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Veterans' Services
(586) 469-5315

County Veteran service Commissioners

To learn about the function of the Commissioners, please visit https://boardsandcommissions.macombgov.org/BoardsAndCommissions-Home

To view the Commission meeting schedule please visit /sites/default/files/content/government/vets/pdfs/2023-vrf-meeting-schedule-notice-signed.pdf?webdesign=adaptive, to view the Commission minutes, please visit  https://macombcomi.portal.civicclerk.com/  

Commissioners

 

Therese Wrobel, Chairman

US Air Force - Oct 1973 to Aug 11, 2005

Therese served 32 years in the Michigan Air National Guard and active duty and retired in 2005. She was first appointed to Macomb County Veterans Committee in December 2009 where she currently serves as Chairman. She has two married adult daughters, one in Michigan and one in New Jersey. She is the past National and past State Commander for the Polish Legion of American Veterans, USA and is active with that organization.

 

 

 

Michael Salyers, Vice Chairman

US Army - November 2, 1988 - August 31,2009.

Mike served from 2 November 1988 thru 31 August 2009 and flew CW4 Hueys and Blackhawks medivac. He has been on the  Committee since 2012 and is the Vice-Chairman.  He has been a husband for 40 years; father to 4, and a  grandfather to 6. He retired Fire Marshal of  Clinton Twp, MI and ER tech at Henry Ford Macomb.

 

 

 

Don Martindale, Member at Large

US Army - August 1966 - May 1968

Don has been a  resident of Warren, MI for forty years and has served on the Veterans Service Committee since July 2015 . He served in the US Army from August 1966 – May 1968, 1967 RVN 173rd Airborne, 1968 RVN 82nd Airborne. He has served with many Veterans Organizations for the past 25 years. He is a Purple Heart recipient.

 

 

 

Joel Rutherford, Secretary

US Air Force- 1973 - 1977 and from 1981-1998.

Joel was appointed as a member to the Veterans Services County Committee on September 24, 2020. He is retired from the United States Air Force, serving just over 20 years active duty, with 10 of those years being overseas. He served as an air traffic control specialist, retiring from Barksdale AFB, the world’s largest bomber base at the time, in Bossier City, Louisiana. After retirement, he worked for the Department of Defense, first as a federal contractor, then as a federal service civilian air traffic control supervisor retiring from Selfridge ANGB MI.  He held certifications in Enroute, Approach and Control Tower air traffic control operations. He was selected to remain at Tempelhof Central Airport, Berlin Germany, after the fall of the Berlin Wall to train incoming German civilian air traffic controllers to assist in the transition from military to civilian air traffic control. He was also Control Tower Operations Manager at Otis ANGB, Cape Cod Massachusetts, on 9/11, as his team launched F-15 fighter jets to attempt intercept of the airliners that crashed into the World Trade Center. Prior to his retirement at Selfridge, he was recognized as the Civilian Supervisor of the Year award winner for the 127th Wing.  He attended Eastern Michigan University, Embry Riddle University, along with numerous military and air traffic control related schools.

 

 

 

Manuel "Manny" Gonzales, Member at Large

US Army - 1979 - 1995

Manny served in the Desert Shield / Desert Storm conflict with numerous other deployments during his career. He is a recipient of the Combat Medical Badge and the Expect Field Medical Badge. He is Air Assault and Airborne qualified He is also a certified Law Enforcement Officer for the state of Iowa. He currently works as a Logistical Management Specialist and an advent DIYer. He have been a Committee member since 2021.

 

 

 

Robert Slavko

US Army 1969 - 1971

Robert is a combat wounded Vietnam Veteran and Purple Heart recipient.  He is a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Menge Post 6756 as well as the Disabled Veterans of America. He has over 38 years of public service serving as an Associate Member of the Warren Fraternal Order of Police, Public Service Director at the City of Warren, Board of Director member on the Warren Municipal Credit Union and on the Board of Directors for the City of Warren Retirement System.  He has been married over 54 years. 

 

 

 

David Archer, Member-at-Large

US Air Force June 1965 - July 1985

David retired from Wurtsmith Air Force Base with over 20 years of active service as a disabled Veteran. The skills he perfected in the Air Force include Physiological Training Specialist, Disaster Preparedness Specialist, Communications and Relay Center Equipment Repairman. Civilian experiences include Stat of Michigan Veterans Services as a Disabled Veteran Outreach Worker for Clinton Township.  The American Legion Annual National Employment Service Award was given to him for efforts during 2010 to ensure the economic well-being of the Veterans of Michigan.  Regional Business Representative gathering pertinent labor trends and data for Michigan Rehabilitation Service.  He is a life member of the Vietnam Veterans of America and the American Legion.  He has a Bachelor of Business Administration from Northwood University and has been a Macomb County resident for over 43 years.