Del Rio’s Maria Martinez was inducted into the Defense Credit Union Council’s Hall of Honor Wednesday night.
The DCUC announced her selection in the press release below.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Defense Credit Union Council (DCUC) is proud to announce the selection of three distinguished leaders to be inducted into the DCUC Hall of Honor: Clarence Collins III, Board Chair, Marine Federal Credit Union; Maria Martinez, President/CEO, Border Federal Credit Union; and Dail Turner, Vice Chairman, Andrews Federal Credit Union. Each honoree has demonstrated extraordinary commitment to the defense credit union movement and the military communities they serve.
Lt. Col. Clarence Collins III, Ret., U.S. Marine Corps, Board Chair, Marine Federal Credit Union
Lt. Col. Clarence M. “Chuck” Collins III has been selected for this prestigious honor in recognition of his extraordinary leadership, distinguished military service and decades of dedication to the defense credit union movement. A retired United States Marine Corps lieutenant colonel with 24 years of active-duty service, Collins served Marine Federal Credit Union for 17 years as a senior executive, ultimately retiring as executive vice president before continuing his service as a volunteer board member and current board chair.
Throughout his leadership, Marine Federal Credit Union grew from a $130 million institution into a $1 billion institution dedicated to supporting active-duty military, reservists, veterans and their families. Under his current leadership as board chair, the credit union has significantly expanded military financial education and counseling programs, reinforcing its longstanding commitment to financial readiness for those who serve.
Collins’ lifelong service and community leadership have earned numerous honors, including the Order of the Long Leaf Pine from the governor of North Carolina and recognition from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for his work training Marine reservists. He and his wife, Pat Collins, have also endowed multiple scholarships supporting students, military dependents and Gold Star families.
Maria J. Martinez, President/CEO, Border Federal Credit Union
Maria J. Martinez, president and CEO of Border Federal Credit Union, has been selected for this prestigious honor in recognition of her more than 30 years of exceptional leadership, advocacy and service to the credit union movement and military community.
Since becoming president and CEO in 1997, Martinez has guided Border Federal Credit Union while strengthening its longstanding commitment to servicemembers and families at Laughlin Air Force Base, where the credit union remains the only financial institution with a branch and ATM on base.
As a respected industry leader and advocate, Martinez is an active member of the DCUC Military Advocacy Committee and has held leadership roles with CUNA, PSCU, NLCUP and the Credit Union Women’s Leadership Alliance, where she has helped advance diversity, inclusion and professional development across the industry.
Her dedication to the military community earned her the XLer Award from the 47th Training Squadron in 2022, and she was invited to speak at the Air War College’s 65th Annual National Security Forum on national defense issues.
Through her steadfast leadership, commitment to financial education and passion for the credit union philosophy of “People Helping People,” Martinez has made a lasting impact on the credit union industry, military families and underserved communities nationwide.
Col. L. Dail Turner, Ret., U.S. Air Force, Vice Chairman, Andrews Federal Credit Union
Col. L. Dail Turner has been selected in recognition of his extraordinary leadership and longstanding commitment to the defense credit union movement. A graduate of the United States Air Force Academy in 1972, he began his military career in an operational flying squadron at Andrews Air Force Base as a second lieutenant. That same year, he joined Andrews Federal Credit Union, marking the beginning of a lifelong connection to the institution and the broader credit union movement.
For more than 30 years, Turner provided governance and strategic guidance to Andrews Federal Credit Union, helping lead its growth from a $450 million institution into a $2.5 billion global financial cooperative serving military members, veterans and their families worldwide.
Under his leadership, Andrews Federal Credit Union earned numerous honors, including being named Army Credit Union of the Year four times and Air Force Credit Union of the Year twice. The credit union was also recognized by NerdWallet as the nation’s second-best credit union in 2026, named among Yahoo Finance’s 10 Best Credit Unions of 2026 and included on Forbes’ “America’s Best-in-State Credit Unions” list in 2025.
A graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and retired Air Force colonel, Turner has dedicated his career to serving military communities through both military and credit union leadership. His steadfast commitment to the philosophy of “People Helping People” and his enduring contributions to the defense credit union industry have left a lasting legacy that continues to impact servicemembers, veterans and their families around the world.
“LtCol. Clarence Collins III, Maria Martinez, and Colonel Dail Turner each embody the very best of the defense credit union movement,” said Anthony Hernandez, DCUC president and CEO and a retired U.S. Air Force colonel. “Their exemplary leadership, steadfast support, and commitment to improving the lives of servicemembers, veterans, and their families have helped shape the defense credit union movement for generations. We are honored to celebrate their remarkable impact with this well-deserved recognition.”
