Board of Directors Election

As a Soarion Credit Union member, you have a voice in who serves on your volunteer Board of Directors. Board members provide strategic direction, formulate policies and ensure the financial soundness of the Credit Union.

This year, the Board has three 3-year vacancies. It is the duty of the Nominating Committee to nominate at least one member for each of these positions, with the election to be held at the credit union's 2024 Annual Meeting. The Nominating Committee received submissions from three individuals indicating their desire to serve on the Board. The Nominating Committee found the candidates qualified and agreeable to having their names placed in the nomination. The nominees for the Soarion Credit Union Board of Directors are: Melvin J. Moczygemba, Brian K. Rawls, and Dr. Thomas Scott, EdD.

According to Article V of the Bylaws, when only one member is nominated for each position to be filled, the election will not be conducted by ballot and there will be no nominations from the floor. The nominees will be declared elected by general consent, acclamation, or voice vote at the 2024 Annual Meeting.

Update: The three candidates were confirmed for their appointments by unanimous consent at the Annual Membership Meeting at 4:00 PM on March 25, 2024 at Soarion Credit Union Headquarters at 1560 Cable Ranch Road Suite 200, San Antonio, TX 78245.

Michael M. Buecher TSgt, USAF, Ret., CCD, CCUV, NCVE

Incumbent Board Director with 25 plus years of service to AFFCU. Current Chairman, Supervisory (Audit) and Building Committees. Additional Board assignments include Merger Committee. Immediate Past Chairman of the Board and current Board Director, National Association of Credit Union Supervisory and Audit Committees (NACUSAC). United States Air Force retired, 1991. Retired 2013, after 16 years with City of San Antonio Aviation Department and Finance Department (COSA). Social Services Coordinator, St. Brigid Catholic Church, 2013 - 2018. Former employment positions include Contract Coordinator/Real Estate Supervisor, COSA Aviation Department; Management Analyst, COSA Finance Department; Asst. State Auditor, State of Texas; and Budget/Management Analyst with Bexar County. Education: Diploma in Atmospheric Science(Meteorology), September 1984 Bachelor's Degree (BA) in Public Administration, December 1994; and Master’s Degree (MS) in Urban Administration, May 1996. Current credit union designations include Certified Credit Union Director (CCD); Certified Credit Union Volunteer (CCUV-Auditing); and NAFCU Certified Volunteer Expert (NCVE). Experience includes Contract Negotiation/Administration; Property Management/Construction Coordination; Budget/Management Analysis; Financial, Performance and Compliance Auditing; and Project Analysis.

My priorities include maintain AFFCU's financial strength; seek and evaluate programs that increase Member benefits and services, and improve Member's accessibility to their accounts by electronic means.

I have been married 47 years to wife, Micaela. We have 4 children, 2 granddaughters and 3 great grandchildren.

Sam V. Farace, Jr., Colonel, USAF, (Ret) NCVE

Incumbent Director. Retired from the Air Force at Lackland Air Force Base, serving as Commander, 37th Logistics Group, culminating 28 years’ service. Strongly supports membership benefits and services, resulting in Air Force Credit Union’s selection as “Best in the Air Force” five times. Education includes Bachelor of Science degree with concentration in Finance and Economics and Master’s degree in Human Resource Management. Participates in Volunteer Leadership and Achievement Programs, earning the powerful designation of NAFCU Certified Volunteer Expert (NCVE). Received the Credit Union Services Award certification and the Board of Directors and Leadership Awards from the Texas Credit Union League and the Credit Union National Association, Inc. Strong supporter of the Airman Heritage Foundation. Military career includes extensive experience/ background in Resource and Budget Management. Key member of the 37th Wing’s Financial Management Board and Civilian Employment Cost Management Committees. Served as HQ AETC Inspector General Director responsible for Auditing: provided policy and guidance on financial matters and earned Resource Manager of the Year Award. Commercial experiences include Marketing/ Business Development and Consulting in Information Technology, Aerospace, Space Technology and Security. As a Director with over 25 years of service to the Credit Union, he is currently serving on the Executive Committee as Chairman and previously as Vice Chair and Treasurer. Additionally, he serves on the Employees’ Pension, Compensation, Strategic and Succession Planning and Building Committees. Member of several civic, fraternal, and professional associations past and present: USO Directors, Air Force Association, and Military Officers Association member.

John A. Szulta III, Lieutenant Colonel, USAF, Ret

I began my career upon graduating from the US Air Force Academy in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. After serving 28 years I retired at Lackland AFB in May 2007. My Air Force assignments included B-52 Aircraft Commander, Treaty on Open Skies Mission Commander, and Chief of Divisions for Operations Security, Information Warfare, and Resource and Personnel Readiness. These duties took me throughout the United States and gave me the opportunity to benefit from the services of several credit unions where I learned the advantages a credit union has over commercial banking. In 2009 I was asked to join the AFFCU Supervisory Committee where I reviewed all financial audits ensuring the credit union and our management conducted business in upstanding manner. In 2013 I was invited to fill a vacancy in the Board of Directors and was elected to my first three-year term in 2014. I currently chair the Advisory Committee responsible for evaluating volunteers interested in donating their expertise knowledge to assist the Board research solutions for new and unforeseen challenges. I also sit on the Planning Committee to develop strategic goals ensuring our policies and future expansion (new branches/mergers) meet the members’ needs (especially those on active duty), and on the Youth Committee to evaluate the annual college scholarship applications. Member of several civic, fraternal, and professional associations to include Civil Air Patrol, Knights of Columbus and Military Officers Association of America.