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62nd Annual Flag, General & Senior Officers Ball to be Held July 12, 2008

The 62nd Annual Flag, General & Senior Officers Ball, sponsored by Lockheed Martin, will be held on Saturday, July 12, 2008, at the San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina.

The San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce inaugurated the Flag, General and Senior Officers Ball in 1946 to honor service members returning home from World War II. This gala black tie affair is a premier opportunity for businesses, individuals and stakeholders to stand up and honor our region’s brave and competent military leaders for serving our region and our nation.  With a tradition over 60 years strong, the Ball will once again be the military social event of the year in San Diego. Fine cuisine, outstanding entertainment and dancing coupled with ceremony will surely make this an unforgettable evening.

This event will present awards to several military icons in our community.  The Military Affairs Advisory Council (MAAC) Chairman’s Award recognizes someone who has demonstrated exemplary leadership and/or determined service to the military and the San Diego region.  This year, the award will be presented to Captain (retired) Jack Ensch for his tireless efforts on behalf of the active duty members and their families.

Captain Jack Ensch is a decorated Naval Aviator, retired Captain and currently serves as the San Diego Padres Director of Military Marketing. Captain Ensch graduated from Illinois State University in 1964 and from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in Washington, D.C. in June 1983.  Ensch retired from his position as Commander, Naval Training Center San Diego in November 1995.  During his Navy career, Captain Ensch accumulated over 3000 flight hours and over 800 carrier landings in F-4 Phantom and F-14 Tomcat fighters.  He was awarded the Navy Cross, Legion of Merit (three awards), Bronze Star with Combat “V” (two awards), Purple Heart (two awards), Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), Air Medal (18 awards), Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V” (three awards), Prisoner of War Medal, Combat Action Ribbon and numerous other individual, unit and service awards.

The Distinguished Military Honoree Award will go to Commodore Matt Pringle and Commander Lori Martinelli of the United States Navy. Commodore Matt Pringle is a Navy Captain who commands the U.S. Pacific Fleet Helicopter Maritime Strike Wing based at Naval Air Station North Island. He is receiving this award for his personal leadership and as the representative of the aviators, maintainers and watch standers during the October Fires. Captain Pringle was commissioned through Aviation Officer Candidate School in 1984 and, following flight training, was designated a Naval Aviator in 1985.  In February 2005, Pringle assumed his duties as Deputy Commander, Helicopter Antisubmarine Light Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet, and in November 2006, he became the seventh Commodore of HSMWINGPAC. Captain Pringle has over 3,000 flight hours and 1,400 small deck landings. His decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), Air Medal with Bronze “V” for valor, Navy Commendation Medal (four awards), Navy Achievement Medal (three awards), Combat Action ribbon and various service and unit awards.

Commander Lori Martinelli will also receive the Distinguished Military Honoree Award for the combat care she provided overseas and her exceptional patient care locally.  Commander Martinelli is a Navy Nurse and the Lead Case Manager for the Comprehensive Combat & Complex Casualty Care Center at Naval Medical Center San Diego. Commander Martinelli received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from the University of Wyoming in 1991, and her Masters Degree in Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma in 2005.  Throughout her career, Martinelli has received numerous personal decorations, including the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal in August 2005, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal in March 2000 and August 2002, and the Navy Achievement Medal in August 1995 and August 1999.

Please join us in honoring these military icons on July 12, 2008, at the San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina, at 333 West Harbor Drive. The reception will be held from 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm, and dinner, the awards ceremony and dancing will be from 7:00 pm - 10:30 pm.  We are offering a special registration price of $199 per couple.  Registration for groups is $5,000 for a Gold table of 10, $3,000 for a Silver table of 10, and $1,500 for a Bronze table of 10. 

For more information and to register, visit www.sdchamber-members.org/flagball.htm.