Skip to main content

About Us


Our History

Otis Civilian Advisory Council Inc., in Falmouth, Massachusetts was established in 1947.

One of the beliefs about our formation is that the commander of Camp Edwards, from 1947 to 1950, Col. William Tow, was the first person to get the military and the surrounding communities to meet.

His primary task was to establish a new Air Force base. During 1947-1948, the base changed into Otis Air Force Base. Col. Tow remained on the active council even after retiring.

Otis Memorial Park

Otis Memorial Park project was our first major project. Established in 1969, it was built to honor 50 fallen military personnel, assigned to Otis/Camp Edwards who perished in three different crashes. An estimated $24,000 was raised for the project.

To learn more about the park and the memorial plaques and stones:

After the Creation of the Park

Because of the success of the fundraising of the park and the communities enthusiasm and spirit, we were encouraged to continue supporting the base and its troops. 

In the 1970’s, different programs were developed to help military personnel and their families. The projects included a Scholarship program and Military Awards Night, an annual dinner in honor of outstanding members of the military units. These two programs have been continued without fail up until present day.

Since then we have added

Chaplain’s Fund

     Which Distributes: Food Cards, Gas Cards, and other financial assistance as situations arise.

Children’s Fund provides events and other means to make the children feel special and help relieve some of the financial burden:

     – Easter Egg hunt

     – Halloween Party

     – Christmas Party

     – Special Programs

     – Chaplain’s Fund

List of presidents

2025-2026 – Doug B. Tierney

2023-2024 – Kathy Johnson

2021-2022 – Vonnie Jacquard

2020 – Edward Van Keuren (August – December 2020)

2020 – Sari Budrow (January – July 2020)

2018-2019 – John Souza

2016-2017 – Anthony DeMambro

2014-2015 – Donald Cox

2012-2013 – John P. Vidal

2010-2012 – Charles Peterman Jr.

2008-2009 – Calvin Lessard

2006-2007 – Jimmy Dishner

2004-2005 – Janice M. Heckler-Souweine

2002-2003 – Normand Theriault

2000-2001 – Ronald Haley

1999 – Sandra Hill Fenrick

1998 – John E. O’Brien

1997 – Arthur Ratsy

1996 – Ralph Negron

1995 – Frank J. Burry, Jr.

1994 – Phillip N. Whittaker

1993 – Edwin Miller

1992 – Ronald Backnick

1991 – Michael J. Frucci

1990 – Robert Crane

1989 – Thomas G. Judge, Jr.

1988 – Leslie C. Sutherland

1987 – Joseph G. Gregory

1986 – David P. Sampson

1985 – Robert H. Wilke

1984 – William Marion

1983 – Luke P. Lally

1982 – Norman C. LaForest

1981 – Ransom “Raz” Parker

1980 – Donald Hall

1977 – Benjamin Fleet

1976 – E. Thomas Murphy

1975 – Joseph Moshier

1974 – Harold L. Baker

1972 – John Kayajan

1971 – Kenneth R. Lydecker

1970 – Elio P. Oliva

1969 – Paul Lorusso

1968 – Phillip Sanford

1967 – George B. Westom