Our Mission

 

Honor our veterans, safeguard military history and technology, and provide an extraordinary hands-on educational experience with our rare vehicle collection. Together, we can inspire individuals to actively engage in serving their communities and nation, fostering a spirit of civic duty and commitment.

 

 

History

The African Queen Project was established in 2020 by a group of individuals committed to offering a mobile educational and historical experience through the sharing of African Queen vehicles. The first vehicle in the collection, a 1943 M16A2 half-track, was discovered by Executive Director Mark Koloc while he was stationed at a French Foreign Legion base in Djibouti, East Africa. After securing ownership of the vehicle, he shipped it back to the United States, where he spent the next 12 years meticulously preserving it. The authenticity of the African Queen half-track is such that it was placed on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio, for 24 months. The African Queen has been on display a total of five years in various museums. Since then, additional historic military vehicles have been added to the African Queen collection.

Through the African Queen Project’s three core programs of:

                • offering veteran-facing education programs,
                • advancing the art and science of historical preservation, and
                • honoring service veterans,

The African Queen Project seeks to recognize generations of service and sacrifice to our country while honoring America’s veterans

 

 Board Members

Mark A.R. Koloc Sr. LT. Colonel, US ARMY (RET)

Is a combat veteran with 33 years of distinguished military service. Mark deployed on three Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) Combat tours from 2003 to 2009, served with distinction in Africa, Afghanistan, Germany, Norway, the Balkans, and numerous other countries, and received numerous awards and recognition for valor. LTC Koloc has an extensive background in work and coordination with the US State Department, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the World Health Organization (WHO), NATO, and the United Nations.   Mark is currently the Executive Director of the 501(c) (3) Educational Nonprofit, The African Queen Project, which he founded in 2020.

 

Lawrence Buja, Ph.D.

Is the Chief of Staff for the Executive Vice President for Research at Purdue University.  Dr. Buja has led a distinguished career focusing on building societal resilience to global human security threats. He is a Nobel Laureate and contributing author to the Nobel Prize-winning IPCC AR4 report on climate change. Dr. Buja received the USDA’s highest Abraham Lincoln Honor Award from the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture for a study on increasing global food security.  Dr. Buja received his Ph.D. in Meteorology from the University of Utah and an M.S. and B.S. in Atmospheric Science from Iowa State University.

WIlliam Heidner

Recently retired as the Museum Curator for the Museum Activity and Heritage Center of the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground, Yuma, Arizona. Following a 22-year career on active duty as an Army Cavalry Scout, Bill began his work in the Army Museum System as the Museum Technician for the Museum Activity of the 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment (ACR) at Fort Polk, LA, and the Museum Curator for the Museum Activity of the U.S. Army’s National Training Center (NTC) and 11th ACR at Fort Irwin, CA. Bill has a B.FA. in Digital Design and an M.Ed. with a focus on Instructional Design. Bill was an Associate Faculty Member at Arizona Western College, teaching Computer Illustration as part of the Graphic Design program, from 2008 until 2019. 

J.D. Koloc

Recently retired as the executive Art Director at Plateworks Plus, located in Anoka, Minnesota. Plateworks Plus Designs and creates polymer printing plates for a wide array of corrugated packaging. J.D. started out in television graphics and has worked for NBC and FOX for over 20 years. As Art Director for Fox Television, J.D. was awarded 2 Emmys as well as BDA Golds and Silver Honors. For 11 years, J.D. ran his own Advertising Agency, “Junkyard Dog,” and was V.P. of the North Metro BNI chapter. One of J.D.’s significant accomplishments was designing the African Queen logo. J.D. Currently resides in Minneapolis with his wife, Mary. He has two grown children. J.D.’s hobbies include golf, skeet, rugby, and travel. 

 

 

Michael Jarjosa, ESQ

Has a diverse business background with expertise in financial and legal matters. Mike is a licensed Ohio attorney and a FINRA-licensed broker and financial advisor. Mike spent 15 years as CFO and General Counsel at a mid-cap geodetic software company, guiding significant revenue growth during his tenure.  This included the opening of numerous corporate entities worldwide, both through startups and acquisitions.  Mike has a wealth of experience in corporate governance, contracts, international law and finance, mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, financial planning and analysis, and the planning and execution of corporate strategy, especially at the small- to mid-cap level.   Prior to this, Mike worked in the steel industry and in the financial sector for a number of years in sales and project management. Mike is currently the owner of Unplugged, LLC, which primarily operates as Pedal Wagon in Ohio and Kentucky, with plans to expand into other markets in the near future. 

JOhn A. CheNey II

Is currently the Engineering Manager for EAE Tech, Inc. John is the Commander of the Findlay Military Association (FMA), which hosts the annual Findlay Show, an Armed Forces Day Celebration. John and his wife, Pam, currently reside in North Baltimore, Ohio, and are avid collectors of military vehicles and artifacts, with over 50 vehicles, missiles, and rockets. They also own and operate a replica and restoration business for the military vehicle hobby. John manufactured and provided the 4 .50-caliber M2 Heavy Machine Guns displayed on the African Queen M16A2 Halftrack. These guns fire oxygen and propane to simulate operation.