2018-2019 Citadel Tactical OfficersSELECT NAME BELOW TO VIEW BIOGRAPHY

BATTALION COMPANY

1ST BN

BN TAC & APLHA

Lt Col

Fortenberry

USAF

BN NCO

SgtMaj

Moffitt

USMC

BRAVO

MAJ

Smith

USAR

CHARLIE

Capt

Rodick

USMC

DELTA

Capt

Riddick

USMC

2nd BN

BN TAC & ECHO

LTC

Brace

USA

BN NCO

1SG

BrowerUSA

F-TROOP

LT

Garcia

USN

GOLF

LtCol

Hughes

USMCR

HOTEL

LtCol

Bell

USMCR

BAND

CPT

Parson

USA

3rd BN

BN TAC & INDIA

LtCol

Graham

USMC

BN NCO

1SG

SmithUSA

KILO

LTC

Sharp

USA

LIMA

Capt

Sijtsma

Dutch AFR

MIKE

LT

Adcock

SCM

4th BN

BN TAC & TANGO

CDR

Horlbeck

USN

BN NCO &

1SG

Dean

USA

OSCAR

CDR

Borden USN

ROMEO

MAJ

CraigUSA

NOVEMBER

CPT

Quinn

USA

5th BN

BN TAC &VICTOR

LTC

Panton

USA

BN NCO

1SG

Webster

USA

PAPA

Capt

Raines

USMC

PB

LTC

Remsen

SCSG

SIERRA

LTC

Polites

USA

1ST BATTALION & ALPHA CO Tactical Officer

LIEUTENANT COLONEL JOEL

FORTENBERRY

United States Air Force

Lieutenant Colonel Joel R. Fortenberry, USAF, Retired, is the 1st

BN TAC Officer. His final

active duty assignment was as Professor of Aerospace Studies and Commander, AFROTC

Detachment 415, University of Minnesota. In 2005, Lt Col Fortenberry assumed command of

the 509th

Contracting Squadron, Whiteman AFB, MO, responsible for providing security

deployed acquisition support and home base support to over 3,000 personnel and assets

valued in excess of $45 billion. From June 2003 to February 2005, he was Chief, Military

Resources, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright Patterson AFB, OH. In this capacity, he

coordinated all MAJCOM AEF taskings in support of Operation Iraqi and Enduring Freedom as

well as the career development of a thousand person directorate. From June 2000 to June

2003, Col Fortenberry served as the Director of Systems Operations and Ground Systems

contracts for the National Reconnaissance Office, Washington DC where he directed the

support to three ground based SIGINT collection stations as well as the integrated development of multi-billion dollar SIGINT collection

systems. In addition, he completed tours in the C-17 System Program Office, Air Force Research Laboratory, and as Executive Officer. Col

Fortenberry began his career as a Missile Launch Officer assigned to the 351st

Strategic Missile Wing, Whiteman AFB, MO. While assigned

to the 351st

, he served as Senior Flt Commander for the 508th

Missile Squadron and Wing Command Post Senior Commander responsible

for the alert status and EWO readiness of 50 Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles. Col Fortenberry deployed to Baghdad, Iraq from Feb 04-

May 04 as Principal Contracting Officer, Coalition Provisional Authority, and returned to Baghdad from September 2006 to February 2007

as Principal Contracting Officer, Multi-National Force Iraq. A native of Tyler, Texas, Lt Col Fortenberry graduated from The Citadel with a

BA in Political Science/International Relations in 1990.

EDUCATION:

1990 - BA Political Science/International Relations, The Citadel, Charleston, SC

1990 - Undergraduate Missile Training, Vandenberg AFB, CA

1993 - MA Human Resource Management, Webster University, St Louis, MO

1995 - Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL

2002 - Air Command and Staff College

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. Sep 90 – Jan 91, Student, Undergraduate Missile Training, Vandenberg AFB, CA

2. Jan 91 – Jul 95, Missile Combat Crew Commander/Sr Flight Commander, 508th

Missile Squadron, Whiteman AFB, MO

3. Jul 95 – Aug 96, AFIT Student, Education with Industry, Tracor Aerospace, Austin, TX

4. Sep 96 – Oct 98, Chief, Non-Metals Contracting, Air Force Research Lab, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH

5. Oct 98 - Sept 99, Chief, Performance Enhancement/Performance Improvement, C-17 SPO, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH

6. Sep 99 – Jun 00, Executive Officer, Contracting Directorate, Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH

7. Jun 00 – Jun 03, Chief, Systems Operation Office Contracts, National Reconnaissance Office, Washington, DC

8. Jun 03 – Feb 05, Chief, Military Resources, Contracting Directorate, HQ Air Force Materiel Command, WPAFB, OH 9

9. Mar 05- Apr 08, Commander, 509th

Contracting Squadron, Whiteman AFB, MO

10. Jun 08 – Jun 11, Commander, Detachment 415, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS: Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Air

Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Joint Meritorious Unit Award w/ one oak leaf cluster, Air Force Outstanding Unit

Award, Combat Readiness Medal, Iraq Campaign medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

Second Lieutenant 12 May 1990

First Lieutenant 1 Jul 1992

Captain 1 Jul 1994

Major 1 September 2001

Lieutenant Colonel 1 August 2006

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1ST BATTALION NCO

SERGEANT MAJOR JASON MOFFITT

United Stated Marine Corps (Retired)

Sergeant Major Moffitt entered recruit training with Company A, 1st Recruit

Training Battalion, MCRD San Diego, CA on 2 August 1988 and subsequently

graduated on 21 October 1988 as a private first class.

In February 1989, Sergeant Major Moffitt was assigned to Marine Aviation

Logistics Squadron 31, MCAS Beaufort, SC. From August 1990 to April 1991,

Sergeant Major Moffitt would deploy to Bahrain in support of Operation

DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM.

In June 1992, Sergeant Major Moffitt transferred to 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2d Marine Division,

Camp Lejeune, NC and served as an administration clerk. While with 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, he deployed

from October 1992 to April 1993 aboard USS GUAM (LPH-9) and USS AUSTIN (LPD-4), as part of the Landing

Force 6th Fleet and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) to the Mediterranean

Sea. He would again deploy with 1st Battalion, 6th Marines from October 1994 to April 1995, this time aboard

USS NASSAU (LHA-4), as part of the Landing Force 6th Fleet and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special

Operations Capable) to the Mediterranean Sea. While deployed with Battalion Landing Team 1/6, Sergeant

Major Moffitt participated in Operations SHARP GUARD, DENY FLIGHT, and RESTORE HOPE in the Adriatic Sea.

