Learn Leadership from the Best Leaders

LTC McIntosh

Professor of Military Science

A native of Phoenix, Arizona, Lieutenant Colonel McIntosh graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelors degree in Political Science.  Originally commissioned a Military Intelligence Officer in 1986, he later branch-transferred to Aviation as a tactical intelligence aviation officer.  He now holds a Masters degree in Information Systems and is married with one child.  He joined the Sun Devil Battalion in the summer of 2005.

Military Education: Electronic Warfare Traffic Analyst Course; the Defense Language Institute; Air Assault; Military Intelligence Basic and Advanced Courses; Basic Airborne Course; Rotary and Fixed-wing Qualification courses; Intelligence Counter-Terrorism Course; Electronic Warfare Signals Intelligence Course; Combined Arms Services and Staff School; and the resident Command and General Staff Course.

Assignments: Transcriber and collection manager at the National Security Agency; Ground Surveillance Radar and Electronic Warfare Platoon Leader (CEWI); Integrated Processing Facility Platoon Leader (Korea); Flight Operations Officer/Mission Operations Officer/Company Commander of an Aerial Intelligence Surveillance Company (Panama); S-3 and XO of an Aerial Exploitation Battalion (Ft. Hood, TX); and Aviation Officer for two military intelligence brigades (Ft. Hood & Ft. Sam Houston, TX).

Operational Experience: Korea; Bosnia in support of Operation Joint Endeavor; Haiti for Operation Uphold Democracy; Central and South America supporting counter-narcoterrorism operations; Kosovo and Macedonia for Operation Joint Guardian; Jordan and Kuwait in support of Operation Enduring Freedom; and Kuwait and Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Awards and Decorations: Meritorious Service Medal (4); Air Medal; Army Commendation Medal (2); Joint Service Achievement Medal; Army Achievement Medal (2); Army Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; Iraq Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Korean Defense Service Medal; Armed Forces Service Medal; Humanitarian Service Medal; NCO Professional Development Ribbon; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon(2); NATO Medal; Master Army Aviator Badge; Basic Parachutist Badge; Air Assault Badge; and Army Superior Unit Award.

MSG Kuhlmann

Senior Military Science Instructor

Master Sergeant Richard Kuhlmann enlisted in the United States Army as an Armor Crewman on the 10 January 1989 at Fort Knox, Kentucky.  He was born at Williams AFB (Williams Field), Arizona.  MSG Kuhlmann is married with 1 child. 

Military Education: Primary Leadership Development Course; Basic Non-commissioned Officer Course; Advanced Non-Commissioned Officer Course; Drill Sergeant School; Scout Platoon Leaders Course; M1A1 Master Gunners School; NBC Defense; Combat Lifesaver Course; Army Master Fitness.

Assignments: M1 Abrams Gunner 1/10 Cavalry, 194th Separate Armored Brigade Ft. Knox Kentucky; M1 Abrams Gunner 1-72 Armor, 2nd Infantry Division, Republic of Korea; Tank Commander/ Platoon Sergeant 1/4th Cavalry, 1st Infantry Division, Ft. Riley, Kansas; Drill Sergeant, 2-81 Armor, 1st Armor Training Brigade, Ft. Knox, Kentucky; Platoon Sergeant/ First Sergeant, 1-1 Cavalry, Buedingen Germany.

Operational Experience:First Sergeant during Operation Iraqi Freedom

Awards and Decorations:Bronze Star Medal; Meritorious Service Medal; Army Commendation Medal (3); Army Achievement Medal; Good Conduct Medal (5), National Defense Service Medal (with Bronze Service Star); Iraq Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Armed Forces Service Medal; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Ribbon(2); Drill Sergeant Badge; German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge.

MAJ Witcher

Recruiting Operations and Scholarship Officer/Assistant Professor of Military Science

Major Witcher graduated from Troy State University with a Bachelors of Music Education degree.  He enlisted in the Army in 1993 and was subsequently commissioned as a Second Lieutenant from Officer Candidate School in 1997.  Major Witcher is an officer in the Adjutant General’s Corps.  He is married with three children.  Major Witcher joined the Sun Devil Battalion in the summer of 2007.

Military Education:  Primary Leadership Development Course; AG Basic and Advance Officer’s Courses; Combined Arms and Services Staff School.

