Our BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Ronnie Chronister joined Dynetics in November 2014 and currently serves as the  Senior Vice President, Weapons Technology, and Manufacturing Operations, responsible for a $600M portfolio that includes hypersonics, directed energy and all Army Aviation and Missile research, development and engineering programs. Mr. Chronister previously served as the Senior Vice President of Business Operations, and as the Director of Army, Cyber and Missile Defense Programs within Dynetics where he was responsible for the strategic planning and shaping of all Army, Army Cyber and missile defense programs.

Mr. Chronister has been recognized for his leadership and technical abilities, being inducted into the Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame and as a Distinguished Engineering Fellow, University of Alabama. He has received the Presidential Distinguished Rank Award, the Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service in 2012 and 2014, the Secretary of the Army Diversity and Leadership Award and the Secretary of the Army Small Business Award.

Mr. Chronister holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Alabama, and a Masters Degree in Program Management from the Naval Postgraduate School where he graduated with Distinction.

He lives in Athens with his wife Susan and is the father of daughter Kelly and twin sons, Keith and Kyle.

Mr. Chronister is an Army brat whose father is a Vietnam Veteran.  His interest in Honoring Veteran Legacies stems from his father’s sacrifices and experiences as a Vietnam Veteran and his own experiences as an Army civilian supporting and interacting with soldiers who supported Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom.  His concern for the mental well-being of these great veterans along with those from other conflicts and his belief that their stories and experiences should be documented drive the motivation for his commitment to Honoring Veteran Legacies.

Chris Batte is a retired Social Studies teacher and the wife of a retired Air Force officer. She and her husband James have three children and two grandchildren.  Chris was brought up understanding the sacrifices of war and has always had a reverent appreciation for our veterans. When teaching, she tried to bring veterans into the classroom as much as possible. After all, these men and women are walking and living primary resources! They know history first hand. 

After leaving teaching, Chris felt a strong desire to show honor and appreciation to our senior veterans and for three years, she worked as Alabama Coordinator for Forever Young Vets, who’s mission is to travel with senior veterans. After a couple of years in that position, Chris began to hear many of our senior veterans express their heart’s desire; that their sacrifices not be forgotten. Because of this, she and Elaine decided to start the non profit organization Honoring Veteran Legacies, who’s mission is to keep those stories and sacrifices alive into future generations. These days, Chris is amazed anew every day that she gets to spend her time with our nation’s  heroes. She’s determined to help bring honor and healing to every single veteran that the Lord brings her way. 

Teresa Schmitt has been a trusted home financing advisor in the Huntsville/Madison area for 20 years. She joined FirstBank Mortgage in 2012 as a Senior Mortgage Loan Officer. Teresa has received multiple awards and recognition over the years for her production and high level of customer interaction and service. 

Her primary role is to consult with her customers and provide loan options for their individual needs. Teresa is passionate about helping others realize their dream of home-ownership and focuses on providing quality products with an emphasis on building and maintaining long term client relationships, while offering the most up-to-date information regarding home financing options and delivering exceptional customer service.

Teresa’s father's service in the U.S. Air Force took them to many states and overseas, as well. The family's final move brought them to Huntsville in 1968. After graduating from the University of North Alabama, Teresa married David Schmitt. They have been married 38 years and have two married, adult children, a granddaughter and a grandson. Teresa is an active member in her local community church and enjoys volunteering and participating in fundraisers for her church's missionaries. She also enjoys being part of the mission team visiting the Methodist Orphanage in Costa Rica. 

Teresa is a Gold Star family member and was bestowed an honorary membership of the local Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1067, due to the service and sacrifice of her father during the Vietnam War. She has a passion for serving those who have served, and those who currently serve our country.

She believes it is an honor and a privilege to serve on the Board of Honoring Veteran Legacies. It is her way of giving back to the community and to those who sacrificed so much to secure the freedoms we enjoy today. Helping preserve the memories and experiences of our valued veterans is paramount in teaching future generations that the cost of freedom is high and a gift from those who answered the call to duty.