In July 1995, Sergeant Major Moffitt attended Drill Instructor School Class 4-95. Upon graduation he was

assigned to Golf Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, MCRD, Parris Island, SC. While on Drill Instructor

duty, he filled the billets of Drill Instructor, Operations Chief, and Senior Drill Instructor.

In December 1997, he transferred to Marine (All-Weather) Fighter Attack Squadron 224, 2d Marine Aircraft

Wing, MCAS Beaufort, SC to serve as the administration chief. In December 1998, he deployed to the Western

Pacific as part of the Unit Deployment Program. After returning to the United States in June 1999, Sergeant

Major Moffitt was reassigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 and again deployed to the Western Pacific

from June to December of 2000.

Upon return from this deployment, Sergeant Major Moffitt was transferred to the Inspector-Instructor Staff,

West Palm Beach, FL for duty with 4th Air/Naval Gunfire Liaison Company and served as the administration

chief.

In June, 2004, Sergeant Major Moffitt transferred to the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps Unit, The

University of Memphis to serve as the Assistant Marine Officer Instructor. During the summers of 2005 and

2006, he served at Officer Candidate School, Quantico, VA as a Sergeant Instructor and Platoon Sergeant.

In April 2007, Sergeant Major Moffitt was reassigned to 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2d Marine Division,

Camp Lejeune, NC to serve as the First Sergeant of Weapons Company. From September 2007 to April 2008, he

deployed to Ar Ramadi, Iraq in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM 06-08.1. 1st Battalion, 8th Marine

Regiment would again deploy from March 2009 to September 2009 to Al Asad, Iraq in support of Operation

IRAQI FREEDOM 09.1.

SERGEANT MAJOR JASON MOFFITT (CONT.)

Upon completion of this deployment, Sergeant Major Moffitt received orders to report for duty as the First

Sergeant of Headquarters and Service Company, 2d Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2d Marine Division, Camp

Lejeune, NC. On 12 July, 2010, he was reassigned to Co D, 2d Assault Amphibian Battalion, and deployed to

Toubacouta, Senegal, Thies, Senegal and Port Gentil, Gabon in support of Security Cooperation Task Force,

Africa Partnership Station (SCTF APS-11) 2011. Upon his return to CONUS he was reassigned to Co A, 2d Assault

Amphibian Battalion. In October, 2011, Sergeant Major Moffitt would again deploy, this time aboard USS OAK

HILL (LSD-51), to Mantatungo, Columbia and Puerto Barrios, Guatemala in support of the Special Purpose

Marine Air Ground Task Force, Southern Partnership Station-12 (SPMAGTF SPS-12).

In June, 2012, Sergeant Major Moffitt was promoted to his current rank and reported for duty as the Sergeant

Major of 1st Recruit Training Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment, MCRD Parris Island, SC.

In June 2014, Sergeant Major Moffitt was transferred to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251, Marine Aircraft

Group 31, MCAS Beaufort, SC. Sergeant Major Moffitt and the Marines of VMFA-251 deployed, as part of

Carrier Air Wing ONE, Carrier Strike Group TWELVE aboard USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN-71) in support of

Operation INHERENT RESOLVE.

Sergeant Major Moffitt’s personal awards include the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal (two gold stars in

lieu of 3rd award), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three gold stars in lieu of 4th Award), and the

Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (three gold stars in lieu of 4th Award).

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BRAVO CO Tactical Officer

MAJOR STEVE SMITH

United States Army Reserves

Born in El Paso, Texas, Major Smith graduated from The Citadel in 1984 with a

BA in Political Science and received a commission as a Field Artillery Officer. He

served twenty years in various command and staff positions from battery to

Corps level in the active and reserve components. His military education

includes the Field Artillery Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, The Airborne

Course, The Small Arms Maintenance Course, The Master Fitness Trainer

Course, Combined Arms and Services Staff Officer Course, and The Command

and General Staff College.

Major Smith joined the Commandant’s Department in August 1998 as a

Company Tactical Officer. He has served as the Company TAC for Alpha, Charlie, Oscar, Palmetto Battery, and

Romeo. In 2007, while serving as the Tactical Officer for Palmetto Battery, he was instrumental in the

reactivation of Papa Company, which was billeted in Stevens Barracks with PB. He is currently serving as the

Tactical Officer for the Regimental Band and Pipes.

Major Smith has a Masters in American History is a member of the Society for Military History, the South

Carolina Historical Society, and was recently inducted into Phi Alpha Theta, National History Honor Society.

Regarded by many on campus as The Citadel’s “unofficial” historian he has written many articles for the school

paper, and made presentations to alumni groups on little known or forgotten Citadel history, traditions, and

customs. He is currently conducting research for the Centennial History of the Citadel Regimental Band 1909-

2009. The least favorite phrase he hears from cadets and alumni alike is “We’ve always done it that way.”

An avid “living historian”, Major Smith is one of the advisors to the Cadet Reenactment Club which portrays the

Corps of Cadets circa 1842-1865. As an advisor he, as do the other advisors, portrays a member of the faculty of

that period. When not reenacting with the cadets, he may be found portraying a Hessian Jaeger auxiliary of His

Majesties Forces in the Colonies 1775-1783 during the Southern Campaign.

Major Smith works closely each semester with the professors in the Department of History to conduct “hands

on” history classes for cadets and graduate students on the history and significance of 18th,19th, and 20th

Century firearms for such classes as, “The Patterns of War Since the 18th Century”, “American Military History”,

and “The History of Firearms” (the latter involving a live fire portion at a local firing range.)

In addition to his duties as the Tactical Officer for the Regimental Band and Pipes he also serves as the TAC for

the Citadel Cheerleaders, another century old cadet organization established in 1908.

In addition to holding a Private Pilot’s Certificate, Major Smith has also completed the SC DHEC Basic Emergency

Medical Technician Course and serves as one of the campus’ Sexual Assault Victim Advocates.

The most satisfying part of his job is working with young people and helping to develop them into principled

leaders.

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CHARLIE CO Tactical Officer

CAPTAIN JORDAN D. RODICK

United States Marine Corps

Captain Rodick was born in Hartford, Connecticut on 19 November 1985 and was

raised in Portland, Maine. He graduated from to The Citadel in 2009 where he

received his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice.

Captain Rodick was selected for and attended Officer Candidates School in Quantico, Virginia during the summer of 2008.

He was commissioned from The Citadel as a Second Lieutenant in 2009.

