Candidate for
Mayor; City of Marina

Biography

Ila grew up in Mobile, Alabama, the only child of working-class parents. Ila was educated in the public school system and worked her way through Auburn University with both a Bachelor of Arts and a Masters of Science degree in clinical psychology from Auburn University and worked as a psychologist at the University of Alabama Medical Center before entering the US Army. She volunteered during the Vietnam War for the US Army in 1971. She then served as a US Army officer for 26 years. She began her service with a direct commission into the Women's Army Corps. She transitioned into the Military Intelligence Corps and served in various leadership and staff positions. She successfully commanded Army units at the company, battalion, and brigade level. In addition to assignments in the US, she served as Chief of the Joint Intelligence Center in Panama and on the International Military Staff of NATO in Brussels Belgium. Ila was selected to attend the Command and General Staff College and the Army War College, an executive level school for senior military officers. Ila came to the peninsula in 1994 as a result of the Army's selecting her as the first Garrison Commander of Presidio of Monterey. She was responsible for all facilities and services at the Presidio and former Fort Ord and represented the Army on the Ft Ord Reuse Authority Board. She also served as Installation Commander and Commandant of the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center. Active in the World Affairs Council of Monterey Bay Area and the Ft Ord Alumni Association while on active duty, Colonel Mettee-McCutchon was voted onto the Board of Directors of both organizations following her retirement in Dec 1997. Choosing Marina as home, she joined the Marina Larger Library Committee and was appointed to the Marina Commission of City Services and Improvement. Ila served on the Board of Directors for Girl Scouts of Monterey Bay, Community Human Services Board of Directors, and served as a community advisor to the Coalition of Homeless Services Providers and member of the League of California Cities' Housing and Economic Development Policy Committee. She also is active in service organizations such as the Marina Rotary, the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Marina Chamber of Commerce, MPUSD Governance Collaborative, Marina Teachers and Public Safety Appreciation Committees, and the CSUMB Women's Leadership Council. Mayor Ila Mettee-McCutchon's first entry into public elected service began with her election to the city council of Marina in November 1998, followed by election to the position Mayor in 2002. Ila was re-elected as Mayor in 2004. Ila is currently serving as the Chair of the Fort Ord Reuse Authority Board. Ila is married and has a daughter, Erin Mettee-McCutchon. Ila's husband, John McCutchon is a retired Army officer and is currently a senior administrator with California State University, Monterey Bay. She is known for her commitment to family and community.