Board of Directors

Raymond Sterling was born in Port Limon, Costa Rica to his beloved mother, Rita Sterling. He was raised in Passaic, NJ and graduated from Passaic High School in 1986. He entered the United States Army in December of 1986 and attended Basic Training at Fort Jackson, SC and Advanced Initial Entry Training at Fort Sam Houston, TX. He has over 24 years of Honorable service to his country. His deployments include Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Unified Response. Following Retirement from the Army, Ray worked as a government contractor for the Medical Communications for Combat Casualty Care (MC4) program providing guidance to Active and Reserve Medical providers on real time battlefield casualty surveillance and proper documentation of care using the Electronic Healthcare system during both pre-deployment training exercises and during their deployments in support of the Global War on Terrorism. Ray currently manages a clinic for the government in the Washington DC metropolitan area. MAJ Sterling is married to the former Joycelynn Roberson and they have four kids, Desiree, Jasmine, Raymond Jr, and Trinity.

Clay has served as Volunteer for The Elk Institute for several years, and has moved up to a board position.

Ray has served as Treasurer of the Elk Institute for over three years.

Chris and Connie Gay have been married 21 years. Chris served 25 years in the US Army both as a Ranger Qualified Infantryman and a Civil Affairs Specialist. Before retirement, Chris finished his degree in Criminal Justice. Connie is a Registered Nurse, who has worked diligently to bring awareness to mental health issues and now works as a Certified Emergency Room Nurse. Both Chris and Connie volunteer with the Elk Institute to assist all veterans with moving forward with their lives and to be able to enjoy life after service.

A retired Army Colonel JAG officer who served on active duty in Germany from 1975-1979 and from 1980-2005 in the Army Reserves and New Hampshire National Guard. He practiced law as a civilian attorney from 1980-2007 following which he served as a lobbyist in D.C. with the National Guard Association of the United States from 2007 -2015 focusing on legislation to improve personal, educational and mental health benefits for military members, veterans and their dependents. He currently serves as the New Hampshire Selective Service Director He is married to Susan, his wife 45 years. They have three daughters and three grandchildren.

Chris and Connie Gay have been married 21 years. Chris served 25 years in the US Army both as a Ranger Qualified Infantryman and a Civil Affairs Specialist. Before retirement, Chris finished his degree in Criminal Justice. Connie is a Registered Nurse, who has worked diligently to bring awareness to mental health issues and now works as a Certified Emergency Room Nurse. Both Chris and Connie volunteer with the Elk Institute to assist all veterans with moving forward with their lives and to be able to enjoy life after service.

Command Sergeant Major Jeffrey J. Mellinger assumed the duties as the U.S. Army Materiel Command’s Command Sergeant Major on Nov. 2, 2007, and retired on 31 December 2011 with nearly 40 years of continuous active duty. CSM Mellinger was drafted on April 18, 1972, at Eugene, Oregon. Following basic and advanced training at Fort Ord, California, he completed airborne training at Fort Benning, Georgia. His first assignment was in the Federal Republic of Germany as a unit clerk. Upon his return from Germany, CSM Mellinger was assigned to the 2d Battalion (Ranger), 75th Infantry, Fort Lewis, Washington. For the next five years, CSM Mellinger served as unit clerk, battalion personnel staff NCO, machinegun squad leader, rifle squad leader, rifle platoon sergeant and weapons platoon leader. He then performed drill sergeant duty at Fort Gordon, Georgia, and returned to the 2nd Ranger Battalion, serving again as a platoon sergeant. Additional assignments include: Special Forces Military Freefall Instructor, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; senior team leader, 75th Ranger Regimental Reconnaissance Detachment, Fort Benning, Georgia; Assistant Professor of Military Science, University of Alaska-Fairbanks; First Sergeant, Company C (Airborne), 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry (Manchu), Fort Wainwright, Alaska; Senior Enlisted Advisor, 41st Separate Infantry Brigade, Oregon Army National Guard; Command Sergeant Major, 3rd Battalion, 10th Infantry, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; Command Sergeant Major, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia; Commandant, U.S. Army Alaska Noncommissioned Officer’s Academy, Fort Richardson, Alaska; Command Sergeant Major, U.S Army Japan and 9th Theater Support Command, Camp Zama, Japan; Command Sergeant Major, First U.S. Army, Fort Gillem, Georgia; and Command Sergeant Major, Multi-National Force–Iraq from August 2004-May 2007.