Captain Rodick entered active duty as the Special Projects Officer at Recruiting Station Columbia, South Carolina in the 6th

Marine Corps district from November 2009 until March 2010 building and preparing dozens of NROTC scholarship

applications, CONGRINT investigations, and site audits.

In March 2010, Captain Rodick was assigned to The Basic School, Camp Barret, Quantico, Virginia and began training with

Delta Company, 4-10 from April 2010 until November 2010. Captain Rodick reported to Courthouse Bay, Camp Lejeune

North Carolina for Combat Engineer Officers Course from November 2010 and to April 2011 and graduated with the military

occupational specialty of 1302.

Captain Rodick reported to 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion aboard Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, Twentynine

Palms, California and was assigned as the Assistant Logistics Officer, Safety/HAZMAT officer, and Armory officer from April

2011 to August 2011. While in this billet, Captain Rodick singlehandedly developed the Battalions Force Preservation

Program.

In August 2011, Captain Rodick was selected to be the Company Engineer Advisor for the Battalion Embedded Training

Team. He completed Advisor Training Group at Camp Wilson, Twentynine Palms, CA in August 2011. He was attached to

Regimental Combat Team 8 and 6 in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM in RC-SW, Afghanistan from October

2011 to May 2012.

During his deployment, Captain Rodick served as convoy commander, vehicle commander, vehicle search team commander

(as a part of aerial interdiction operations (OP AERO-HUNTER)), lead sweeper for dismounted counter-IED operations, and

.50 caliber gunner throughout Helmand and Nimruz provinces including Demazong, Lokei, Push-te-hasan, Washir, Sangin,

Now Zad, and Musa Qala. He mentored and led Afghan Combat Engineers and Reconnaissance soldiers during Aerial

interdiction, Counter-IED, clearing, and reconnaissance operations.

Upon redeployment, Captain Rodick was assigned as Platoon Commander, 2nd Platoon, Bravo Company (Route Clearance),

3rd Combat Engineer Battalion. Captain Rodick completed a full PTP workup, including participation in Exercise Steel Knight.

Captain Rodick was assigned as Engineer and Support Company Commander as part of the Remain Behind Element;

preparing combat replacements and enabling elements for exercises aboard MCAGCC Twentynine Palms, CA.

Upon separation from Active Duty, Captain Rodick directly affiliated to the Selected Marine Corps Reserve and reported to

Charlie Company, 4th Law Enforcement Battalion in August 2013 to serve as the Executive Officer. Captain Rodick

subsequently reported to Marine Corps Detachment Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri to attend Military Police Basic Officer

Leadership Course from September 2013 to February 2014. He graduated with the military occupational specialty of 5803,

(Military Police Officer) while earning the PT Badge and Gold German Armed Forces Qualification Badge.

CAPTAIN JORDAN D. RODICK (CONT.)

From November 2014 through February 2017, Captain Rodick assumed command of Charlie Company, 4th Law

Enforcement Battalion. Charlie Company participated in numerous named exercises to include COBRA GOLD, GROUND

SENSOR PLATOON, EAGER LION, as well as planning and conducting a Battalion Level Annual Training event.

In March 2017, Captain Rodick assumed command of Delta Company, 4th Combat Engineer Battalion, 4th Marine Division.

While leading Delta Company, Captain Rodick participated in MTNX (Mountain Exercise, Bridgeport California), 4th Marine

Division Squad Competition, AFRICAN LION, as well as designing and leading the Battalion’s Corporals Course.

Captain Rodick was employed at Pricewaterhousecoopers LLC from Nov 2015 through June 2017. While employed as an

Experienced Associate/Risk Management Consultant, he provided expertise in HSLE (Homeland Security and Law

Enforcement) as well as Information Security/Technology to numerous Federal Government clients throughout the National

Capitol Region. He also planned, designed, and instituted numerous training and education programs for Federal Law

Enforcement clients.

Captain Rodick’s awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal,

The National Defense Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, and the sea service

deployment ribbon.

Captain Rodick is a graduate of Xavier University with a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice and is married to the former

Jeanne Albinger of Charleston, South Carolina and has two daughters, Michaela and Cadence.

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DELTA CO Tactical Officer

CAPTAIN RIDDICK

United States Marine Corps

BIO UNDER CONSTRUCTION

2ND BATTALION & ECHO CO Tactical Officer

LIEUTENANT COLONEL KEITH BRACE

United States Army

Lieutenant Colonel Keith B. Brace received a Bachelor of Science Degree in

Business Administration from The Citadel and was commissioned an

Infantry Officer as a Distinguished Military Graduate in 1991. He also

earned a Masters Degree in Business Administration from The Citadel in

2002. His military education includes the Infantry Officers Basic and

Advanced Courses, Combined Arms Services Staff School, and the

Command and General Staff College.

Lieutenant Colonel Brace joined the Commandant’s Department in 2011 after retiring from a 20 year Army

career. His previous assignments include: Professor of Military Science at Wake Forest University; S3/Operations

Officer, 3-61st Cavalry Squadron, Ft. Carson, CO; G3/Training Officer, 7th Infantry Division, Ft. Carson, CO; Chief

Battalion Training Officer and Company Training Officer, 3-307th Training Support Battalion, Mt. Pleasant, SC;

Assistant Battalion S3/Operations Officer and Commander, HHC and B Company, 1-18th Infantry Battalion,

Schwienfurt, Germany; and Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, and Battalion S1/Adjutant, 1-505th

Parachute Infantry Regiment, Ft. Bragg, NC. His deployments include a tour in Bosnia from October 1996-April

1997 and a tour in Iraq from October 2006-August 2007.

His military awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the

Meritorious Service Medal (3), the Army Commendation Medal (3), the Army Achievement Medal (4), the

National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Global

War on Terrorism Medal, the Armed Forces Service Medal, the NATO Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge,

the Expert Infantryman Badge, the Ranger Tab, and the Senior Parachutist Badge.

Lieutenant Colonel Brace is married to Amy Brace and they have two children; Sara and Niko.

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2ND BATTALION NCO

FIRST SERGEANT JIM BROWER

United States Army

1SG Jim Brower joined the United States Army in 1987 and served for over

27 years in Ranger, Reconnaissance, and Light Infantry units. He deployed

multiple times in support of Operation Just Cause, Restore Hope, Uphold

Democracy, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom as well as other training deployments around the globe. 1SG

Brower has also served as an Instructor and Dive Supervisor at the Benning phase of Ranger School, in the G3 at

United States Army Africa, and his final assignment prior to retiring was in the Army ROTC department at the

Citadel. He is a Distinguished Member of the Airborne and Ranger Training Brigade and is the Recipient of the

Order of St Maurice Medallion (Centurion).

