ARLINGTON, Va. - In a surprise move that saw longtime NAFCU President Ken Robinson end his captaincy as he wielded it-with grace and consideration for others-retired Navy Judge Advocate General (JAG) Captain Fred R. Becker, Jr. unexpectedly assumed command of NAFCU January 31, shifting his flag to association headquarters here and announcing that members' concerns will be the highest priority for the 33-year-old, 1000-member FCU trade association.
Robinson, however, will remain on board as an adviser at full pay until his $200,000 per year contract expires on April 1-and will likely thereafter be retained as a consultant for some time.
"I couldn't be happier with the way that the turnover is going...," Robinson said of the advent of the Becker era. "He's a quick study."
Reflecting on a day which saw Robinson, 70, pass the torch to Becker in an all-staff assembly in which the new chief executive received a ceremonial gavel, an encased NAFCU logo, and the association check book, Robinson said he has been preparing for the momentous turnover since his 65th birthday and was ready to move onto other things such as lecturing and consulting. He said the association CEO position is often a lonely one and thought that Becker might have occasion to consult him every now and then.
"My priority as president of your association is to continue to ensure that the issues of top concern to NAFCU members will be the driving forces for this association," Becker, 50, recently wrote in a letter to NAFCU member FCU chairmen and CEOs.
Becker, however, has been kept under tight wraps by staff, as all requests for interviews have been rebuffed, presumably until such time as Becker gets his CU trade association "sea legs" and has had a chance to confer with congressional leaders and NCUA Board members.
In a short statement January 31, however, the former Reserve Officers Association (ROA) naval affairs director and father of four did outline several issues of concern to FCUs, including the ongoing erosion of the federal charter (see related story on NCUA year-end stats, page 1), NCUA's just released prompt corrective action (PCA) rule, and the hot button low-income member service issue. He also praised Robinson's 16 years of NAFCU leadership, citing association membership growth and enhanced prestige as fruits of Robinson's stewardship.
Becker, who was selected to succeed Robinson by the NAFCU board on December 11 and who accepted on December 21, inherits an influential organization in financially sound shape but one with recent membership and personnel defections that could leave it susceptible to a second round of merger bids by its larger rival for FCU membership allegiance and dollars, CUNA.
In addition, the organization, as a result of recent actions by Robinson and his new board of directors, has positioned itself into a high-profile stand-off with NCUA over its recently passed low-income member service survey and perceived budget bloat-and Becker undoubtedly will have to prosecute these matters.
A native of Louisville, Kentucky and a 1971 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Becker entered the U.S. Navy as a line officer before becoming aide-de-camp to Rear Admiral Jeremiah Denton, Jr. at the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia and then a candidate for the Navy's Law Education Program.
Becker later graduated from Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College of William and Mary and obtained an MBA (finance) from Virginia Tech.
As a young Navy lawyer Becker served as lead prosecutor at the Navy's largest legal service office in Norfolk, Virginia and as a military adviser in the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Later, he served in various fleet JAG positions, and eventually in the post of legislative director for the Navy's Office of Legislative Affairs where he supervised a staff of 11 Navy lobbyists.
In this position Becker worked with executive branch members and lawmakers in developing Navy lobbying positions and presentations before Congress.
Becker retired from the Navy in 1996 and in short order was hired by ROA to be its director of naval affairs.
He is married to the former Barbara Lee Sheinhouse of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, a retired Army lieutenant colonel (Nurse Corps). -
gmcorrigan@mindspring.com
