Ralph McComber

Branch: Navy
Years Served: 8
Rank: E6
Military Occupation: Steelworker
Twitter Handle: TBD

Tell us a little about you outside of the military: 

• • Ralph has over 36 years’ experience in the construction industry working on a variety of greenfield, brownfield and maintenance projects. He has spent the last twenty years in Water and Wastewater markets, working primarily for the Detroit Water Sewer Department and Great Lakes Water Authority. As a Superintendent, Ralph manages the day-to-day field construction operations. Working on-site full-time coordinating the work of all subcontractors and providing construction leadership. He is frequently the primary point of responsibility for control, supervision and coordination of all field activities, construction phasing and logistics to ensure projects are completed with minimal disruption to existing operations. In His personal life he and his wife have a small farm, raising cows, chickens, sheep and pigs. When not working the farm he enjoys spending time with his wife.

Why are you joining the IAVA Cavalry? 

• • I am joining the IAVA because I believe there are veterans that will not advocate for themselves, I want to be a voice for them and I believe IAVA will give me the opportunity to.

How did your military experience shape you to be the person you are today?

• • The military taught me to be more accountable in my personal and professional responsibilities. The most important thing I got from the military was to build me to be
    more confident and resultant, so I could take on any challenge that life has put in my path, which I use in my personal life and my career to stand out amongst my peers.

Which one of IAVA’s policy priorities do you believe is the most pressing? Why?

• • The fight for gender equality in America needs to include shared sacrifice-Selected Service. I believe it will help eliminate gender barriers in the military.

Which one of IAVA’s policy priorities do you have the strongest personal connection to? Why? 

• • We to repeal or reform the 2001 and 2002 authorization of military force. I believe we have lost too many lives of our brothers and sisters in vain. Being deployed to Iraq and seeing the hardship it cost so many veterans and their families, myself being one of them made me bitter. Did we really need to be there that long? No, I don’t believe so. I would definitely like to see a change