Virginia Beach, Va. – Retired Naval Commander Erich P. Röetz was recently appointed as Commissioner of Council Service Territory 15 for Scouting America. In this role, he is responsible for unit service supporting 64,000 youth and 20,000 adults in 19 Scouting councils throughout southern Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and part of Georgia.

For the past two years, Erich served as the Commissioner-Elect of Council Service Territory 15, a position he relinquished to Mr. Robert Seate, of Charlotte, North Carolina. He is a former council commissioner for Scouting America Tidewater Council.

Röetz began Scouting at an early age. As a youth, he was a member of Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Tanah Keeta Scout Reservation’s camp staff, and the Order of the Arrow, Scouting’s honor society.

As an adult, Röetz volunteered with the Boy Scouts of America in many roles, including Tidewater Council Commissioner, Scoutmaster, Committee Chair, Associate Crew Advisor, Crew Advisor, National Youth Leadership Training staff, Wood Badge staff and course director, National Scout Jamboree Scoutmaster and Crew Advisor, Order of the Arrow Lodge Advisor, Executive Board Member, Council Vice President, and now Council Service Territory Commissioner.

Röetz has earned many accolades in Scouting, including the Silver Beaver Award, District Award of Merit, Scoutmaster of the Year, Order of the Arrow Vigil Honor, Crew Leader’s Key, Scout Leader’s Training Award, William D. Boyce New-Unit Organizer Award, Arrow of Light, and was designated a Living Legend of Tidewater Council in 2019.

Röetz graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a degree in systems engineering. After receiving a commission in the United States Navy, he attended Navy flight school.

Throughout his naval career, Röetz served as a Safety Officer, Chief Evaluation Pilot, Model Manager, Lead Instructor Pilot, Assistant Director of Operations, Chief Maintenance Officer, Senior Department Head, Aviation Resources Program Manager, Director of Air Operations, Chief of Test Execution and Support, and Chief of Communications Systems. Since his retirement in 2019, he continues to serve within the Maritime Operations Center Training and Exercise Team at the Navy Warfare Development Center, training and mentoring fleet operators.

Erich is married to the former Cathy Dolinak of Eynon, Pennsylvania. They have two children, Kevin (Eagle Scout) and Kaitlyn (Eagle Scout).