USSM Missouri Memorial Association Announces the Addition of New and Returning Members to its 2020-2021 Board of Directors
Pearl Harbor, HI – (June 26, 2020) – The USS Missouri Memorial Association announces Captain Steve Colón, U.S. Navy (Ret.) as Chairman and Rear Admiral Pete Gumataotao, U.S. Navy (Ret.) as Vice Chair and Secretary of its Board of Directors. The Association also welcomes new member Robert Bruhl and welcomes back previous board member Vice Admiral Mike Vitale, U.S. Navy (Ret.).
Despite the challenges of these unprecedented times, the USS Missouri Memorial Association Board of Directors looks to its newly appointed and returning board members for guidance into the next year.
Later this year, the Association will commemorate the 75th anniversary of the End of WWII under the theme Salute their Service, Honor their Hope, where newly appointed Chair, Captain Steve Colon, USN (Ret.), also serves as the Governor’s Commemoration Committee Co-Chair.
Captain Steve Colón, U.S. Navy (Ret.), Chairman
Colón is the Association’s new chairman replacing the late Tim Guard. In July 2019, Colón returned to the Association as a board member again, which he previously served from 2012 – 2018. Colón is president of Hunt Development Group LLC’s Hawai‘i Division overseeing development activities on O’ahu, Island of Hawai‘i, Maui and Kaua‘i. In 2006, he retired as a Captain after serving 26 years in the Navy and Navy Reserve. Colón graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1981 and earned his Master of Business Administration in Finance from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1990. One of his career highlights was serving aboard the USS Adroit (MSO-509) during Operation Desert Storm as the Operations Officer. Adroit escorted the USS Missouri (BB-63) into combat operations in support of the ground war and was witness to the mighty Battleship’s 16 inch gun fires. He was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V” for valor.
Rear Admiral Pete Gumataotao, U.S. Navy (Ret.), Vice Chair & Secretary
Gumataotao began his journey with the Association in July 2019 as its newest board member. During his 37-year career with the Navy, he spent multiple tours at sea operating in the Asia-Pacific region. His last eight years were spent in various Flag Officer assignments, culminating in his command of all United States Navy surface forces in the Atlantic. Gumataotao also served as the Commander, Strike Group Eleven / Nimitz Strike Group. Currently, he is the Director at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (DKI APCSS). Gumataotao also graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1981 and earned a Master of Arts in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College in 1994.
Robert Bruhl, Board Member
Bruhl is the president of D.R. Horton Hawaiʻi where he leads a diverse team responsible for all facets of the local operations of the nation’s largest homebuilder. He has been with the company since 2003, having previously run its business development, entitlements, planning and construction areas at different times. Previously, Bruhl worked as an officer with The Cypress Group, a private equity corporate investment firm in New York City as part of a ten-year investment banking career that started at Salomon Smith Barney (now Citigroup). He holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting from Boston College. He is an Omidyar Fellow.
Vice Admiral Mike Vitale, U.S. Navy (Ret.), Board Member
Vitale is a managing director for KPMG’s federal advisory practice, advising clients in the areas of finance management, infrastructure and real property management, cyber security, intelligent automation solutions, low-code platforms and emerging technologies. In 2012 and after a 35-year career in the U.S. Navy, Vitale retired after serving as third Commander for the U.S. Navy Installations Command, where he was responsible for the readiness of 70 Navy bases worldwide. He had previously been the Commander of Navy Region Hawaii from 2004-2006 during the Missouri’s initial years as a memorial. Prior to joining KPMG, he served as the Executive Director of the University of Hawai‘i’s Applied Research Lab.
Please credit images to the Battleship Missouri Memorial
Link to Image: https://imgur.com/a/Lrl1onO
Caption: Captain Steve Colón, U.S. Navy (Ret.), Chairman
Link to Image: https://imgur.com/a/jSuRCSz
Caption: Rear Admiral Pete Gumataotao, U.S. Navy (Ret.), Vice Chair & Secretary
Link to Image: https://imgur.com/a/BVtDEcX
Caption: Robert Bruhl, Board Member
Link to Image: https://imgur.com/a/SDaOJBx
Caption: Vice Admiral Mike Vitale, U.S. Navy (Ret.), Board Member
About the Battleship Missouri Memorial
Since opening in January 1999, the Battleship Missouri Memorial has attracted more than 9- million visitors from around the world with a fascinating tour experience showcasing the USS Missouri’s unique place in history. Located a mere ship’s length from the USS Arizona Memorial, the Mighty Mo completes a historical visitor experience that begins with the “day of infamy” and sinking of the USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 and ends with Japan’s formal surrender aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945.
The USS Missouri had an astounding career over five decades and three wars – World War II, the Korean War, and Desert Storm – after which it was decommissioned and donated to the USS Missouri Memorial Association, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The Association operates the Battleship Missouri Memorial as a historic attraction and oversees her care and preservation with the support of visitors, memberships, grants, and donations.
For more information call (808) 455-1600 or visit USSMissouri.org.
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Media Contact:
Shere’e Quitevis
(808) 741-1668
Sheree.Quitevis@AnthologyGroup.com
Jaclyn Hawse
(808) 455-1600 ext.246
JaclynH@ussmissouri.org