Ray, as he is known to his fellow Marines, is as local as it gets having been born and raised on the Outer Banks! Ray enlisted into the Marine Corps Delayed
Entry Program while a senior at Manteo High school during the summer of 1989 and following his graduation the next year, reported for active duty to undergo initial training at
Parris Island, South Carolina. Upon completion of recruit training, Ray received additional training as a field radio operator. Over the course of his enlistment, Ray served at
various locations including: 29 Palms, California; Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan; aboard the USS Saint Louis; Subic Bay Naval Base, Philippine Islands; and with the Sixth Marines
at Camp Lejuene. North Carolina. He is currently employed as a corrections officer with Dare County and resides in Kill Devil Hills with his wife Tamarra and their two children.
Ray joined the Outer Banks Detachment in 2016, served a two-year term as Junior Vice Commandant and assumed the office Commandant on 14 January 2020.
Senior Vice-Commandant:
Michael W. Wartenbee
E-Mail:
Mike is originally from Redmond, Oregon. Following the completion of high school, he enlisted the Marine Corps and received training as a rifleman. After serving four years with the Seventh Marines, Mike made a lateral move into the intelligence field and received extensive training as an imagery analyst. Throughout his career he was stationed in many
places including Texas, California, Okinawa, Hawaii, North Carolina, and Colorado in support of many exercises in remote locations throughout the world. While stationed in Hawaii, Mike received his Bachelor of Science degree from Wayland Baptist University. He retired from active duty with 20 years of service as a Master Sergeant in February 2006. Since his retirement,
he has received his Master’s degree in business administration and currently works as a configuration manager supporting the Navy's Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program. Mike joined the Marine Corps League Gold Leaf Detachment in 2006 and transferred to the Outer Banks Detachment in 2018 following his relocation to our area. Mike and his wife Carol, a retired Coast Guard
Chief Petty Officer, reside in Currituck. They have two daughters, the youngest of which is in her junior year at Appalachian State University. Mike previously served as the detachment's Sergeant-at-Arms prior to his assuming his current billet on 14 January 2020.
Junior
Past-Commandant:
Daniel R. Hudson
E-Mail:
Originally
from Texarkana, Texas, Dan is a graduate of Bauxite High School and Arkansas Technical. Following the completion of his undergraduate studies, Dan was commissioned as a Second
Lieutenant and assigned to flight training. He was subsequently designated as a naval aviator and continued to fly in the Marine Corps as a transport/refueling aircraft pilot
until his retirement from the Marine Corps in 1995 at the rank of Major. Following his service, Dan continued to fly for Federal Express as a pilot, until retiring once again
in 2014. Dan and his wife currently reside in Corolla. He has previously held the offices of Judge Advocate, Senior Vice-Commandant and Commandant. Dan assumed his current
duties as the Outer Banks Detachment's Junior Past-Commandant on 14 January 2020.
Adjutant:
Robert J. Yanacek
E-Mail:
Originally
from Euclid, Ohio, Robert is a graduate of Euclid High School and Cleveland State University. He enlisted into the Marine Corps Reserve
and received training as an infantryman while pursuing his undergraduate studies. Once those studies were completed, he entered active
service. Robert served in the Marine Corps in various billets and assignments for a period of 23 years until his retirement in 2001 at
the rank of Master Sergeant. He then, along with his wife and their seven children, moved to Kill Devil Hills where he currently resides.
Robert is currently employed as a Support Manager at the Wal-Mart store in Kitty Hawk. In addition to their children, Robert and his
wife, Diane, are also the proud grandparents of five. Robert is a charter-member of the
Outer Banks Detachment and has served in a number of billets including Web Sergeant, Sergeant-at-Arms, Junior Vice-Commandant, and Senior
Vice-Commandant. Robert assumed the duties as Adjutant for the Outer Banks Detachment on 14 October 2014.
In addition to his membership in the Marine
Corps League Outer Banks Detachment he is also a
member of the Marine Corps Veterans Association
and the Marine Bombing Squadron Six-Thirteen
Association.
Chaplain:
Richard Lawrenson
E-Mail:
Rick is originally from Washington, District of Columbia, and is the son of a retired Marine Gunnery Sergeant.
He holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees from Liberty University, and since 1991 has been the
Lead Pastor of Nags Head Church. In addition, he has served the Town of Nags Head as Chaplain for their
Public Safety departments since 2003. With his wife Gail, Rick resides in Kitty Hawk. The Lawrensons have
three grown and married children, and four grandchildren. Rick has served as the Chaplain of the Outer
Banks Detachment since 13 January 2009.
Paymaster:
Jorge L. Diaz
E-Mail:
Jorge
was born in the Canal Zone, Panama and grew up
in Oklahoma, Massachusetts, and Virginia. Following completion of high school, Jorge enlisted into the
Marine Corps in 1971 and received training in office administration. Following his discharge from active
service in 1976, Jorge began a lengthy career in finance, centered on investment banking, venture capital,
and mortgage banking. In 2014, following his retirement, Jorge and his wife, Judy, moved to Southern
Shores where they currently reside. Jorge has served in many volunteer capacities, including coaching
youth baseball and chairing a prostate cancer golf tournament in Reston, Virginia. In addition to his
service to our detachment, Jorge is also a member of Rotary International, and a founding board member
of Trinity Christian School in Fairfax, Virginia. The Diaz's have five grown children, and are the
proud grandparents of three. Jorge assumed his current duties as the Outer Banks Detachment's Paymaster
on 13 November 2015.