Bob served 20 years in the US Marine Corps as a Combat Engineer Officer and retired to Huntsville in 2007.  He currently serves as the Vice President of Programs at MTA, Inc where he leads and manages the company’s programs and contracts which serve customers in Huntsville, AL, Houston, TX, and Picatinny, NJ.  Bob also supports the company’s Business Development department to research, propose, and capture new contract work.  While in the Marine Corps, Bob served in various peacetime and combat assignments that took him around the world from the comforts of the USA to the Middle East, the Far East, above the Arctic Circle, and to the land down under.  Bob earned a BS Degree in Construction from Auburn University in 1987, a Masters Degree in Logistics Management from the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in 1999, and his Project Management Professional (PMP) certification in 2017, 2020, and 2023.  Bob is active in the local community where he served with Leadership Greater Huntsville, went “Over-the-Edge” with Kids-to-Love, and has been involved with the Honoring Veteran Legacies team since 2019.  As the son of a Veteran, and as a Veteran himself, Bob is excited to serve on the Honoring Veteran Legacies Board where he can help guide and assist the organization in bringing due recognition and honor to our nation’s Veterans for their selfless service and sacrifices.  He and Jennifer, his wife of 36 years, have four grown children and are now “empty-nesters” in the Harvest/Toney area, but they have lots of farm animals to love on.

John Perry is a retired Army Command Sergeant Major. He continues to support the veteran community with his volunteer efforts. He is currently serving on the board of AUSA and the VVA. He is a past president for the Veterans Coalition and the Sergeants Major Association. He is very active in numerous veterans’ volunteer activities to include the Veterans Day Parade committee and the Veterans Memorial committee. He continues to support the soldiers and families in the Active Army, National Guard, and the Army Reserve. Perry retired for Chrysler Corporation after 30 years and is now employed with Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation as a Senior Production Engineer.  

J.D. Booker is a proud US Marine Corps Vietnam Veteran who served as a Staff Sergeant and leader for combat missions and now owns The Booker Farm, LLC, a 17+ acre farm committed to high-quality produce. After Vietnam, he served with the Los Angelas Police Department for 5 years as a civilian, and then owned a painting company in California for 15 years where he was awarded the Northrop Grumman Achievement Award for Contractors and also the SBA Contractor Award for 8a Certified Contractors.

He moved to Alabama in December of 2005 and completed various training courses offered by Alabama A&M, Tuskegee, Auburn, and Cornell Universities. He also served on the US Department of Agriculture Advisory Committee for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers. Some of his training included “Planning for Success, Sustainable Agriculture Training for Military Veterans” and he’s used that to provide therapeutic farming for veterans. 

J.D. is a lifetime member of the Vietnam Veterans of America, and is proud to serve on the Board for Honoring Veteran Legacies to help preserve each veteran's legacy, that none be forgotten and always appreciated. 

Sydney Goodwin Dean is a proud Army veteran, having served on active duty and in the reserves as an attorney in The United States Army Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps.  During her military career she was honored to serve as Chief of Legal Assistance, Senior Trial Counsel, and Acting Chief of Justice for the largest combat contingency force armored division in the free world, First Cavalry Division.  First Team!  Go Army!  She also served as Senior Trial Defense Counsel, Director of the Division Tax Program, Victim-Witness Liaison, as well as in administrative, contract, medical malpractice, insurance and law of war arenas, among others. Her husband, Paul, served as an Apache helicopter pilot, retiring after 23 years of service and 5300 flight hours.  After retirement, the Deans settled in beautiful Huntsville, Alabama, with their two daughters, Anna and Grace.  Paul became the Apache Fleet Manager on Redstone Arsenal and Sydney entered private practice.  She continues to serve, primarily through the Madison County Volunteer Lawyer Program (MCVLP), representing the indigent in our community.  For her volunteerism she has been recognized by the Alabama Access to Justice Commission and the Alabama State Bar, among others.  

Some of the Army awards she was honored to receive include two Meritorious Service Medals and the United States Army Chief of Staff’s Award for Excellence in Legal Assistance – but most importantly the privilege to serve soldiers and their families.  She is especially proud to be a part of Honoring Veteran Legacies as the organization honors and immortalizes veteran experiences through the collection and sharing of their stories and their legacy – a legacy of honor, hard work, sacrifice, and victory.