1SG Brower joined the Commandants Department in September of 2016 and is currently serving as the 2nd

Battalion TAC NCO. 1SG Brower is married to his wife Danielle and they have two children, Dylan and Mackenzie.

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F-TROOP CO Tactical Officer

LIEUTENANT ORLANDO GARCIA

United States Navy

LT Garcia is native of Rio Grande, P.R. He enlisted in December 1989 and

received recruit training at Orlando, FL., followed by Aviation Machinist

Mate (AD) training at Millington, TN. His first duty assignment was onboard

the USS FORRESTAL (CV 59) where he deployed in support of Operation

PROVIDE CONFORT. He then joined the “Sidewinders” of VFA 86 where he

deployed onboard USS AMERICA (CV 66) for Operation SOUTHERN WATCH.

Additional duty stations and assignments include, Aviation Intermediate

Maintenance Department, NAS Cecil Field, FL; Aviation Intermediate

Maintenance Department, NAS Sigonella, Italy; and the “Redtales” of VC 8,

in Roosevelt Roads, PR. During his time as a Jet Engine Mechanic he

achieved the rank of Petty Officer First Class, he served as Power Plant Supervisor and Phase/Corrosion Control

Leading Petty Officer. He performed scheduled and unscheduled maintenance in seven aircraft engines types

and was qualified as Power Plants Quality Assurance Inspector on the F/A-18C, TA-4J and UH-3H aircrafts.

LT Garcia attended college during his off-duty time, he received a Bachelor of Science in Professional Aeronautics

from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in 2000. He was selected to attend Officer Candidate School and was

then commissioned in February 2003. He reported to NAS Pensacola, FL for aviation flight training completing

primary and intermediate joint Naval Flight Officer and Navigator training with the “Warbucks” of VT 4. He then

completed Advance Maritime Training at the 562nd Flying Training Squadron in Randolph AFB, TX earning his

Naval Flight Officer Wings of Gold. He then reported to the “Pro’s Nest” of VP 30 in NAS Jacksonville, FL to

complete P-3 fleet replacement training. His first operational assignment as Naval Flight Officer was with the

“Tridents” of VP 26. During his tour the squadron deployed twice to the 5th fleet area of responsibility in support

of Operations ENDURING and IRAQI FREEDOM and served as Aviation Warfare Division Officer and as Aviation

Life Support System Branch officer. He participated in detachments to Sicily, Crete, Iraq, Qatar and Djibouti. His

final assignment was with the NROTC Unit The Citadel, where he served as Senior Naval Instructor.

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GOLF CO Tactical Officer

LIEUTENANT COLONEL JOHN W. HUGHES

United States Marine Corps

Lieutenant Colonel John W. Hughes, a 1999 graduate of The Citadel, The

Military College of South Carolina, currently serves as the Reserve Operations

Officer and Deputy Program Manager for reserve Marines at the Marine Corps

Security Cooperation Group, Fort Story, VA. In these billets he oversees the

planning, development and implementation of reserve training plans to support

unit operations. He also participates in the training of Security Cooperation Teams before deployment and in the

training and assessment of foreign security forces.

Upon graduation from The Citadel, then Lieutenant Hughes reported to The Basic School in Quantico, VA where he

was assigned the Air Defense Officer military occupational specialty. He was assigned to Marine Air Control

Squadron 4, First Marine Aircraft Wing in Okinawa, Japan. Lieutenant Hughes was then assigned to Marine Tactical

Air Command Squadron 28 located at MCAS Cherry Point, NC. While assigned to MTACS-28, he served as the

Squadron Adjutant, Air Defense Coordinator and Senior Air Coordinator during multiple deployments.

In November 2004, then Captain Hughes transferred to the Marine Corps Reserve where he joined Delta Company,

8th Tank Battalion. While serving as a Platoon Commander and Executive Officer he oversaw the transition of the

unit from its designation as a Tank Company to a Light Armored Reconnaissance Company, culminating in a

deployment to Iraq in 2008-2009. At the completion of this deployment, then Captain Hughes was selected as the

only reserve officer to attend the resident Expeditionary Warfare School (EWS) for the academic year 2009-2010.

After graduating EWS, then Major Hughes was designated the Company Commander of Lima Company, 3rd

Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment. During this period, he led and trained over 200 Marines and Sailors deploying to

Ukraine to participate in foreign security force training exercises. Once he completed command time, then Major

Hughes was assigned as a Field Historian to the Marine Corps History Division. While assigned to this billet, he was

selected to attend the resident Marine Corps Command and Staff College. Soon after graduation, then Major

Hughes joined his current unit as an Operations Officer and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in April 2016.

Lieutenant Colonel Hughes has honorably served with distinguished combat units such as the First Light Armored

Reconnaissance Battalion and 8th Marine Regiment. He has deployed to Kuwait and Iraq three times in aviation and

ground combat units. His awards and decorations include the Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement

Medal (2), Iraqi Campaign Medal (3), National Defense Service Medal and the Select Marine Corps Reserve Medal.

Lieutenant Colonel Hughes holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from The Citadel and a Master of Arts in History from

George Mason University. He is also a graduate of the Marine Corps Advisor Course, the Expeditionary Warfare

School and the Marine Corps Command and Staff College.

He is happily married to the former Heather Yaun of Richmond Hill, GA who is a physician at the Ralph H. Johnson

Veteran Affairs Medical Center in Charleston, SC.

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HOTEL CO Tactical Officer

LIEUTENANT COLONEL BILL BELL

United States Marine Corps Reserves

Lieutenant Colonel Bill Bell received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History from

The Citadel in May 1994 and was commissioned a Marine 2nd Lieutenant in

December 1994. He also earned a Masters Degree in European History from

The Citadel in 2009. His military education includes Landing Support

Specialist School, The Basic School, Motor Transport Officer Course,

Expeditionary Warfare Staff Planning, Marine Corps Logistics Education

Program, and Command and General Staff College. He is currently working

on a Masters in Student Services and the Air War College.

