USET/USET SPF Leadership

Executive Officers Committee

President – Chief Kirk Francis, Sr.

Kirk Francis is the Chief of the Penobscot Indian Nation, which is located at Indian Island, Maine. He has served as Chief of the Nation since 2006 and holds the distinction of being the longest serving Chief of the Penobscot Nation since the electoral system began in 1850. Prior to becoming USET/USET SPF President, he served as Treasurer.

In addition to serving in leadership to his Tribal Nation and USET/USET SPF, he also chairs the Natural Resource Committee of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI).

Chief Francis was born and raised on Indian Island, Maine, the home of the Penobscot Indian Nation. He has deep cultural ties to the people, the land, and the river. He is an avid outdoorsman practicing the traditions of hunting and fishing for which his family is well known.

Vice President – Vice Chairman Robert McGhee

Robert “Robbie” McGhee serves as the Vice Chairman of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians and has been an advocate for Native American issues at all levels of government. Robbie holds a Masters of Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis and an Executive Masters in Business Administration from the University of Tennessee Knoxville. In addition to serving in leadership to his Tribal Nation and USET/USET SPF, he serves on the Board of the National Indian Child Welfare Board, Children First Alabama, is a member of the Secretary’s Health and Human Services Tribal Advisory Committee, and the Board of Advisors for the Center for Native American Youth and the Native American Rights Fund.

Treasurer – Vice Chairwoman Crystal Williams

Crystal Williams, Beaver Clan, serves as the Vice Chairwoman for the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana. Now in her second consecutive term on Tribal Council, Crystal is a strong advocate for Tribal sovereignty, cultural preservation, and Tribal youth. With her leadership in governance, Vice Chairwoman Williams has led various projects to strengthen tribal sovereignty and to improve services within the Coushatta Tribe. Crystal holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from McNeese State University of Lake Charles, serves as the Secretary for the Executive Board for the Intertribal Council of Louisiana, and is a long-time supporter and volunteer for the Coushatta Powwow and Coushatta Princess Pageant Committees. Crystal is a proud mother to two teenaged daughters.

Secretary – Vice Chairwoman Sarah Harris

Sarah Harris serves as Vice Chairwoman of the Mohegan Tribe, a position she has held since October 2019. She is currently in her second term on the Mohegan Tribal Council. Vice Chairwoman Harris has extensive experience in federal law and policy. She spent the first five years of her career in private practice representing Tribal Nations and Tribal entities, as well as investors and developers working with Tribal Nations. In 2010, she left private practice to serve as Special Assistant to then Solicitor of the Department of Interior Hilary Thompkins. In that position, she worked closely with the DOJ to defend agency determinations for Tribal Nations and advanced proactive litigation for Tribal Nations. After spending three years in the Solicitor's Office, President Obama appointed Vice Chairwoman Harris as the Chief of Staff to the Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs Kevin Washburn. In that role, she worked to support and pursue policies that respect and support Tribal sovereignty, restore tribal homelands and strengthen Tribal communities. Vice Chairwoman Harris is also the proud mother of twins.

USET/USET SPF Board of Directors

Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas
Ricky Sylestine – Chairman
Nita Battise – Vice Chairperson

Catawba Indian Nation
Brian Harris – Chief
Patricia Leach – Assistant Chief

Cayuga Nation
Clint Halftown – Nation Representative
Sharon LeRoy – Secretary

Chickahominy Indian Tribe
Stephen Adkins – Chief
Wayne Adkins  – Assistant Chief & Financial Officer

Chickahominy Indian Tribe – Eastern Division
Gerald A. “Jerry” Stewart – Chief
Charles Bradby – Councilman

Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana
Melissa Darden – Chairman
Melinda Butaud – Vice Chairman

Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana
Jonathan Cernek – Chairman
Crystal Williams – Vice Chairwoman, USET/USET SPF Treasurer

Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
Michell Hicks – Principal Chief
Michael Parker - Council Chairman

Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians
Clarissa E. Sabattis – Tribal Chief
Crystal Tucker – Tribal Council

 

