Our ELDERS

In the scriptures, those who have the responsibility for the spiritual oversight and care of the church are called pastors

(Ephesians 4:11), elders (Acts 14:23; 20:17), and overseers (I Timothy 3:1, NAS or bishop, KJV). These different titles are used to refer to the same office of spiritual leadership.  The Bible teaches that the congregation is spiritually accountable to the elders and the elders are accountable to God (Hebrews 13:17). Therefore, the decision-making authority of the church is vested in the elders who function under the Lordship of Christ.  The members of the church fill an important role in assisting the elders in reaching decisions.  Feel free to contact the Elders by e-mail (elders@rockybayoubaptist.org) with any prayers, concerns, ideas or suggestions. (Your email will be distributed to all elders at once.)

  • Ken Bandy

    Ken was born and raised in Orlando, FL.  He married his pastor’s daughter, Lanie, in 1980.  After finishing the University of Central Florida with a degree in Electrical Engineering, Ken served in the US Air Force for 20 years.  The Bandys’ two grown kids, Katie and Kyle, were born during these wonderful AF years.  Their final Air Force tour was here at Eglin.  Upon their arrival to Niceville, the Bandys joined RBBC in 1997, and have been blessed to serve and worship here continually since then.  After his retirement from active duty in 2003, Ken began another career as an Air Force civilian.  In God’s kindness, Ken has served at Rocky in various capacities, including Deacon, adult Bible Teacher, children’s Sunday School teacher, and Life Group leader.  He enjoys time with family, golf, fishing, reading, woodworking, car repair, and home renovation.

  • Robbie Gray

    Robbie was born and raised in Kentucky and came to know the Lord through the Baptist Campus Ministry at Western Kentucky University. Robbie was pursuing a teaching degree, but shortly after His conversion to following Jesus, he felt called to full-time ministry. After graduating college with a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership, Robbie earned a Master of Divinity from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in order to better prepare for ministry. While at SBTS, Robbie met his lovely wife, Erica; they were married in 2017. They ministered to a church in South Florida for nearly four years before recently moving to Niceville, which brought Erica full-circle since she grew up in this church. Robbie and Erica are parents to Peter, whom they adopted from India in 2021. Robbie is passionate about teaching the Bible and equipping others to follow Jesus more closely. Robbie enjoys movies, reading good books, watching Kentucky basketball and football, and spending time with Erica and Pete. 

  • Troy Hamilton

    Troy was born in Texas but moved to Niceville in 1987 at the age of 14. He graduated from Cedarville University in 1995 and later earned his MA from Columbia International University and his MDiv from SBTS. He is nearing completion of his Doctorate of Ministry in Leadership from SBTS. Troy served oversees for three years in remote parts of the Philippines and Mozambique until he met his lovely wife Beth (who grew up in Africa). Troy and Beth married in 2000 and ministered at a church in South Carolina for four years before moving to Central Asia to serve with the IMB for twelve years. The Lord called Troy full-circle back to Niceville, where he began serving as senior pastor at Rocky in 2016. He enjoys hiking, paddle boarding and spending time with Beth and their three children: Grace, Tim, and Christine. His life verse is Psalm 37:4: “Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.”

  • Joshua Latham

    Originally a Texas native, Joshua was stationed locally on several occasions throughout his life both as a dependent and while on active duty in the Air Force. He and his wife, Susan, have been a members of Rocky Bayou Baptist church since 2006. Joshua came to know the Christ at an early age and many years later felt the Lord’s call on his life into the medical field. After graduating from the University of Florida, Joshua attended medical school in Fort Worth, Texas and currently works as an urgent care and emergency room physician. Although no longer active duty, he still serves in the Air Force Reserve at Duke Field as a flight surgeon. He has been married to his lovely wife since 2002 and they have four incredible children named Luke, Brooke, Isaiah, and Rebekah. Joshua’s passions include family, playing sports, and supporting foreign mission work.


  • Billy Moore

    Billy hails from Birmingham, AL. He earned a degree in Aerospace Engineering from Auburn University and then ventured into the US Air Force where he served for 22 years as a Weapon Systems Officer (WSO) flying in the F-4E and F-15E. His last assignment brought him and his family to Eglin AFB in July 2000 where he immediately joined Rocky. He retired from the USAF in 2006 but still works on base as a test engineer. He and his wife Holly currently teach 1st and 2nd Graders in Sunday school. He served as a deacon for about 14 years, has been in the choir since first arriving, served as our Awana Commander, T&T Director, Cubbies Director, and LIFE Group leader. Billy currently leads our Disaster Relief Clean Up and Recovery Team. His son, Joshua, is married with 2 kids and lives in Colorado. Josh’s twin sister, Rebecca, lives in Freeport and is an accountant. His youngest daughter, Hannah, is an elementary school music teacher in Pensacola.

  • Bart Swan

    Bart is a military brat, originally moving to Niceville and joining RBBC as a high school student in 1988. He met his wife Wendy (Williamson) in the Student Ministry at Rocky and they married in the sanctuary (now called “Genesis Hall”) in 1995. They moved out of the area in 1996 and returned to Niceville, and Rocky, in 2004. Bart has served as the Men’s Ministry lead since 2015 and became an elder in 2016. Bart was in a serious car accident in August of 2020, where he received an Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury resulting in greatly reduced feeling in his legs. This limits his physical capabilities, but has been described as a “gift” by Bart as it developed a strong sense of empathy and compassion in Bart for people with all kinds of weaknesses, struggles, and disabilities. It certainly made very real the scripture “'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” Bart and Wendy live in Niceville, and have 5 children.

  • Bill Turner

    Bill was born in Oklahoma. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma Baptist University, and a Master’s degree from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Bill has served churches as a student pastor / associate pastor in Oklahoma, Missouri, and Florida. Bill has been married to Melissa Turner for 25+ years. They have four children (Josh, Alison, Lydia, and Chesed). Bill and Melissa met in college and married soon after finishing college. Bill and Melissa have a passion to join parents in the discipleship and evangelism of their teenagers. He has been committed to student ministry for over 16 years. 2 Corinthians 12:9 has been the guiding verse for Bill’s life. It says, “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” Bill hopes he will be the kind of man that is fully aware of his weaknesses, in order to be fully sustained by God.