Lieutenant Colonel Bell joined the Commandant’s Department in 2001 after leaving active duty and joining the

Marine Corps Reserve. His assignments include: Logistics Operations Officer, 4th Marine Division; Operations

Officer, HQ & Service Bn, 4th Marine Logistics Group; Company CO, XO & Platoon Commander, “Charlie” Co., 4th

Landing Support Battalion, 4th Marine Logistics Group; OIC, Operations Instructional Section & Battalion Motor

Transport Officer, Marine Logistics School, Marine Corps Combat Support Services School; HQ Commandant, 26th

Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable); Battalion Motor Transport Officer, Battalion Landing

Team 1/8, 26th MEU (SOC); Battalion Motor Transport Officer, 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division;

and, Truck Platoon Commander, HQ Bn, 2nd Marine Division. His overseas training exercises include Talisman

Saber ’07 (Australia), BALTOPS ’12 (Lithuania) and Western Accord ’14 (Senegal). His deployments include Joint

Task Force 160 “Operation Sea Signal” in 1995, Non-Combatant Evacuation of Albania in 1997 with 26th

MEU(SOC), Operation Iraqi Freedom II in 2004 and Director of Logistics for the Syria Train & Equip mission under

SOCCENT in 2015.

His military awards include the Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal,

Select Marine Corps Reserve Medal, National Defense Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on

Terrorism Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Humanitarian Service

Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal and NATO Medal.

Lieutenant Colonel Bell has served as an Assistant Rugby Coach 2001-2003 and the Head Rugby Coach for The

Citadel Rugby Club since 2003. The Bulldogs ended their 2006 season as South Conference Champions and D III

National Championship Runner-up, 2007 and 2008 placing in the top 3 in the Palmetto Conference, and winning

the Shield at 2016 USA Rugby 7’s National Championship. The Citadel is also a founding member of the Southern

Rugby Conference made up of Southern Conference college rugby clubs.

Lieutenant Colonel Bell is married to Morgan Bell and they have two children, Ronan and Cian, and an American

Foxhound named Dixie.

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BAND CO Tactical Officer

CAPTAIN JOHN C. PARSON

United States Army

Captain John C. Parson received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics and Business from The Virginia Military Institute and was commissioned into the United States Army in 2001; he has served as an Artillery Office, Infantry Officer, and a Judge Advocate. He also earned a Juris Doctorate from Charleston School of Law 2011. His military education includes the Artillery Officer Basic Course, Infantry Captain Career Course, Judge Advocate Officer Basic Course, Judge Advocate Officer Advanced Course, NATO Legal Advisor Course, Contact Attorneys Couse, and the Special Victims Unit Investigators Course. Captain Parson joined the Commandant’s Department in 2017. He is currently a member of the Virginia Army National Guard and serving as the Brigade Judge Advocate for 116th Infantry Brigade, Stanton, VA. His previous assignments include: Command Judge Advocate, Combined Joint Operations Center-Jordan, Amman Jordan; Chief, Operational Law, 29th Infantry Division, Ft. Belvoir, VA; Judge Advocate- Investigator, National Guard Bureau-Office of Complex Investigations, Arlington, VA; Division (G3) Operations Officer, 101st Airborne Infantry Division (Air Assault), Ft. Campbell; KY; 3-16th Field Artillery, Battalion Fire Direction Officer; B/3-16th Field Artillery, Battery Fire Direction Officer; B/2-8th Infantry Battalion, Company Fire Support Officer; 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized), Ft. Hood, TX. His deployments included two tours in Iraq from 2003-2004 and 2006-2007, as well as, a tour in Jordan 2016-2017. His military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (2), the Army Achievement Medal (2), Army National Guard Components Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Stars, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (2), the Global War on Terrorism Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” Device, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (3), Army Valorous Unit Citation Award, Army Meritorious Unit Citation, the Combat Action Badge, Parachutist Badge, and the German Armed Force Proficiency Badge.

He is a licensed attorney, admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States, Commonwealth

of Virginia, and various military courts and tribunals.

Captain Parson is married to Christina Parson and they have done daughter, Sophia.

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3RD BATTALION & INDIA CO Tactical Officer

LIEUTENANT COLONEL CHARLES GRAHAM

United States Marine Corps Reserve (Ret.)

Lt Colonel Charles H. Graham retired from the United States Marine Corps

Reserve, after completing a combined 25 years of service; 11 years of total

active duty and 14 years of reserve duty. He attended high school in

Bamberg, SC and earned his undergraduate degree from the University of

South Carolina. He went on to earn a Master of Arts degree from Webster

University and a Master of Strategic Studies from the Air War College, USAF

Air University.

After graduating from USC, he attended The United States Marine Corps Reserve Officer’s Candidate’s Course in

Quantico Virginia and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant. After completing his initial active duty requirements,

he reverted to reserve status and returned to South Carolina where he was employed by The SC Department of

Health and Environmental Control as a field biologist. In the fall of 1990, 1st Lieutenant Graham was recalled to

active duty and served with the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force during Operations Desert Shield and Desert

Storm. Returning from the Persian Gulf, Captain Graham again reverted back to reserve status and returned to

his position with the SC DHEC. Noteworthy follow on reserve assignments include a tour with Coalition and

Special Warfare (Baltic Region) and a tour as the Training Curriculum Development Officer at Marine Corps

Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC.

In 2001 Major Graham was again recalled to active duty. His following assignments tours included Combined

Forces Command- Afghanistan, Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force- Africa, Combined Disaster

Assistance Command-Pakistan and NATO-International Security Assistance Force-Afghanistan. Lt Colonel

Graham’s career military operational experience includes three presidentially directed reserve mobilizations.

Lt Colonel Graham joined The Citadel as a Company TAC Officer in July of 2008 and is currently the 3rd Battalion

TAC Officer.

Lt Colonel Graham’s wife Tammy holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and is an Assistant Professor in the

Department of Education at The Citadel. Charles and Tammy have two daughters and one son.

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KILO CO Tactical Officer

LIEUTENANT COLONEL SHARP

United States Army

LTC James Sharp is the K Co TAC officer and a 1988 Graduate of the Citadel.

He retired from the U.S. Army in 2014 after 31 total years of service. LTC

Sharp was the PSYOP Plans officer for US Army Central at Shaw AFB, Sumter

SC. After retirement he continued to work as an Operations Manager at USARCENT and as the Gun Library

Internet Sales specialist at Cabela’s in FT Mill SC.