Assignments:  Assistant Battalion Personnel Officer, Ft. Rucker, AL; Chief, Readiness and Analysis Branch, 1st Armored Division (1AD) Headquarters (HQ); Enlisted Strength Manager and Officer Strength Manager, 1AD HQ; Chief, Personnel Operations and Actions Division, 1AD HQ, Bad Kreuznach, Germany; Commander, Company B, 3rd Soldier Support Battalion, Ft. Stewart, GA; Brigade Personnel Officer, 5th Brigade, 87th Infantry Division, Ft. Jackson, SC; Commander, Detachment E, 15th Personnel Services Battalion, Ft. Riley, KS, and Taji, Iraq; Brigade Personnel Officer, 3rd Brigade, 1AD, Ft. Riley, KS.

Operational Experience:  Company Commander, Taji, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Awards and Decorations: Meritorious Service Medal (3); Army Commendation Medal (3); Army Achievement Medal (2); Army Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal (2); Iraq Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; NCO Professional Development Ribbon; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon(2); Driver’s Badge.

CPT Otoshi

Executive Officer/MS II Assistant Professor of Military Science

Captain Elias Otoshi is an Armor Officer from the state of California.  He is a United States Military Academy, West Point graduate and has a Bachelors degree in European History.  He joined the Sun Devil Battalion in May 2008.

Military Education:Armor Officer Basic Course; Aviation Officer Advanced Course; Scout Leaders Course; Infantry Mortar Leaders Course; the Joint Firepower Controller Course; Airborne School; Pathfinder School. 

Assignments:Tank Platoon Leader; Mortar Platoon Leader and Infantry Liaison Officer in 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (01-04); Assistant Operations Officer, 24th Infantry Division (04-05); Brigade Chief of Plans, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division (05-06); Commander of Troop D, 4th United States Cavalry (06-08).

Operational Experience:Troop Commander during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Awards and Decorations:Bronze Star Medal; Meritorious Service Medal; Army Commendation Medal with “V” Device; Army Commendation Medal (2); Army Achievement Medal (3); National Defense Service Medal; Iraq Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Ribbon; the Meritorious Unit Citation; Combat Action Badge; Parachutist Badge; Pathfinder Badge; German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge.

LTC Craig B. Best

Battalion Operations Officer

Lieutenant Colonel Craig Best is a Military Police Officer from the state of Georgia.  He is an ROTC graduate from Wofford College and has a Bachelors degree in History.  Lieutenant Colonel Best has three children and joined the Sun Devil Battalion in December 2006.

Military Education:Army Command and General Staff Officer Course;  Ft. Leavenworth’s Army FDC; Army FDP Certification Course; Combined Arms Service & Staff Course; Military Police Basic and Advance Course; Army Food Service Course; Army NBC Defense Course; Toxic Agent Training Course; Battle Focus Instructor Course; 91st Division Observer Controller Trainer Course; USAR Budget Course.

Assignments:Assistant Confinement Officer, 371st MP Detachment; Chemical Aide De Camp, HHC, 415th Chemical Brigade; Detachment Commander, 595th Transportation Detachment; B Company Commander, 2/323rd Regiment (INOUST); B Company Commander, 1/321st Regiment; Battalion S-4, 1/321st Regiment; Battalion S-3, 1/321st Regiment; Brigade Assistant S-3, 5th  Brigade, 87TH Division; Battalion Military Police Team Observer Controller, OIC, 2/363 Regiment, 91st Division;    S-3, 2/363 Regiment, 91st Division; Battalion Executive Officer, 96th Military Police Battalion; Long Range Plans Officer, 43d Military Police Brigade, Battalion Executive Officer / Instructor, 10th Battalion Intermediate Level Education.

Operational Experience: Operation Iraqi Freedom as the Executive Officer of a Military Police Battalion and Officer in Charge of the Detainee In-processing Housing Area for the Abu Ghraib Detention Facility in Abu Ghraib Iraq subsequently the 43rd Military Police Brigade Long Range Planner responsible for assisting in the movement of detainees from Abu Ghraib detention facility to the Camp Cropper detention facility in Camp Cropper Iraq.

Awards and Decorations:Bronze Star Medal; Meritorious Service Medal; Army Commendation Medal (4); Army Achievement Medal (3); Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (5); National Defense Service Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Ribbon.

