Honorary First Defenders Allentown. The Honorary First Defenders strives to perpetuate the memory of the First Defenders who defended our Capitol in 1861 and supports our local military reserve units.
In The Valley

The Honorary First Defenders 80th Annual Meeting and Dining-In Green Pond County Club



 

80th Annual Meeting and Dining-In

Green Pond County Club

3598 Farmersville Road, Bethlehem, PA 18020

Friday, April 26, 2019 at 6 PM

 

Honored service: United States NAVY

Guest Speaker, FORCM (FMF/SW) CHRIS D. KOTZ

NAVY RESERVE FORCE

The Honorary First Defenders, Allentown Chapter will hold its 80th annual Meeting and Dining-In on Friday, April 26th at the Green Pond County Club in Bethlehem, PA. The honored service is the United States NAVY, FORCM (FMF/SW) Chris D. Kotz as the guest of honor. The night will conclude with a Change of Command ceremony of the HFD.

  • 6 PM – cocktails
  • 7 PM – Dinner and Ceremony begins
  • Colors presented
  • Mess Rules are followed – all donations support the local reserve/guard units
  • Remarks by the guest of honor, FORCM (FMF/SW) Chris D. Kotz
  • Business Dinner Meeting, HFD Commander,LTC Gregory Heller, USA (ret)
  • New member indoctrination
  • Change of Command Ceremony, Incoming HFD Commander
    MG Gerald C. Still USAF (ret)

                                     http://www.honoraryfirstdefenders.com/

 

FORCM (FMF/SW) CHRIS D. KOTZ NAVY RESERVE FORCE

Force Master Chief Chris Kotz, a native of North Augusta, South Carolina, enlisted in the United States Navy in February 1991. Following graduation from basic training at Recruit Training Command, San Diego, California, he reported to Basic Hospital Corps School, Naval School of Health Sciences, San Diego, California. Kotz later graduated from the Surface Force Independent Duty Corps School and also the Field Medical Service School. United States Navy Senior Enlisted Academy (Class 140), Command Leadership School (Class 95) and has earned a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management from Ashford University.

Kotz completed sea duty assignments at USS ESTOCIN (FFG 15), USS SAMUEL ELIOT MORISON (FFG 13), USS STEPHEN W. GROVES (FFG 29), LCS Crew 101 in USS FREEDOM (LCS 1) and USS FORT WORTH (LCS 3).

Ashore, his tours include Navy Reserve Center, Tyler, Texas, Branch Medical Clinic Fort Worth, Texas, Navy Reserve Readiness Command South (formerly REDCOM 11), Inspector-Instructor, Company F(-), 2d Battalion, 23d Marines, and Littoral Combat Ship Squadron ONE.

Kotz also has as a combat tour with Task Force Military Police, 1st Battalion, 14th Marines (Reinforced) in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. His last assignment was as the Command Master Chief to Commander, Marine Forces Reserve and Marine Forces North headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana.

He is designated a Fleet Marine Force Warfare and Surface Warfare Specialist. Kotz’s personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (six awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (four awards), and various unit and campaign awards. Kotz became the 16th Force Master Chief of the Navy Reserve on October 13, 2017. He is married to the former Kristen Harris of Tyler, Texas, and has two children, Alexis and Jaxon.

Information provided to TVL by:
Vi Hertzog
Honorary First Defenders
Public Information Officer