LTC Sharps’ military service began in 1983 when he enlisted in the SC Army National Guard. He was

commissioned as an Infantry Officer in the US Army in 1988. Active duty assignments include: Platoon leader in

193rd Infantry Brigade Panama; Platoon leader and company XO 3rd Infantry Division, Germany; Company

Commander and G3 Air in the 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell; Tactical PSYOP Detachments Commander,

USASOC Ft Bragg; Ground Plans Officer, Joint Task Force Southwest Asia, Saudi Arabia; G3 Air, XVIII Airborne

Corps, Fort Bragg; PSYOP Plans Officer, 1st Infantry Division Germany and Iraq. Transition Team Chief, Iraqi

Advisory Group; Joint and Army Integration Division, JFK Special Warfare Center, Ft Bragg; Stability Transition

Team Chief, 3 Infantry Division Iraq.

Military Training and Special Skills, Infantry Officer Basic, Armor Officer Advanced Course, Air Ground Operations

School, Jumpmaster, PSYOP and Civil Affairs Officer Qualifications, Survival Evasion Resistance Escape (SERE),

Joint Air Command Control Communications, Joint Doctrine Developer, Counter Insurgency Academy, USA

Command and Staff College Intermediate Leaders Education, Air Assault, Senior Parachutist, Ranger, Combat

Infantry Badge, Expert Infantry Badge, Army Aircrew Badge.

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LIMA CO Tactical Officer

CAPTAIN WOUTER SIJTSMA

Dutch Air Force Reserves

Captain Sijtsma is the Company Tactical Officer for Papa Company in the

5th Battalion. He provides direct supervision to Cadet Officers and NCOs

in the performance of their duties in order to enhance their leadership

skills. As a TAC he helps teach, advice and counsel cadet leadership and

their subordinates in order to achieve the discipline needed to achieve

outstanding academic results and military proficiency.

Captain Sijtsma’s career started in 1979 as a Dutch Army communication

specialist embedded in the 8th USFAD (Lance nuclear missile).

After this tour he transferred to the Dutch Air Force as a special

operations (OGRV) specialist. In this function he deployed a number of

times to diverse places around the world to include Africa, the Middle East, and Indonesia.

Some of his military training includes EOD (bomb disposal) and CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and

Nuclear warfare). He is also an experienced military parachutist.

He has been extensively engaged in NCO and Officer Leadership training on the national and international levels.

He has worked with the Professional development Command of the US Air Force reserve.

His last position was as the head of the education bureau of the Dutch Air Force reserve where he was charged

with the setting up and executing of a new education system for the Dutch Air Force reserve.

His last deployment was to Afghanistan in 2008 (ISAF) where he served in Regional Command South as

counterinsurgency and counter narcotics specialist filling a Major slot in the J9 branch.

During his deployment his wife, who currently serves on active duty in the US Air Force, received orders to

return to the US to Shaw AFB. After serving in Afghanistan he joined her at Shaw AFB. After briefly returning to

the Netherlands to train the Dutch Provincial Reconstruction team of 2009 he settled with his wife in Sumter

South Carolina. He still serves as a Dutch Air Force Officer in the Reserves.

Captain Sijtsma graduated from the University of Liverpool (UK) with an MBA degree. He has dual citizenship

with the Netherlands and the United States.

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MIKE CO Tactical Officer

LIEUTENANT KEVIN ADCOCK

South Carolina Militia

Lt. R. Kevin Adcock (US Navy) has been a TAC Officer at The Citadel since

2011. After graduating from The Citadel in 1990 (Charlie Co.), he flew SH-

60B Seahawk helicopters and then trained future Naval Flight Officers as

a flight instructor in the T-34C.

Following active duty, Kevin entered the airline industry as a pilot for

United Express flying the Canadair Regional Jet. After Independence Air

dissolved, Kevin worked as a personal trainer and a middle school math

teacher prior to returning to his alma mater. As a TAC, he has worked for Delta, F-Troop, and Tango Companies

prior to reporting to Mike Company in 2016.

"A little knowledge that acts is worth infinitely more than much knowledge that is idle." - Khalil Gibran

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4TH BATTALION & TANGO CO Tactical Officer

COMMANDER JOHN HORLBECK

United States Navy

CDR Horlbeck is a native of Charleston, South Carolina and was raised

there. He attended Greenbrier Military School in Lewisburg, West Virginia

for two years from 1970 – 1972. Upon the closure of the school at the end

of the 1971-1972 school year, he returned to Charleston and graduated

from Porter-Gaud School in May 1973. He entered The Citadel in August

1973 and subsequently graduated in May 1977 with a Bachelor of Science

degree in Biology.

CDR Horlbeck reported to Officer Candidate School, Newport, Rhode Island

in June 1978 and was commissioned an Ensign in September 1978. He then served in a variety of assignments

afloat and ashore, concentrating in the areas of ship operations, engineering, logistics, administration, and

training. During the course of his naval career, he completed five extended overseas deployments to the

Mediterranean Sea and Persian Gulf, and resided in Rhode Island, California, South Carolina, Louisiana, and

Virginia. During the assignment in Louisiana he completed the three-year Naval Command and Staff non-

resident course for the Navy War College. CDR Horlbeck’s last assignment with the Navy was with the staff of

the Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, Norfolk, Virginia as Logistics Readiness Center Operations Officer.

He retired from the Navy in October 2000.

In December 2000, CDR Horlbeck graduated from Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia with a Master’s

Degree in Education. Following completion of his student-teaching requirement at Great Bridge Middle School,

Chesapeake, Virginia in March 2001, he and his family relocated to South Carolina in July 2001 to accept a

position as Assistant Head and Middle School Mathematics teacher at Thomas Hart Academy, Hartsville, South

Carolina. In June 2002 CDR Horlbeck accepted the position of Headmaster and served in that position until June

2009. In April 2009 he accepted an offer to assume the position of Headmaster at Mason Preparatory School in

Charleston, SC and served in that position from June 2009 to June 2012. He joined the Commandant’s

Department at The Citadel as a company tactical officer in August 2012.

CDR Horlbeck has a wide variety of interests; they include soccer (playing and refereeing), music (piano and

choral singing), genealogy, and fishing. He is a member of the U.S Naval Institute, South Carolina Society of

Colonial Wars, French Huguenot Society of South Carolina, Agricultural Society of South Carolina, St. Cecilia

Society, Charleston Men’s Chorus, and Theta Commission of Kappa Alpha Order. He serves as a member of the

Advisory Board for St. Alban’s Chapel, The Citadel.

CDR Horlbeck was married to the late Gretchen Lee Baker of Johnsonville, South Carolina for nearly 36 years.

CDR Horlbeck has two sons: one attends Trident Technical College and the other is a 2012 graduate of The

Citadel. CDR Horlbeck and his family are members of St. John’s Parish Church (Anglican) on John’s Island.