MAJ (Ret) Barclay

MS I Assistant Professor of Military Science

Major Barclay (Ret) graduated from the University of Florida in 1982 as a Distinguished Military Graduate and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Field Artillery. Major Barclay was selected for the U.S. Army’s Advanced Civilian Schooling program in 1989 and graduated with a MA from Indiana University in 1991.

Military Education: Field Artillery Officer Basic and Advance Course; Combined Arms and Services Staff School; Joint Firepower Controller Course; Austrian General Staff College; Airborne School; Air Assault.

Assignments: Since commissioning he has served in various positions around the world including service in the U.S. Embassy, Vienna, Austria. Major Barclay transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve in the summer of 1993 and served in various training and combat support units, including 3 years as a Battalion Executive Officer, until his retirement in 2002. In a parallel civilian career Major Barclay was employed as an executive with a Fortune 500 company with oversight responsibilities for offices and employees in Los Angeles, Phoenix and Chicago.

SFC Utley

MS II Instructor

Sergeant First Class Elliott Utley enlisted in the United States Army as an infantryman on 4 January 1989 at Fort Benning, Georgia. He was born and raised in Queens, New York. SFC Utley is married with four children.  He is currently pursuing a degree in psychology.

Military Education:Advance Non-commissioned Officer Course; Basic Non-commissioned Officer Course; Primary Leadership Development Course; Drill Sergeant School; Army Master Fitness Course; Airborne School; Air Assault School; Pathfinder Course; NBC school; Light Leader's Course; Combat Lifesaver's Course and Dragon Gunner's Course; MOUT Course.

Assignments: 1/505th PIR, 82nd Airborne Division in Fort Bragg, North Carolina; 1/27th Wolfhounds, 25th Infantry Division in Schoelfield Barracks, Hawaii; 1/509th PIR (Airborne OPFOR), the Republic of Korea with the 2nd Infantry Division 1/503rd INF as a squad leader; Drill sergeant duty at Fort Sill, Oklahoma; His most recent assignment was D company 3/327th INF (Battle Force), 101st Airborne Division (AASLT) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky where he served as a platoon sergeant during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Operational Experience: M249 gunner and RTO during Operation Desert Storm; Platoon Sergeant during Operation Iraqi Freedom

Awards and Decorations:Bronze Star Medal; Meritorious Service Medal; Army Commendation Medal (4th Oak Leaf Cluster); Army Achievement Medal (4th Oak Leaf Cluster); Good Conduct Medal (4th Award); National Defense Service Medal; Southwest Asia Service Medal; Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon; Kuwait Liberation Medal; Expert Infantryman's Badge; Combat Infantryman's Badge (with a star); Parachutist Badge; Air Assault Badge; Pathfinder Badge; Drill Sergeant Badge; German Parachutist wings.

CPT Mammoser

Assistant Professor of Military Science / MS III Instructor

Born and raised in Evanston, Illinois; Captain Jason Mammoser graduated in 2002 with a Bachelors degree in United States History. He is a distinguished military graduate from the Arizona State University Army ROTC Program. Branched Infantry, CPT Mammoser served five years on active duty before returning to Arizona and joining the Arizona Army National Guard. He re-joined the Sun Devil Battalion in January 2008.

Military Education: Infantry Officer Basic Course, Airborne School, Air Assault School

Assignments: Mechanized Infantry Platoon Leader 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, Republic of South Korea (02-03). Light Infantry and Support Platoon Leader 3rd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 101st Division (Air Assault) (03-04) Executive Officer Delta Company 1st squadron, 75th Calvary regiment, 101st Division (Air Assault) (04-05) Foreign Army Trainer Charlie Company 1st squadron, 75th Calvary regiment, 101st Division (Air Assault) (05-06) Officer Strength Manager Arizona Army National Guard (07-08)

Operational Experience: Operation Iraqi Freedom as an Air Assault Infantry Platoon Leader during combat and stability operations in Northern Iraq. Operation Iraqi Freedom as an Iraqi Army Mobile Transition Team Trainer in Central Iraq.

