Chapter Leadership
Fabian “Raptor” Cardona is a retired Air Force Veteran of nearly 22 years. An avid rider, he joined the American Legion Riders while stationed in Okinawa, Japan and held his membership for seven years until joining CVMA in May 2019.
Since then, he has been an active participant and enabler of CVMA values and goals, and as the chapter SAA, and now CO, he continues to maintain camaraderie and the safety of chapter members and associates.
Raptor is passionate about helping those in need and strives to continue serving veterans and their families, as well as the local community. Raptor is married to the beautiful Antrinia “Peanut” Cardona, and together they have four teenagers and a dog.
Kristina "Gypsy" Barrett - Bio will be available soon!
Tony "Bacon" Handly, has been a full member since 2015. Starting as a member of SC 34-1. Bacon has been in the DC region since 2017 after he transferred to MD 40-1, and soon after, had the privilege of being a part of the transition as a Detachment to being a Chapter Original of DC Chapter 53-1.
Bacon has been riding motorcycles for 14 years. Bacon served 22 years in the Army, retired in 2017 and returned to the DC region where he works at Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region as the Executive Officer for the Deputy Commander and as a Reserve Police Officer for Metropolitan Police Department.
Bacon has made it his personal mission as a member of the CVMA to provide volunteer services to Veterans as much as possible. He believes it is important to provide support for the active and veteran military community. But also to educate our communities by communicating our existence and our activities to a broader audience, and gain further support for our Veterans from our neighbors, friends, and other Veteran Service Organizations.
Carlos “Cruzito” Cruz, was born in Brooklyn NY. He became a member of CVMA in Jun 2019. He's a retired US Army Veteran after 33 years of service. He says "This organization allowed me to support Veterans and their families through military and community connections and partnerships." Love my Dogs, enjoy working with others and providing Purpose, Direction, and Motivation, “Airborne”
Kendall "Hacker" Hackney made the Marine Corps a career right out of high school. He was a CH-53A/D/E helicopter mechanic, a Marine on recruiting duty and worked at Naval Aviation Headquarters (NAVAIR) in program management. He completed combat deployments in Desert Shield/Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom along with several overseas deployments during peace time. He also deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan as a DoD contractor. His final rank was GySgt/E7.
After his time as an active-duty U.S. Marine, he was a corrections officer in a state-run facility for a year until he could not take the separation from my military brothers and sisters, so he chose to accept a job as a team lead for contract maintenance in Iraq, working on the same helicopter he did as a Marine. He did that for an entire year. Since then, he has had multiple contractor jobs. He had his own company doing military contracts and is now employed as a civil servant for the Department of the Navy.
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He has been married to Sheena "Deets" Hackney for 17 years.
This position is vacant and will be filled soon.
Chapter Staff
Drew "Storm Chaser" Deaton is an active duty Army Soldier and has been a CVMA full member since 2019. He purchased his first Harley (and the one he still rides) upon returning from his first tour to Iraq in 2004. He was born and raised on the island of Maui in Hawaii, where he grew up as an "MK" (missionary kid), making him the perfect fit to be our chapter's Chaplain.
Storm Chaser has proudly served in the Army for 26 years and is currently stationed at the Pentagon. He has led organizations of over 1,100 personnel in highly visible locations with direct attention from the highest levels of our military and government, including the White House. He thrives in high-pressure situations and loves challenges that provide opportunities to create environments that help enable success for all in the organization and those whom the organization serves.
Storm Chaser has deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan in support of the Global War on Terror, successfully leading and supporting complex operations in dynamic, high-pressure environments, frequently being responsible to organize and direct operations with life and death implications for those involved, successfully bringing them home. He is married to the beautiful Cherie' Deaton and together they raised four children, and now also enjoy a son-in-law and two grandchildren.
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Storm Chaser is most proud of his titles of husband, dad, and “papa” to his grandbabies. He loves finding ways to contribute, along with his CVMA brothers and sisters, to giving a "hand UP" to those who need it and deeply believes in service before self ... "It's not about ME, it's about WE!"
Beruk "Animal" Nessibu - Bio will be available soon!
Eric "Big E" Evangelista - Bio will be available soon!
Kendall "Hacker" Hackney is also our webmaster. See SAA for bio
State Leadership
Deanna “SMAJ” Czarnecki has been an active full member since joining CVMA in Kentucky in January 2014. She has over 24 years of reserve and active duty time, and continues to serve as a Sergeant Major for the Army.
As the current State Rep, and former XO for DC 53-1, SMAJ is determined to make significant strides in connecting the Combat Vets Association with the local DC community and establishing a positive partnership. SMAJ has two daughters and two dogs that keep her busy when she’s not enjoying her ride time
Billet is vacant
Billet is vacant
Billet is vacant
Alexandra “Sparky” Lemieux , was born and raise in upstate NY. Sparky has been a Military spouse for almost a decade and counting ,married to FM Ryan “Nomad” Lemieux a US Army active duty member .
Sparky and her husband have tried to make it their purpose to support the mission of Vets helping Vets in and out of CVMA functions .
She was first elected as State Auxiliary Rep October of 2019 . Just before the COVID19 pandemic she led and organized the delivery of 180 handmade blankets to residents of a local Veterans home just before Christmas .
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When she’s not attending CVMA functions she spends her spare time hand raising domestic and non domestic animals for local shelters and rescues , as well as gardening and crafting.
