Priors of the Priory of St. Michael & St. George

Prior XVI - 2019-2023

 Prior XV - 2017-2019

David was born in Oregon City, Oregon and for the first fifteen years of his life, David was educated in private schools. He developed a passion for learning and reading. By the age of twelve, he had read dozens of books that were known for their literary importance, typically intended for older readers. The signature of his life since then has been based on a passion for learning and appreciating the finer things in life. This has created a driving passion within David to assist others in experiencing the finest in service and quality making him a natural leader in the hospitality industry.

David’s career has been focused on hospitality and tourism primarily in luxury environments. He has served as an executive in hotels, resorts, and catering organizations for the past fourteen years. In his roles, he has developed strong skills in quality orientation, leadership and management, team-building, financial performance, and organizational effectiveness. He has become adept in sales and marketing, human resources, and overall property management. He has proved his skills in food and beverage repositioning and delivering exceptional quality and financial results wherever he has worked. 

David has worked in a variety of venues from city to resort, from traditional to non-traditional, and from large to boutique operations in executive positions  including Hilton Portland, Hilton Tarrytown, The Hilton Atlanta, The Harrison House Conference Center, Ritz-Carlton Lodge Reynold’s Plantation, The Mansion on Forsyth Park, Hilton Short Hills and most recently the premiere catering companies - Abigail Kirsch Catering Relationships and now as Managing Director, Relish Caterers and Event Planning. 

Working for hotel giants like Hilton and The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC, David became known for his work ethics, detail-orientation, and passion for continuous improvement. For instance, he was instrumental in moving a Ritz-Carlton resort from AAA Four Diamonds to AAA Five Diamonds as a result of specific process improvements. He has become an effective strategic-thinker and is able to actualize plans in very specific ways through the teams with which he works. 

Whether in his career or other activities, David has been recognized for his efforts through promotions or awards. His growth has been progressive and he has been instrumental in winning numerous awards for the companies for which he’s worked. He was honored by the Chaine des Rotisseurs with the Bronze Star Award for his in-depth knowledge of fine dining, cuisine, and exceptional event experiences. As a result of his engagement in fraternal and genealogical organizations, he has been promoted to Board of Manager offices. 

His continuing education has been very important to him. He has attended Cornell University Professional Development Programs between 2004 and 2006. He realized the need to attain a formal degree and worked to attain a Bachelor of Science in Business and Hospitality through the University of Phoenix while continually working. In 2012, he was accepted into the Fordham University EMBA Program.

David enjoys people of all walks of life and is community-minded and active in many diverse organizations. He is a member of Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue and has served on the Usher Corps since 2011. David became a member of The Sons of the Revolution in the state of New York in 2010 and has served in the capacities of Board of Managers, Chairman of the Color Guard and Chairman of The Stewards Committee. He is currently Prior XV of The Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem, Priory St. Michael and St. George and has been an active member of such since 2010. He has also belonged in the past to St. George's Society and The New England Society. David is a current member of The Princeton Club and has been since 2009.

Prior XIII -2011-2014

CDR Chev. John F. V. Cupschalk, GOTJ,  has spent the last 25 years working with Pricewaterhouse Coopers as an IT Manager with Tata Consultancy Services managing the regional New York  offices of PwC, and with PwC, serving both as national leader for Regulatory Reviews technology support, and national leader for technology training. 

Retired from the United States Navy (Reserves) in 2015 after 27 years of service, he served with numerous active duty and reserve commands:  Naval Coordination and Guidance of Shipping (two tours) as Executive Officer, Operations Officer and Training Officer; Navy Information Operations Command as Special Projects Officer; Commander Second Fleet as Civil Military Operations and Inter-Agency Affairs Officer; active duty with Navy Central Command/Commander Fifth Fleet as Coordinator for the Friendly Forces Coordination Center (18 nation naval coalition) and Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff - Manpower and Individual Augmentation Manager during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Decorations include the Armed Forces Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3 gold stars), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, National Defense Medal,  Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal.  He also received  the Long and Faithful Service Medal from the New York Naval Militia. 

Chev. Cupschalk served two years as an OSMTH representative to the United Nations.  

Chev. Cupschalk holds a Master of Arts in International Affairs (Middle East Concentration), and a double concentration Bachelor of Arts in English Literature & Journalism (minor for Political Science) from Old Dominion University. He also received the Naval War College Graduate Certificate in Strategy & Policy.

Other activities and organizations include Past-Commander of the New York Commandery of the Naval Order of the United States, sitting on the Boards of Directors for the New York Council of the Navy League of the United States and the New York Commandery of Military Order of Foreign Wars of the United States, and commissioned a colonel in the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels. He was made a Freeman of the City of London as an “Information Technology Manager & Citizen of London”, and is a member of the St. George's Society of New York City and the Royal Society of St. George, Westminster Branch.  He was an assistant head usher at St. Thomas Church Fifth Avenue, New York City, serving from 1991-2019.

Prior XI - 2007-2009

Michael was a chemistry teacher at Newtown High School, Queens, eventually working for the Board of Education before his retirement. He was an adjunct professor of education at Pace University and The City College of New York. 

After retirement, Michael spent part of the year at his home in St. Augustine. 

Michael, a member of Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue for 40 years, served on vestry for 12 years as building chairman. He was the head usher for 15 years and a member of the Lectors' Guild.

Prior Michael  was a Grand Cross of the Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem, Officer Brother of the Venerable Order of St. John of Jerusalem, a brother of Independent Royal Arch Lodge No. 2 F&AM, serving as Treasure for 15 years, Life member, St. George Society of New York; The New England Society of New York; The Church Club of New York; The Pilgrims of the United States and The St. Augustine Yacht Club.