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4TH BATTALION NCO

FIRST SERGEANT RICK E. DEAN

United States Army (Ret.)

First Sergeant Rick E. Dean enlisted into the United States Army in

September of 1984, and attended Basic Infantry Training in A Company, 2nd

Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, Harmony Church, Fort Benning, Georgia.

Assignments include: Rifleman in Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry, Erlangen, Germany; Scout observer

and Radio Telephone Operator in HHC, Scout Platoon, 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division, Fort

Campbell, Kentucky; Assistant Team Leader in F Company, 51st Infantry, Long Range Surveillance Unit, Stuttgart,

Germany, while assigned was deployed in support of Operation Desert Storm; Scout Squad Leader, 2nd Battalion,

327th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Team Leader, Long Range Surveillance

Detachment, 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Hovey, Korea; Weapons Squad Leader, C Company, 2nd

Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Drill Sergeant, C Battery, 1st Battalion,

19th Field Artillery, Fort Sill, Oklahoma; Platoon Sergeant, B Company, 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry

Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, Vicenza, Italy, while assigned was deployed in support of Operation Iraqi

Freedom; First Sergeant, D Company, 3rd Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, Fort Jackson, South Carolina.

First Sergeant Dean’s awards include the Legion of Merit Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal,

Army Commendation Medal (3), Army Achievement Award (5), Meritorious Unit Commendation (2), Army Good

Conduct Medal (7), National Defense Service Medal (2), Southwest Asia Service Medal with Bronze Service Star,

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal,

Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (3), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon

(3), Combat Infantryman Badge (2), Expert Infantryman Badge, Ranger Tab, Pathfinder Badge, Senior Parachutist

Badge with Bronze Combat Star, Air Assault Badge, and Drill Sergeant Badge.

First Sergeant Dean is a graduate of Advanced, Basic and Primary NCO Leadership courses, Battle Staff, Drill

Sergeant School, Jumpmaster School, Ranger School and Strayer University with a Bachelor of Business

Administration.

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NOVEMBER CO Tactical Officer

CAPTAIN QUINN

United States Army

BIO UNDER CONSTRUCTION

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OSCAR CO Tactical Officer

COMMANDER KEVIN D. BORDEN

United States Navy

Commander Borden attended the United States Naval Academy in

Annapolis, Maryland, where he received his Bachelor’s degree and an

Ensign’s commission in 1994. Prior to Annapolis, he enlisted in the United

States Navy and flew onboard Navy UC-12 aircraft following high school graduation. He later received his

Master’s degree in Operations Research in 2001 from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.

Commander Borden served honorably for 21 years and retired in 2012.

His operational leadership assignments include destroyer USS Nicholson (DD 982), replenishment ship USS

Supply (AOE 6), fast frigate USS McClusky (FFG 41), Destroyer Squadron One staff, and destroyer USS Winston S.

Churchill (DDG 81). He participated in homeland protection Operation Noble Eagle, in counter narcotic-terrorism

operations, maritime security readiness and training operations, Global War on Terrorism operations, and in

combat Operations Joint Guard, Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom overseas.

His shore assignments include Naval Air Station Norfolk, United States Naval Academy, Surface Warfare Officers

School, Naval Postgraduate School, Naval War College, United States Pacific Fleet, Naval Warfare Center

Dahlgren, United States Joint Forces Command, Armed Forces Staff College, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and National

Defense University. Prior to military retirement, he was selected for Commander, Afloat Training Group in

Everett, Washington.

Commander Borden held command leadership positions in ships at sea, analyzed requirements and managed

projects on major staffs, integrated training between the military services, and remained dedicated to enhancing

national security. He received leadership, technical, and security experience in these diverse assignments. He has

been recognized in numerous leadership positions and is entitled to wear the Defense Meritorious Service

Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Joint Service Commendation Medal along with various other

service, unit and personal awards.

Following a decorated military career, Commander Borden entered the private sector in 2012 where he trained,

developed and mentored diverse teams focused on continuous process improvement while managing critical

resources. Additionally, he consulted independently with small business owners and managing partners to build

solid foundations for long-term achievement. His experience and operational focus helped identify gaps, create

strategy and policy, and execute roadmaps for success.

Commander Borden is an active member in the community, a regular member of the United States Naval

Academy Alumni Association (Charleston Chapter), member of the Institute for Operations Research and

Management Sciences (INFORMS), member of the Charleston Offshore Racing Association (CORA), and volunteer

with Tall Ships Charleston and the Spirit of South Carolina. He is married to the former Caroline Fleming of

Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, and has two school-age daughters.

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ROMEO CO Tactical Officer

MAJOR JONATHAN CRAIG

United States Army

Major Jonathan W. Craig, a 1999 graduate of The Citadel from Glen Ellyn, IL,

served over 15 years with the active duty United States Army as both a field

artillery officer and a public affairs officer. He currently serves as the Romeo

Company TAC Officer, Commandant’s Department, The Citadel. Additionally he serves as the Asst. Summerall

Guard TAC and the Citadel Basketball Team TAC.

Major Craig led, trained, and cared for thousands of Soldiers and their families and served in every

leadership position from Platoon Leader to Battalion Executive Officer. He honorably served with legendary

combat units such as the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Republic of Korea and the 319th Airborne Field

Artillery Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Additionally, he was deployed to Iraq from

2003-2004, where he earned the distinguished Combat Action Badge as the Battalion Fire Support Officer, 1st

Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division.

Major Craig commanded A Battery, 1st Battalion, 78th Field Artillery Regiment (13D/13P AIT) and later D

Battery, 1st Battalion, 78th Field Artillery Regiment (13B AIT) from 2006-2008. He was then hand-picked to serve

as the Deputy G-33 (Current Operations) Officer for the Chief of Fires, at the US Army Fires Center of Excellence,

Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Here he oversaw the training and readiness of all field artillery units throughout the Army.

Towards the end of his career Major Craig served as the media relations/press desk officer for US Army

Central/Third Army and later as Chief, Command Information, National Guard Bureau, Washington, D.C.

In his career Major Craig safely and successfully fired over 13,000 artillery rounds. As well as the

effective employment of infantry mortars, attack helicopters, fighter jets and bombers, and an AC-130

Gunship.

His awards and decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal

(1 OLC), Army Commendation Medal (1 OLC), Army Achievement Medal (2 OLCs), National Defense Service

Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, the Army Parachutist Badge, and the Army Staff Identification Badge.

