GRAND LODGE OFFICERS
Meet the men who lead our jurisdiction.
(2024–2026)
Grand Master
MW Steven Adam Rubin
MW Steven Adam Rubin is a former Assistant District Attorney in New York City, where he prosecuted homicides and violent crimes for nearly five (5) years in the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office. Admitted to the Bar in 1989, Bro. Steve obtained his Juris Doctorate in 1988 from Albany Law School of Union University where he served as Associate Editor of “The Issue” from 1987-1988, as well as serving as President of the Freshmen Class, Vice-President of the Student Bar Association his Sophomore Year, and President of the Student Bar Association his Senior Year. He is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of the State University of New York at Albany, having received his BA Degree in 1985. While at SUNY Albany Bro. Steve served on the University Senate and Judicial Board.
Bro. Rubin has been a practicing attorney for over thirty-five (35) years and is Principal in Steven Adam Rubin & Associates pllc, a litigation law firm with Offices in Masonic Hall, NYC.
A Master Mason for over twenty-six (26) years, Bro. Steve has served as a Grand Line Officer for over eighteen years. In 2021 Bro. Steve was elected Deputy Grand Master. He served in that capacity until his election to Grand Master.
From 2006 until 2015, Bro. Steve served as Proctor of the Grand Lodge, a position likened to the District Attorney of Grand Lodge; from 2015-2018 he served as Judge Advocate, Masonic and Legal Adviser, to the Grand Master, before being elected in 2018 to the Office of Grand Treasurer, in which capacity he served until his election as Deputy Grand Master in 2021.
A three-time Past Master, he is a member of Goldenrule Clermont McKinley Lodge No. 486 in the First Manhattan Masonic District, Old Town Lodge No. 908, in the Suffolk Masonic District and Warren Lodge No. 32 (The Last Moon Lodge) in the Mid-Hudson Masonic District. He has served as Excellent High Priest of Zerubbabel Chapter No. 147, Royal Arch Masons, and Judge Advocate of the Grand Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, from 2015 to 2024; Bro. Steve is also a proud member of the Valley of New York City, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite for the Northern Jurisdiction; Mecca Shrine; Adelphic Council No. 7, Cryptic Masons and Azim Grotto No. 7.
Bro. Steve is the co-founder and Publisher of Craftsmen Online, a pod cast and Masonic social media platform, started during the early days of the pandemic in 2020, to support New York Masonry and enhance the Education, Leadership and Membership Experience.
While raised in Ulster County, Bro. Steve currently resides in Manhattan with his wife of thirty-three (33) years. They have two children, Talat, an Investment Banker and Pasha, a member of Bro. Steve’s Mother Lodge and lawyer in Bro. Steve’s law office.
Bro. Steve is a recipient of the Charles H. Johnson and Chancellor Robert R Livingston Medals of Grand Lodge; and the Ezra Ames Meritorious Service Award, Royal Arch Masons.
Deputy Grand Master
RW Robert L. Hogan, Jr.
Robert Leslie Hogan Jr., a fourth-generation Mason, was born on December 30th, 1959 in West Islip, NY. He spent the first 22 years of his life on Long Island—mainly in Bay Shore. After graduating from the NY State Police Academy in April 1983, he relocated to Dutchess County, NY where he has spent the bulk of his time since. He is married to Dr. Dina DiOrio-Hogan.
Brother Robert retired from NY State Police as an Investigator on the Bronx Criminal Squad. Prior to that assignment most of his service was in the Uniform Force as a Sergeant at Troop “K” Headquarters. (Dates served with NY State Police were October 18th, 1982 through May 20th, 2015.) Brother Hogan currently owns a Private Investigation firm. The concentration of the practice is background investigations for property management companies, health care facilities and a few out-of-state Grand Lodges.
Brother Hogan has been active in the Methodist Church in Pleasant Valley, New York, serving as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Chairman of the Administrative Board. He is also a Certified Lay Speaker in the United Methodist Church.
Raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason by his father on June 19th, 1991, Brother Hogan joined several Lodges and served in various Lodge positions, eventually becoming Master of Shekomeko Lodge No. 458, Dover Lodge No. 666 and Warren Lodge No. 32 (the last chartered Moon Lodge in the New York Jurisdiction) Brother Hogan served on several District Committees, eventually being asked to serve as the Dutchess District Deputy Grand Master for the 2014-2016 term under MW William J. Thomas. Brother Hogan has been appointed to several Grand Lodge Committees, serving as Chairman for two of them: the Deputy Grand Master’s Advisory Committee and the Grand Lodge Committee on Law Enforcement. In October of 2021 Brother Hogan was elected Senior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in the State of New York.
Becoming a Scottish Rite Mason in 2009, Brother Bob is a proud member of the Valley of the Hudson, A.A.S.R. where he is currently the Commander in Chief of the Chancellor Robert R Livingston Consistory. Brother Bob is also a member of the Knights of St. Andrew, Chartering the Chapter in the Valley of the Hudson and becoming its first Chieftain. Brother Bob received the Scottish Rite Meritorious Service Award in 2022, and last August (2023), in Louisville Kentucky, was Coroneted an Honorary Member of the Supreme Council, receiving the 33°.
Brother Hogan is a member of Poughkeepsie Chapter No. 172 Royal Arch Masons, Poughkeepsie Commandery No. 43 Knights Templar, Westchester Commandery No. No. 42 Knights Templar and King Solomon Council No. 31 Cryptic Masons. A member of many Invitational Bodies and Lodges, Brother Hogan also serves on the Board of Directors for two charitable foundations—one in the Mid-Hudson District and the other combines the talents of four Scottish Rite Valleys in the Capital/Mid-Hudson Region.
Brother Hogan received the DeMolay Honorary Legion of Honor in 2015, the Jacob Morton Award for Community Service in 2020, the Grand Master’s Award of Appreciation in 2017 and 2020 and the Chancellor Robert R Livingston Medal in 2018. He was recently awarded the Wendell K. Walker Builder of Men Medal at the 2024 Annual Communication.
Senior Grand Warden
RW Mark J. Loughran
Right Worshipful Mark J. Loughran retired as Chief Assistant from the Broome County District Attorney’s Office in 2023, after working in the criminal justice system for over thirty-five years. As Chief Assistant he helped supervise and train more than twenty attorneys, thirty support staff and investigators and headed the Violent Crime and Drug Unit. He began as a prosecutor in the Dutchess County DA’s Office, handling narcotics crimes and later moved to Rensselaer County, where he was Narcotics Bureau Chief and later, Chief Assistant.
Brother Loughran graduated Magna Cum Laude from Eisenhower College of the Rochester Institute of Technology, where he served as President of the Student Senate for two years. He received his Juris Doctor from Albany Law School in 1987, where he was editor of the school periodical, The Issue.
Brother Mark retired from the U.S. Army Reserve as a Major after serving nearly twenty-three years. He was a Military Intelligence Officer and served in many capacities, including Company Commander of a 118-man collection of linguists and interrogators, and commander of various detachments sent overseas on assignment. He was attached to the Defense Intelligence Agency from 2000 through 2006, where he served in the DIA’s Joint Terrorism Operations Group and on the Albany, New York Joint Terrorism Task Force. He is Airborne.
Brother Loughran is a Past Master of Binghamton Lodge No. 177 and was Assistant Grand Lecturer (2018-2021) and District Deputy Grand Master (2021-2024) of the Southern Tier District. He is active in Scottish Rite Freemasonry, having served as the Valley Ritual Director and Commander in Chief of the Valley of Binghamton from 2019 through 2021. Brother Mark is an Emeritus member of the Knights of St. Andrew, from which he received the David J. Karre Exemplary Service Award in 2022. He received the Meritorious Service Award in 2018 and was Coroneted a Grand Inspector General (33rd Degree) in 2021. He currently serves as Valley Secretary.
