American Battlefield Trust Welcomes Exemplary Trio to Its Board of Trustees

(Washington, D.C.) — During a Board of Trustees meeting earlier this month, the American Battlefield Trust, the nation’s premier heritage land preservation organization, welcomed three new trustees to its governing body. Elected in a unanimous vote, Richard Etzkorn of Denver, Colo., Van Hipp, Jr., of Georgetown, S.C., and Alexandria, Va., and Marshal Oldman of Westlake Village, Calif., will now serve terms on the board.

“With passion for American history and a deep commitment to our cause, these three successful and influential people make ideal additions to our leadership community,” said Trust President Jim Lighthizer. “I am honored to work alongside them as we seek to protect the landscapes that shaped this nation.”

Etzkorn is an executive managing director of Cushman & Wakefield, a commercial real estate company with 400 offices in 70 countries, having served with the firm his entire career. A native of St. Louis, Mo., he earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder and now serves on the board of the University of Colorado School of Business’s Real Estate Program.

Hipp is a veteran of the U.S. Army and recipient of the Bronze Star, having served during Operation Desert Storm and Operation Restore Democracy. He is currently chairman of American Defence International, a government relations and strategic consulting firm focused on U.S. foreign policy and military affairs. He is a frequent guest on Fox News, and a former chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party. He has also served as deputy assistant secretary of the U.S. Army and principal deputy general counsel of the U.S. Navy.

Oldman is a partner of the law firm Oldman, Cooley, Sallus, Birnberg & Coleman LLP, where his practice focuses on probate and trust administration, litigation, conservatorships, and estate planning. He is admitted to practice in the State of California, the U.S. District Court (Central District of California), and the U.S. Supreme Court. He served as a public member of the California Board of Accountancy from 2007–14, including a term as its president.  He is a member of the Ninth Circuit Historical Society, the Cowboy Lawyers Association, and the National College of Probate Judges.

The American Battlefield Trust is dedicated to preserving America’s hallowed battlegrounds and educating the public about what happened there and why it matters today. The nonprofit, nonpartisan organization has protected more than 52,000 acres associated with the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and Civil War. Learn more at www.battlefields.org.

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