law on May 11, 2005, which created the commission. The commission will work with communities to make recommendations on community relations and interstate cooperation on military issues. The commission is tasked with assisting communities that are affected by base reassignments and closures. The commission serves as clearinghouse for information regarding federal actions that have the potential to impact Missouri and local communities.
The following are Blunt’s appointments to the Military Preparedness and Enhancement Commission:
- Craig Borchelt currently serves as a major in the United States Army Reserve assigned to the U.S. Army Human Resources Command- St. Louis. Borchelt is a West Point graduate and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army and assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 37th Armor, 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kansas. Borchelt holds a master’s in business administration and a doctorate in law from Washington University.
- Loretta S. Charleston is the executive director of the Missouri Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. Charleston began her military as personnel specialists assigned to the 131st Military Personnel Flight in 1980 and retired in 2001 as a chief master sergeant. Charleston holds a bachelor degree in business administration from Columbia College and graduated from the Dale Carnegie Course with an achievement award for outstanding performance.
- Kent D. Thomas is chancellor of Southwest Missouri State University- West Plains. Thomas was active in the U.S. Army for twenty-four years before joining SMSU. Thomas holds a bachelor degree in international relations from Georgetown University, a master’s degree in industrial relations from Purdue University and a master’s degree in military arts and science from the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Thomas also graduated from the Command and General Staff College School of Advanced Military Studies and United States Army War College.
- Robert L. Welling operates a private law practice in Warrensburg. Welling served in the Army from 1955 to 1957 and was stationed in France. Welling is a member of the Board of Directors of Whiteman Area Leadership Council. Welling participated in the 2004 U.S. Air Force National Security Forum at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama. Welling’s holds a juris doctorate from the St. Louis University School of Law.
- Dalton Wright is president and owner of the Lebanon Publishing Co., Richland Publishing Co., Ozark County Times Publishing Co., Webster County Publishing Inc., and the Pulaski County Democrat Inc. Wright was a Navy bomber pilot in Vietnam. Wright holds a bachelor degree in business from the University of Missouri.