Major Craig holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science from The Citadel and a Master of Arts in

international relations from the University of Oklahoma. He is also an Honor Graduate of the Defense

Information School, Public Affairs Qualification Course. Major Craig is also a graduate of the US Army Airborne

School and Field Artillery Officer Basic and Advanced Courses.

He is happily married to the former Lori Marie Baker of Shelbyville, TN, and they have three children;

Samantha, Sidney and Wesley.

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5TH BATTALION & VICTOR CO Tactical Officer

LIEUTENANT COLONEL JEFF PANTON

South Carolina Militia

LTC (Retired) Jefferson R. Panton served over 25 years in the United States

Army as both enlisted soldier and Officer. He enlisted in 1982 and was

commissioned from the United State Military Academy, West Point in 1988.

He has served in numerous leadership and staff positions as an Infantry and

Special Forces officer. His career highlights include Infantry Platoon Leader

and Mortar Platoon Leader in 2ID (Korea), Detachment Commander and

Company Executive Officer, 1st BN 1st Special Forces Group (Okinawa, Japan).

Group Support Company Commander 1st Special Forces Group (FT. Lewis,

Washington) and Special Forces Detachment-Korea (SFD-K) Commander.

While at the United States Special Operations Command, he served a 6 month tour in Iraq as an Operations

Officer in the Iraqi National Counter Terrorism Force-Transition Team, and 2 1/2 years as the USSOCOM Liaison

Officer to the Australian Special Operations Command. LTC Panton is also a Chinese Foreign Area Officer with a

Masters Degree from Stanford University in Far East Asian Studies. He served 16 years of his career in overseas

assignments primarily in Asia to include: Japan, Korea, Germany, Australia and the Peoples Republic of China. He

also had numerous smaller military deployments to Thailand, the Philippines, Cambodia, Bangladesh and Iraq.

LTC Panton retired from active duty service on 1 April 2011. He has a wife, Kimberly and three children: Charles ,

Savannah and Michael.

His Military Awards include: LOM, DSM (3 OLC), MSM (1 OLC) ARCOM (1 OLC), AAM, AUSA, AGCM, NDSM,

GWOT, KDSM and HSM

His military skills and training include: Military Free Fall parachutist, Jumpmaster, Expert Infantrymen Badge, Air

Assault Badge, Special Forces, Ranger and Special Forces Advance Reconnaissance, Target Analysis, and

Exploitation Course (SFARTEC) graduate. His primary foreign language is Mandarin Chinese with limited

proficiency in Korean.

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5TH BATTALION NCO

FIRST SERGEANT DANIEL WEBSTER

United States Army

BIO UNDER CONSTRUCTION

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PAPA CO Tactical Officer

CAPTAIN RAINES

United States Marine Corps

BIO UNDER CONSTRUCTION

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PALMETTO BATTERY CO Tactical Officer

LIEUTENANT COLONEL GLENN REMSEN

South Carolina State Guard

Lieutenant Colonel Glenn Remsen is a native of New Milford

Connecticut. He graduated from The Citadel. The Military College of

South Carolina, in 1994 and was commissioned in the United States

Army Reserve. While attending The Citadel as cadet, Lieutenant

Colonel Remsen was nominated by faculty to compete for the

prestigious Rhodes Scholarship. His other academic achievements

include receiving the Coleman Award for the highest senior GPA in

the Political Science Department and graduating with honors (Magna

Cum Laude). He also holds a Graduate Certificate in Homeland

Security from The Citadel, and a Masters Degree in Religion from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.

Lieutenant Colonel Remsen is currently serves in the South Carolina State Guard and is assigned to Special

Operations Command as the Section Chief for the Critical Infrastructure Protection Unit (CIPU). Several key

previous assignments include: Company Commander, Brigade Chief of Staff for Plans Operations and Training,

Brigade Chief of Staff for Intelligence and Security, Division Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence and Security,

Chief RAIDER Instructor at the South Carolina State Guard Military Academy, and RAIDER Task Force

Commander.

In 2012, Lieutenant Colonel Remsen was named an “Honorary Green Beret” by the South Carolina Chapter of the

Special Forces Association. His military awards include the South Carolina State Guard Homeland Defense

Achievement Medal, South Carolina State Guard Medal of Merit, South Carolina State Guard Humanitarian

Service Ribbon, State Guard Association of the United States Commendation Medal, and the State Guard

Association of the United States Achievement Medal. He also has earned the Laotian Parachutist Badge and

Military Emergency Management Specialist (MEMS) Badge.

At The Citadel, Lieutenant Colonel Remsen has served as an Assistant Director of Admissions as well as the TAC

Officer for both Oscar and Echo Companies. In addition to his responsibilities as a TAC Officer, he serves as the

co-advisor for The Citadel Cadet Special Operations Association.

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SIERRA CO Tactical Officer

LIEUTENANT COLONEL CHRIS POLITES

United States Army

A 1992 Citadel graduate and Star of the West scholar, Lieutenant Colonel

(Retired) Christopher F. Polites began his career as a Teach-Advise-Coach

Officer at The Citadel in July, 2015. Upon retiring from the U.S. Army in 2013,

he entered full-time into blacksmithing and went to horseshoeing school. He established Blue Blazes Farrier

Service, LLC after a year-long apprenticeship, and worked the Fayetteville-Southern Pines-Fort Bragg, NC

corridor. He maintains a few clients in the Charleston area, but dedicates most waking hours to the South

Carolina Corps of Cadets. During the first half of his military career, he served with the 82d Airborne Division,

10th Mountain Division and U.S. Army Intelligence Center and School. In 2004, he became a Civil Affairs officer

with a Middle East/ Arabic focus, and served in numerous command/leadership roles within the 96th and 97th

Civil Affairs Battalions (Airborne), and 95th Civil Affairs Brigade (Airborne), U.S. Army Special Operations

Command. He amassed over 14 of 21 years in direct leadership, command, cross-cultural advisory/instructional,

and primary staff assignments at all levels spanning 18 countries and five continents. He’s a veteran of multiple

combat and operational tours, including Panama, Kosovo, Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), Operation New Dawn

(OND), and OEF-Philippines (OEF-P). LTC (Ret) Polites culminated his Army career as the first Director of Civil

Affairs Force Modernization at the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School of Excellence.

His proudest accomplishment has been his marriage of over 20 years to his wife, Evelyn Sabrina Glover, of

Robbinsville, NC, and their six children – Zoe, Annabelle, William, Ford, Mary, and Max. The Polites’ now hail

from James Island, and attend Holy Ascension Orthodox Church in Mt. Pleasant.

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