Passing the Baton: Chuck Runner to Mike Hoernemann
Chuck Runner is stepping down after serving eight years as president of Support Our Troops, Inc. (SOT) headquartered and operated at Robson Ranch. During his tenure the SOT charitable organization has grown to include well over 200 resident members and is currently providing support to 80 active duty service members who are relatives of Robson residents, as well to other military personnel and units, with special attention to those deployed overseas and in areas of ongoing combat operations. Chuck was presented with a plaque thanking and honoring him for his years of service to SOT. The plaque is inscribed, “With what we earn we make a living, with what we give we make a life.” Chuck and wife Barbara will regret leaving behind their many friends and neighbors as they relocate this summer from Robson Ranch to Virginia where they will reside with their youngest daughter and her family.
At their April Meeting SOT members approved the selection of Mike Hoernemann to succeed Chuck as president of the all-volunteer organization. Mike moved to Robson in July 2014 from San Diego, CA following the death of his wife of 50 years. He had a 49 year association with the Navy and other military branches. After graduating from the Naval Academy as a member of the Class of 1961, he served 10 years in uniform. His duties included two shipboard combat deployments to Vietnam and graduation from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA with an advanced degree in Oceanography. Assignments to the staff of the Fleet Anti-submarine Warfare (ASW) School in San Diego as an environmental specialist led him to a position at the Navy’s large San Diego Research and Development Laboratory where he would spend a total of 24 years as a civilian employee of the Navy and 11 years as a Defense consultant and contractor. During his time at the laboratory he held many technical and management positions, providing support to different branches of the military as well as the work in many classified Navy ASW programs.
Upon selection, Mike stated that he felt that the opportunity to succeed Chuck was for him an honor, a privilege and a challenge. He noted that he was a very strong supporter of the basic objectives of SOT and felt that the organization reflected the strong points of living at Robson Ranch, which he has come to love and appreciate during his short time here. Robson Ranch includes a group of dedicated hardworking volunteers with a wide range of expertise and a history of residents supporting residents. Robson residents joining SOT to show their support of military personnel who are relatives of residents as well as support for those residents themselves.