Appendix Q
Commissioner Biographies
Commissioner Biographies
ALAN J. DIXON was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on October 7, 1994, as chairman of the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission. Dixon, 67, is a senior partner in the corporate and business department of the St. Louis-based law firm of Bryan Cave, which he joined in 1993 after representing Illinois in the U.S. Senate for 12 years. During his Senate career, Dixon was unanimously elected by his colleagues to be majority chief deputy whip. In addition, he held important positions on the committees on Armed Services, Small Business, and Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs. On the Armed Services Committee, he chaired the Subcommittee on Readiness, Preparedness, and Sustainability, which oversees 38 percent of the U.S. defense budget. In 1990, he co-authored the legislation that created the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission. Dixon is a graduate of the University of Illinois and holds a law degree from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.
ALTON W. CORNELLA is the President of Cornella Refrigeration Inc., a Rapid City, South Dakota firm specializing in commercial and industrial refrigeration. He is a U.S. Navy veteran with service in Vietnam and has been active in military issues for over a decade. Cornella has also served on a number of boards and commissions in South Dakota, including the Rapid City Chamber of Commerce. During his tenure with the Chamber, he served as Chairman of the Board of Directors from 1991-1992 and as Chairman of the Military Affairs Committee. In 1992, Mr. Cornella was appointed by former South Dakota Governor George Mickelson to serve on the State Commission on Hazardous Waste Disposal. Mr. Cornella currently serves on the boards of the South Dakota Air and Space Foundation and the Rapid City Economic Development Loan Fund.
REBECCA G. COX is currently a Vice President of Continental Airlines, Inc. She joined Continental in January, 1989. In 1993, she served as a Commissioner on the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission. Before joining Continental, Ms. Cox served as Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Public Liaison, President Reagans primary outreach effort to the private sector. She was also appointed by the President to serve as Chairman of the Interagency Committee for Womens Business Enterprise. Prior to her 1987 White House appointment, Ms. Cox had served as Assistant Secretary for Governmental Affairs at the Department of Transportation. Ms. Cox had previously served at the Department of Transportation as Counselor to Secretary Elizabeth Dole and as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Government Affairs. Before coming to the Department of Transportation, Ms. Cox worked in the U.S. Senate, first as staff assistant, then legislative assistant and, finally, as Chief of Staff to Senator Ted Stevens. In 1976, she received a B.A. degree from Depauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, and a Juris Doctorate degree from the Columbus School of Law, Catholic University, Washington, D.C., in 1981.
GENERAL JAMES B. DAVIS, USAF (Ret.) concluded a thirty-five year career with the United States Air Force as a combat fighter pilot, commander and strategic planner and programmer in August of 1993. General Davis has had numerous command positions during his career, including command of a Combat Fighter Wing and the U.S. Air Force Military Personnel Center. He was also the Commander of U.S. Forces, Japan, 5th Air Force and Pacific Air Forces while in Japan. His last military position was as the Chief of Staff Headquarters Allied Powers, Europe (NATO). His military awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with 10 oak leaf clusters, Vietnam Service Medal with silver service star, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, Order of National Security Merit, Gouges Medal – South Korea, Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasure – Japan, Award of Knight Grand Cross with Sash – Thailand, and the Order of the Sword, which is the highest honor noncommissioned officers can bestow. General Davis has a B.S. degree in Engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy, a Masters degree in Public Administration from Auburn University at Montgomery, and has attended multiple professional schools.
S. LEE KLING of St. Louis, Missouri, serves as Chairman of the Board of Kling Rechter & Company, a merchant banking firm formed in 1991. Additionally, he serves as a Special Advisor and Managing Director of Willis Corroon Corp. of Missouri. From 1974 to 1977, Mr. Kling served as Finance Chairman of the Democratic National Committee and a member of its Executive Committee. In 1976, he was Treasurer of the Democratic National Convention. He served as National Treasurer of the Carter-Mondale Election Committee, and in 1987-88 Mr. Kling served as National Treasurer of the Gephardt for President Committee. Mr. Kling serves on the boards of a number of public and private corporations and civic and charitable organizations. He attended New York Military Academy, Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York, and received his B.S.B.A. degree from Washington University in St. Louis. From 1950 to 1952, he served in the Army as a 1st Lieutenant and aide-de-camp to General Buy O. Kurtz.
REAR ADMIRAL BENJAMIN F. MONTOYA, CEC, USN (Ret.), is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer of Public Service Company of New Mexico, an investor-owned public utility serving gas, electricity, and water throughout the state. His private-sector career, which began in 1989 when he retired from the Navy, has included the positions of Manager, Vice President, and Senior Vice President of Pacific Gas and Electric Company, San Francisco. Admiral Montoya enjoyed a distinguished and decorated U.S. Navy career spanning 31 years, rising to the rank of Rear Admiral. His awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with Combat V, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, and the Navy Achievement Medal. Admiral Montoya is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a Master of Science degree in sanitary engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology, and a law degree from Georgetown University Law School.
MAJOR GENERAL JOSUE (JOE) ROBLES, JR., USA (Ret.), is Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer/Corporate Controller for USAA Financial Services. He directs USAAs activities in the areas of Payroll and Compensation Accounting, Accounting Policy, Corporate Financial Analysis, Internal Audit and Taxes. He joined USAA in July 1994 as Special Assistant to the Chairman after retiring from the U.S. Army as a Major General after 28 years of service. He received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting from Kent State University in 1972. He also holds a Master of Business Administration from Indiana State University. General Robles served in a variety of important command and staff positions, culminating in his assignment as Commanding General, 1st Infantry Division (Mech) at Fort Riley, Kansas. General Robles military awards include the Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Good Conduct Medal, and the Army General Staff Identification Badge.
WENDI L. STEELE served as the Senate liaison for the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission in 1991. She began her career in the Reagan Administration, working in the legislative affairs offices of both the Office of Management and Budget and the White House. Following her service in Washington, Mrs. Steele was a congressional and economic analyst for the Defense and Space Group of the Boeing Company in Seattle, Washington. She returned to D.C. during the Bush Administration and worked for the assistant secretary for legislative and intergovernmental affairs of the U.S. Department of Commerce. In 1993, she served on the staff of Senator Don Nickles and handled issues in the areas of defense, veterans affairs, foreign policy, and trade.