Patriotic Events At The Museum

By: Yvonne Dempsey

Many of you are as excited as we are to finally have our museum park finished! The Alabama Veterans Park is beautiful, and we invite everyone to join us for the ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday, Nov. 2 at 9 a.m. directly after Coffee Call, our free breakfast for veterans and their families on the first Saturday of the month at 8 a.m. It is an enjoyable time for food and fellowship. There are other events taking place at the museum the following weekend.

On Thursday, Nov. 7, the museum will host the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association’s inaugural Patriot Trail In Honor Of Veterans Celebration from 8-10 a.m. Featured speakers will be Sam Heflin, mayor of Priceville, AL, and Major General Janet Cobb, Executive Director U.S.S. Alabama Battleship Memorial Park. The N. AL. Patriot Trail honors and celebrates our veterans as it highlights museums, parks, memorials, and events in the North Alabama region. Several of the sites are close enough to visit in one day, perfect for fall outings with the family.

Athens State University will once again hold its Veterans Day program at the Alabama Veterans Museum on Friday, Nov. 8 at 11 a.m. The featured speaker will be Major General Frank J. Lozano, Program Executive Officer Missiles and Space at Redstone Arsenal. He is responsible for the development, production, fielding, sustainment, and international program aspects for assigned missile and space systems. MG Lozano assumed his current position in August 2022.

MG Lozano graduated from Texas A&M University in 1993 and commissioned as a second Lieutenant in the Armor Branch. He served as a Platoon Leader, Executive Officer, Cavalry Squadron Staff Officer and Calvary Troop Commander, before transitioning into the Army Acquisition Corps in 2001. He graduated with a MBA from the University of Texas at Arlington and served with Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control in Grand Prairie, TX, in 2002 as part of the Training With Industry (TWI) program.

After completion of Command and General Staff College, MG Lozano was assigned as the Assistant Product Manager for Project Manager Soldier Weapons, PEO Soldier, followed by an assignment as an Ammunition and Demolition System Acquisition Manager for the Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and the Army Research Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM).

In 2008, MG Lozano was assigned as a Department of the Army System Coordinator (DASC) for Tactical Missile Systems and Ballistic Missile Defense Systems. He was subsequently selected to be the Special Assistant for the Army’s Vice Chief of Staff. In his position as the Special Assistant, he provided insight, advice, and counsel on Army acquisition programs crossing many different functional capability areas.

MG Lozano commanded the Product Management Office for Soldier Protective Equipment, PEO Soldier from 2011 until 2014. From 2014 to 2016 he was assigned to the Joint Staff, J-8 Capabilities and Acquisition Division. Upon graduation from the U.S. Army War College, he assumed the position of Project Manager for the Lower Tier Project Office, PEO Missiles and Space from 2017 until 2020, followed by an assignment as the Integrated Fires and Rapid Capability Office PM. He was then assigned as the ASA (ALT) Chief of Staff from 2021 to 2022.

MG Lozano’s operational and combat experience include deployments to Bosnia, Kuwait, and Iraq. His awards and decorations include the Parachutist Badge, Ranger Tab, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal,

Joint Service Commendation Medal, the NATO Service Medal, the Army Staff Identification Badge, and the Joint Staff Identification Badge. He is certified in Program Management; Contracting; System Research; Planning and Engineering; and System Test career fields.

The deadline to reserve seats for this event is Monday, Nov. 4 at 5 p.m. Seating is limited, so please register in advance. Reservations can be made at www.athens.edu/veterans-day.

Please join us for these upcoming events as we recognize and honor our veterans, their service and sacrifices. We appreciate them and extend our heart-felt thanks to all of our veterans, heroes one and all.

By: Yvonne Dempsey