OUTER BANKS DETACHMENT STAFF BIOGRAPHIES

Commandant: Oyoma R. Bowser

E-Mail:

Ray, as he is known to his fellow Marines, is as local as it gets having been born and raised on the Outer Banks! Ray enlisted into the Marine Corps Delayed Entry Program while a senior at Manteo High school during the summer of 1989 and following his graduation the next year, reported for active duty to undergo initial training at Parris Island, South Carolina. Upon completion of recruit training, Ray received additional training as a field radio operator. Over the course of his enlistment, Ray served at various locations including: 29 Palms, California; Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan; aboard the USS Saint Louis; Subic Bay Naval Base, Philippine Islands; and with the Sixth Marines at Camp Lejuene. North Carolina. He is currently employed as a corrections officer with Dare County and resides in Kill Devil Hills with his wife Tamarra and their two children. Ray joined the Outer Banks Detachment in 2016, served a two-year term as Junior Vice Commandant and assumed the office Commandant on 14 January 2020.

Senior Vice-Commandant: Michael W. Wartenbee

E-Mail:

Mike is originally from Redmond, Oregon. Following the completion of high school, he enlisted the Marine Corps and received training as a rifleman. After serving four years with the Seventh Marines, Mike made a lateral move into the intelligence field and received extensive training as an imagery analyst. Throughout his career he was stationed in many places including Texas, California, Okinawa, Hawaii, North Carolina, and Colorado in support of many exercises in remote locations throughout the world. While stationed in Hawaii, Mike received his Bachelor of Science degree from Wayland Baptist University. He retired from active duty with 20 years of service as a Master Sergeant in February 2006. Since his retirement, he has received his Master’s degree in business administration and currently works as a configuration manager supporting the Navy's Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program. Mike joined the Marine Corps League Gold Leaf Detachment in 2006 and transferred to the Outer Banks Detachment in 2018 following his relocation to our area. Mike and his wife Carol, a retired Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer, reside in Currituck. They have two daughters, the youngest of which is in her junior year at Appalachian State University. Mike previously served as the detachment's Sergeant-at-Arms prior to his assuming his current billet on 14 January 2020.

Junior Past-Commandant: Daniel R. Hudson

E-Mail:

Originally from Texarkana, Texas, Dan is a graduate of Bauxite High School and Arkansas Technical. Following the completion of his undergraduate studies, Dan was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and assigned to flight training. He was subsequently designated as a naval aviator and continued to fly in the Marine Corps as a transport/refueling aircraft pilot until his retirement from the Marine Corps in 1995 at the rank of Major. Following his service, Dan continued to fly for Federal Express as a pilot, until retiring once again in 2014. Dan and his wife currently reside in Corolla. He has previously held the offices of Judge Advocate, Senior Vice-Commandant and Commandant.  Dan assumed his current duties as the Outer Banks Detachment's Junior Past-Commandant on 14 January 2020.

Adjutant: Robert J. Yanacek

E-Mail:

Chaplain: Richard Lawrenson

E-Mail:

Rick is originally from Washington, District of Columbia, and is the son of a retired Marine Gunnery Sergeant. He holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees from Liberty University, and since 1991 has been the Lead Pastor of Nags Head Church. In addition, he has served the Town of Nags Head as Chaplain for their Public Safety departments since 2003. With his wife Gail, Rick resides in Kitty Hawk. The Lawrensons have three grown and married children, and four grandchildren. Rick has served as the Chaplain of the Outer Banks Detachment since 13 January 2009.

Paymaster: Jorge L. Diaz

E-Mail:

Jorge was born in the Canal Zone, Panama and grew up in Oklahoma, Massachusetts, and Virginia. Following completion of high school, Jorge enlisted into the Marine Corps in 1971 and received training in office administration. Following his discharge from active service in 1976, Jorge began a lengthy career in finance, centered on investment banking, venture capital, and mortgage banking. In 2014, following his retirement, Jorge and his wife, Judy, moved to Southern Shores where they currently reside. Jorge has served in many volunteer capacities, including coaching youth baseball and chairing a prostate cancer golf tournament in Reston, Virginia. In addition to his service to our detachment, Jorge is also a member of Rotary International, and a founding board member of Trinity Christian School in Fairfax, Virginia. The Diaz's have five grown children, and are the proud grandparents of three. Jorge assumed his current duties as the Outer Banks Detachment's Paymaster on 13 November 2015.