Ray, as he is known to his fellow Marines, is as local as it gets having been born and raised on the Outer Banks! Ray enlisted into the Marine Corps Delayed
Entry Program while a senior at Manteo High school during the summer of 1989 and following his graduation the next year, reported for active duty to undergo initial training at
Parris Island, South Carolina. Upon completion of recruit training, Ray received additional training as a field radio operator. Over the course of his enlistment, Ray served at
various locations including: 29 Palms, California; Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan; aboard the USS Saint Louis; Subic Bay Naval Base, Philippine Islands; and with the Sixth Marines
at Camp Lejuene. North Carolina. He is currently employed as a corrections officer with Dare County and resides in Kill Devil Hills with his wife Tamarra and their two children.
Ray joined the Outer Banks Detachment in 2016, served a two-year term as Junior Vice Commandant and assumed the office Commandant on 14 January 2020.
Mike is originally from Redmond, Oregon. Following the completion of high school, he enlisted the Marine Corps and received training as a rifleman. After serving four years with the Seventh Marines, Mike made a lateral move into the intelligence field and received extensive training as an imagery analyst. Throughout his career he was stationed in many
places including Texas, California, Okinawa, Hawaii, North Carolina, and Colorado in support of many exercises in remote locations throughout the world. While stationed in Hawaii, Mike received his Bachelor of Science degree from Wayland Baptist University. He retired from active duty with 20 years of service as a Master Sergeant in February 2006. Since his retirement,
he has received his Master’s degree in business administration and currently works as a configuration manager supporting the Navy's Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program. Mike joined the Marine Corps League Gold Leaf Detachment in 2006 and transferred to the Outer Banks Detachment in 2018 following his relocation to our area. Mike and his wife Carol, a retired Coast Guard
Chief Petty Officer, reside in Currituck. They have two daughters, the youngest of which is in her junior year at Appalachian State University. Mike previously served as the detachment's Sergeant-at-Arms prior to his assuming his current billet on 14 January 2020.
Originally
from Texarkana, Texas, Dan is a graduate of Bauxite High School and Arkansas Technical. Following the completion of his undergraduate studies, Dan was commissioned as a Second
Lieutenant and assigned to flight training. He was subsequently designated as a naval aviator and continued to fly in the Marine Corps as a transport/refueling aircraft pilot
until his retirement from the Marine Corps in 1995 at the rank of Major. Following his service, Dan continued to fly for Federal Express as a pilot, until retiring once again
in 2014. Dan and his wife currently reside in Corolla. He has previously held the offices of Judge Advocate, Senior Vice-Commandant and Commandant. Dan assumed his current
duties as the Outer Banks Detachment's Junior Past-Commandant on 14 January 2020.
Originally
from Euclid, Ohio, Robert is a graduate of Euclid High School and Cleveland State University. He enlisted into the Marine Corps Reserve
and received training as an infantryman while pursuing his undergraduate studies. Once those studies were completed, he entered active
service. Robert served in the Marine Corps in various billets and assignments for a period of 23 years until his retirement in 2001 at
the rank of Master Sergeant. He then, along with his wife and their seven children, moved to Kill Devil Hills where he currently resides.
Robert is currently employed as a Support Manager at the Wal-Mart store in Kitty Hawk. In addition to their children, Robert and his
wife, Diane, are also the proud grandparents of five. Robert is a charter-member of the
Outer Banks Detachment and has served in a number of billets including Web Sergeant, Sergeant-at-Arms, Junior Vice-Commandant, and Senior
Vice-Commandant. Robert assumed the duties as Adjutant for the Outer Banks Detachment on 14 October 2014.
In addition to his membership in the Marine
Corps League Outer Banks Detachment he is also a
member of the Marine Corps Veterans Association
and the Marine Bombing Squadron Six-Thirteen
Association.
Rick is originally from Washington, District of Columbia, and is the son of a retired Marine Gunnery Sergeant.
He holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees from Liberty University, and since 1991 has been the
Lead Pastor of Nags Head Church. In addition, he has served the Town of Nags Head as Chaplain for their
Public Safety departments since 2003. With his wife Gail, Rick resides in Kitty Hawk. The Lawrensons have
three grown and married children, and four grandchildren. Rick has served as the Chaplain of the Outer
Banks Detachment since 13 January 2009.
Jorge
was born in the Canal Zone, Panama and grew up
in Oklahoma, Massachusetts, and Virginia. Following completion of high school, Jorge enlisted into the
Marine Corps in 1971 and received training in office administration. Following his discharge from active
service in 1976, Jorge began a lengthy career in finance, centered on investment banking, venture capital,
and mortgage banking. In 2014, following his retirement, Jorge and his wife, Judy, moved to Southern
Shores where they currently reside. Jorge has served in many volunteer capacities, including coaching
youth baseball and chairing a prostate cancer golf tournament in Reston, Virginia. In addition to his
service to our detachment, Jorge is also a member of Rotary International, and a founding board member
of Trinity Christian School in Fairfax, Virginia. The Diaz's have five grown children, and are the
proud grandparents of three. Jorge assumed his current duties as the Outer Banks Detachment's Paymaster
on 13 November 2015.