He is also Past Potentate of Kalurah Shrine (2019) and an active member of the Parade and Hospital Transportation Units. In addition, he is the President of the Square Deal (Binghamton) Chapter of the Low Twelve Masonic Riders Association. In Grand Lodge, Brother Mark has served as Deputy Proctor (2018-2021) and Proctor (2021-2024). He was a member of the Grand Master’s Executive Committee (2021-2024) and the Deputy Grand Master’s Advisory Committee (2021-2024). In addition to his membership in Binghamton Lodge, Brother Loughran is an Affiliated Member of Johnson City-Unity Lodge No. 970. He is an Honorary Member of St. Mark’s-Vestal Lodge No. 435.
Brother Mark is married to a wonderful Lady—Sarah—who is a Court Attorney Referee at the Broome County Family Court. Their daughters Kathleen and Claire are students at Binghamton University and their son Michael was recently accepted there, as well.
Junior Grand Warden
RW John Haslam, Sr.
Grand Treasurer
RW Alberto G. Cortizo
Right Worshipful Alberto G. Cortizo Was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in Floral Park Lodge No. 1016 in 2003, at the time it was in the 2 nd Nassau Masonic District. He served as Master in 2007. Brother Al was Appointed District Deputy Grand Master in 2008, and later as District Brotherhood fund Chairman in 2010. In 2015 he was an instrumental part of the 1 st and 2 nd Nassau merger committee which led to a harmonious merger between the two districts. Brother Cortizo served as District Advisor for the Nassau District from 2020 to 2024. Brother Al later affiliated with Old Town Lodge No. 908 in the Suffolk District. He has served on various Grand Lodge committees. Brother Al is currently a member of the Grand Master’s Executive Board, Chairman of the Credentials of Members and Returns of Lodges Committee, and Co- Chairman of the Technology Committee. Brother Cortizo first became a member of the Grand line when he was appointed Junior Grand Deacon in 2021. Brother Al is the Liaison Officer for the Appointed Grand Lodge Officers of the Metropolitan region. He also serves as the Masonic intermediary for the Village of Floral Park Historical Society.
Brother Cortizo is a proud member of Zerubbabel Chapter No. 147, Royal Arch Masons, Nassau Commandery No. 73, Knights Templar, North Shore Council N0. 88, Cryptic Masons, Mecca Shrine No. 1, Shriners International, The Valley of Rockville Centre, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite for the Northern Jurisdiction, LIer Grotto, M.O.V.P.E.R., and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge N0. 2107.
Brother Al met his wonderful Lady Christina while working at Verizon Communications. They have been together for 19 years. Both were raised and lived in Queens before moving to the Village of Floral Park in Nassau County on Long Island. Together they are raising their amazing daughter Lisa. Lisa is a student at Kellenberg Memorial High School, she is also a very talented athlete. Brother Cortizo received the coveted “Better Maters” award at Verizon for outstanding leadership. He retired from Verizon as an Area Operations Manager after 21 years of employment.
Grand Secretary
RW Richard T. Schulz
Grand Marshal
RW Peter Unfried
Deputy Grand Marshal
RW Nicholas J. Paolicelli
Senior Grand Deacon
RW Gustavo Teran
Junior Grand Deacon
RW Gary Salgado
Grand Standard Bearer
RW Adison M. Cruz
Deputy Grand Standard Bearer
RW John Pasqualicchio
Grand Lecturer
RW Gregory Noulas
Judge Advocate
RW Hon. Louis R. Rosenthal
Proctor
RW Nicholas J. Batsidis
Grand Pursuivant
RW Richard W. Bateman
Grand Tiler
RW Don C. Gorham
Grand Organists
RW Donald C. Hammon
RW Eric S. Howd
RW Jordan I. Kaplan
RW Frank L. Miller
RW Charles J. Semowich
RW Francis K. Wilcox
RW Gerald F. Irwin
RW stands for “Right Worshipful,” a title given to a senior Grand Lodge official, either elected by the members of Grand Lodge or appointed by the Grand Master to Grand Lodge service. MW or Most Worshipful is the title bestowed upon the election to the office of Grand Master of Masons. It is the highest official rank that can be earned by those who serve our Grand Lodge as its elected leader.