The Veterans Park Conservancy (VPC) – a local organization committed to honoring our military veterans by successfully preserving, protecting and enhancing the West Los Angeles VA property – has announced the appointment of retired U.S. Air Force Colonel and local nonprofit leader Curtis Mack as its new Executive Director. Sue Young, who helped define VPC’s mission and legacy, will retire from the post after 28 years of service, effective May 29.
Mack has spent his entire adult life in service to his country – in uniform, government service, and leading non-profit organizations. He will bring 30 years of experience to VPC.
“In a time like this, when we depend on more support and engagement from our community than at perhaps any other point in our history, we need someone who can hit the ground running – someone who understands what veterans need, and what nonprofits need to be successful,” said Henley Saltzberg, President of the VPC Board of Directors. “With Sue stepping down after years of amazing service to our local veterans, I can’t think of anyone we’d rather have taking the helm for us than Curtis.”
Starting on day one, Mack will apply his many years of experience to engage community stakeholders and send a strong message about the importance of VPC’s role in the community.
“We have some critical work ahead of us to ensure that our efforts continue to serve local veterans for years and generations to come,” Mack said. “I am honored to be able to fill Sue Young’s shoes, and I look forward to using my experience, both in uniform and in our community, to benefit this organization and the veterans it serves, and continue our work for those who have gallantly served our country.”
Mack has been intricately involved in the cultural fabric of Los Angeles serving for more than 23 years as the President of the nationally respected Los Angeles World Affairs Council and was the founder and President of the Los Angeles Global Forum.
Mack also spent almost 31 years in active and reserve military duty, retiring as a colonel in the U.S. Air Force. Among his personal decorations are the Legion of Merit and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal. Mack further served his country by serving in a sub-cabinet position in the Reagan Administration. A Senate-confirmed appointee, he was an Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Deputy Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Earlier in his career he worked with the Veterans Administration as Assistant to the Director of the Los Angeles Regional Office and also as the Assistant Veterans Services Officer. There he was responsible for all public contact with veterans concerning non-medical benefits.
He holds a bachelor’s degree and two master’s degrees from the University of Southern California and is a life member of both the Air Force Association and the Navy League.