Jena Band of Choctaw Indians
Libby Rogers – Chief
Christine Norris – Tribal Council Member

Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation
Rodney Butler – Chairman
Latoya Cluff – Vice Chairwoman

Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe
Brian Weeden – Chairman
Charles "Bobby" Foster – Treasurer

Mi'kmaq Nation
Edward Peter-Paul – Tribal Chief
Richard Silliboy – Vice Chief

Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida
Talbert Cypress – Chairman
Petties Osceola, Jr – Lawmaker

Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians
Cyrus Ben – Chief
Ronnie Henry – Vice Chief

The Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut
R. James Gessner – Chairman
Sarah Harris – Vice Chairwoman, USET/USET SPF Secretary

Monacan Indian Nation
Diane Shields – Chief
Lou Parrish – Assistant Chief

Nansemond Indian Nation
Keith F Anderson – Chief
David Hennaman – Assistant Chief

Narragansett Indian Tribe
Anthony Dean Stanton – Chief Sachem
Cassius Spears, Jr – First Councilman

Oneida Indian Nation
Ray Halbritter – Nation Representative
Brian Patterson – Council Member, Bear Clan 

Pamunkey Indian Tribe
Robert Gray – Chief
Tim Langston – Assistant Chief

Passamaquoddy Tribe – Indian Township Reservation
William Nicholas – Chief
Joseph Socobasin – Vice Chief

Passamaquoddy Tribe – Pleasant Point Reservation
Amkuwiposohehes “Pos” Bassett – Chief
Ernie Neptune – Vice Chief

Penobscot Indian Nation
Mark Sockbeson – Vice Chief
Ronald Bear – Tribal Council Member

Poarch Band of Creek Indians
Stephanie A. Bryan – Chairwoman
Robert R. McGhee – Vice Chairman, USET/USET SPF Vice President

 

Rappahannock Tribe
G. Anne Richardson – Chief
Mark “Thunder Hawk” Fortune – Assistant Chief

Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe
Michael L. Conners – Chief
Beverly Cook – Chief

Seminole Tribe of Florida
Marcellus Osceola – Chairman
Jim Shore – General Counsel

Seneca Nation of Indians
Rickey Armstrong, Sr – President
Matthew Pagels – Treasurer

Shinnecock Indian Nation
Bryan A Polite – Chairman
Randy King – Vice Chairman

Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana
Marshall Pierite – Chairman
Marshall Ray Sampson, Sr – Vice Chairman

Upper Mattaponi Indian Tribe
W. Frank Adams – Chief
Reggie Tupponce – Tribal Administrator

Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah)
Cheryl Andrews-Maltais – Chairwoman
Al Clark, Jr. – Vice Chairman

 

Past Presidents

Brian Patterson

Oneida Indian Nation, 2006-2016

Keller George

Oneida Indian Nation, 1994-2006

Eddie L. Tullis

Poarch Band of Creek Indians, 1990-1993

Joel M. Frank

Seminole Tribe of Florida, 1986-1989

Leonard V. Garrow

Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, 1982-1985

Michael Tiger

Seminole Tribe of Florida, 1978-1982

Jonathan Larch Taylor

Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, 1976-1977

Howard Tommie

Seminole Tribe of Florida, 1973-1976

Phillip Martin

Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, 1971-1972

Emmett York

Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, 1970-1971

Joe Dan Osceola

Seminole Tribe of Florida, 1969-1970

Presidents Emeritus of USET

Keller George

Oneida Indian Nation

Buffalo Tiger

Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida

Betty Mae Jumper

Seminole Tribe of Florida

Earl J. Barbry, Sr. Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients

The Earl J. Barbry, Sr. Lifetime Achievement Award was created in 2013 in recognition of Chairman Earl. J. Barbry, Sr., Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana and his exemplary leadership and dedication to the citizens of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribal Nation, Indian Country and his promotion over the years of USET's mission and statement of Unity.

Earl J. Barbry, Sr.

Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana

Osley Bird Saunooke, Jr.

Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians

Joe Dan Osceola

Seminole Tribe of Florida

Robert Glenn Thrower, Jr.

Poarch Band of Creek Indians