AFCEA International Names Lt. Gen. Robert M. Shea, USMC (Ret.), as President and Chief Executive Officer

FAIRFAX, Va., June 25, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AFCEA International is pleased to announce the appointment of Lt. Gen. Robert "Bob" M. Shea, USMC (Ret.), as president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the association, effective August 1, 2014. Gen. Shea succeeds Kent Schneider, who served as AFCEA's president and chief executive officer for seven years.

Gen. Shea comes to AFCEA from Smartronix Incorporated where he was the executive vice president of strategic solutions for seven years. Prior to retiring from 36 years on active duty, the general served as the director of command, control, communications and computer (C4) systems, Joint Chiefs of Staff. In addition, Gen. Shea's military career includes service as:

• Deputy Commander, U.S. Forces Japan
• Commander, Marine Component, Joint Task Force Computer Network Defense
• Director, Marine Corps Command and Control Systems School
• Commanding Officer, 9th Communications Battalion, I Marine Expeditionary Force, operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm
• Director for C4, U.S. Marine Corps
• Chief Information Officer, U.S. Marine Corps.

Gen. Shea joined AFCEA in 1989 and has served on the association's board of directors and Executive Committee. The general also has participated in AFCEA chapters as the president of the Quantico-Potomac and Hawaii chapters, and he won the Rocky Mountain Chapter Leadership Award. In addition, he has been an active supporter of the association by participating in and speaking at several AFCEA International conferences.

Gen. Shea says he is honored and flattered to be appointed to this position. "When you look at the mission of AFCEA, how can you not be excited about working with an organization whose purpose is to promote international security with our allies and partners?" he states.

Both Gen. Shea and Linda Gooden, recently elected AFCEA chair of the board of directors, cite the tremendous contributions Kent Schneider, AFCEA's outgoing president and CEO, has made to the association over the years. "Kent is a patriot and a great leader," Gooden says. "He has led the organization through some of the most difficult times in recent history. … Many of us who know Kent recognize that Kent cares. He cares about the members, chapters and the AFCEA association. I am convinced the association is better today because of Kent's steadfast leadership."

AFCEA International, established in 1946, is a non-profit membership association serving the military, government, industry and academia. Join online.

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SOURCE AFCEA International