On Saturday, October 1, at the concluding banquet in Santa Fe, Ron Woods stepped down as NAFUSA’s executive director. Ron completed four years as NAFUSA’s chief operating officer and received a standing ovation from the banquet audience as President Bill Lutz lauded Ron’s service and presented him with an iPad2 as a token of NAFUSA’s appreciation. During his term, the active membership grew from 86 to nearly 300, taking NAFUSA to a new level of professionalism and stature.

Ron was appointed United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas by President George H.W. Bush in 1990. One of the most well known and well regarded lawyers in Texas, Ron also served four years as a Special Agent for the FBI. He is a graduate of the University of Texas School of Law.  He resides in Houston with his wife, Patty.

Rich Rossman succeeds Ron as NAFUSA’s executive director. Rich has been a member of NAFUSA for 30 years. He served as president in 2009-2010. He was the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan in 1980-1981, and also served as the chief of staff in the Criminal Division at Main Justice, 1998-1999. Rich retired from the active practice of law in 2007; he had been a partner at Pepper Hamilton for 23 years. Rich is a graduate of the University of Michigan Law School and lives in Michigan with his wife, Patty.