Awards and Decorations: Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal (3) Army Achievement Medal (2), National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (2), Combat Infantry Badge, Expert Infantry Badge, Basic Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Army National Guard Recruiter Badge

MSG Stover

MS III Instructor

Sergeant First Class Myles Stover is a native of California where he enlisted in the Army in 1986. After 14 weeks of Infantry Basic and Advanced Individual Training (AIT) at Fort Benning, Georgia he was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division at Schoelfield Barracks, HI.

Military Education: Advance Non-commissioned Officer Course; Basic Non-commissioned Officer Course; Primary Leadership Development Course; Airborne school; SOTIC Sniper school; Hard Target Interdiction course; Malaysian Tracker course; Jungle Expert; Light Leaders course; and Air Load Masters course.

Assignments: Infantry squad rifleman, machine gunner, and team leader, 25th Infantry Division, Schoelfield Barracks, HI; Motorized scout platoon as the senior scout/observer, 9th Infantry Division at Fort Lewis, WA.; scout/sniper, 199th INF, (which later became 2nd ACR and relocated to Fort Fort Polk, LA) Fort Lewis, WA; Infantry AIT instructor at Fort Benning, GA; Scout/sniper, 7th Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, WA; Sniper section leader, 1st Battalion, 25th Inf. Div, Fort Lewis, WA; Primary Leadership Development Course (PLDC) instructor, Republic of South Korea; Scout/sniper section leader, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, NC; Left active duty and moved to Arizona joined the Army Reserves as an Advanced Non-commission Officer Course (ANCOC) instructor, 104th Division (IT). Joined the Arizona National Guard to become a platoon sergeant for the 1/158th Infantry Battalion.

Operational Experience: Currently deployed with the Arizona national Guard and has just returned from the border mission in AZ.

Awards and Decorations: Expert Infantryman’s Badge; Army Commendation Medal (3); Army Achievement Medal; Good Conduct Medal (3), Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (2); National Defense Service Medal (2); Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Korean Defense Service Medal; Armed Forces Reserve Medal (1 Mobilization device); Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (3); Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon (2).

LTC (Ret) Hansen / Grand Canyon University

Assistant Professor of Military Science

Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Hansen was commissioned a Second Lieutenant through the Reserve Officers Training Corps and graduated from the University of Wisconsin in Madison with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education in 1981. She received her Masters Degree in Management from Webster University, St. Louis, Missouri, in 1985. Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Marian R. Hansen Kaucheck retired on 1 Feb 2004 after devoting 23 years of service to the United States Army. In Aug 2004 she joined the Arizona State University ROTC staff as a COMTek Contractor. Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Hansen is married and has one son.

Military Education: Adjutant General's Basic and Advanced Courses; Combined Arms Staff Service School; Army Command and General Staff College; and the Defense Information School for Public Affairs. In February 2001, she earned her professional Public Relations Accreditation by the Public Relations Society of America.

Assignments: Public Affairs Officer to the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Installations and Environment), The Pentagon, Washington, DC; Chief of Personnel Policy and Chief of Executive Services, Defense Intelligence Agency, Washington, DC; Public Affairs Officer and Protocol Officer, V Corps, Heidelberg, Germany; Chief of G1 Plans and Operations, 1st Corps Support Command, XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, NC; Company Commander and Deputy for Personnel and Administration, First ROTC Region, Fort Bragg, NC; Brigade Adjutant/S1, Deputy Institute Secretary and Instructor, U.S. Army Soldier Support Center, Fort Benjamin Harrison, IN; Company Commander and Chief of Army Community Services, 543rd Area Support Command, Bremerhaven, Germany; and Chief of the Reception Station and Installation Postal Officer, U.S. Army Training Center, Fort Leonard Wood, MO.

Awards and Decorations: Legion of Merit; Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Meritorious Service Medal (6); Army Commendation Medal (4); Army Achievement Medal (4); National Defense Service Medal; Armed Forces Service Medal; NATO Medal; Armed Forces Reserve Medal; Parachutist Badge and the Army Staff Identification Badge.

CPT Middendorf

Assistant Professor of Military Science

Captain Mack Middendorf is a Military Police Officer from the state of Florida.  He is a ROTC graduate from Saint Leo University, FL and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology.   Captain Middendorf is married with 4 children.  He joined the Sun Devil Battalion in November 2007. 

Military Education:  Military Police Officer’s Basic Course; Anti-Terrorism Officer’s Course, Level II;

Assignments:  General Support Platoon Leader, 3rd Military Police Company, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, GA;  Intelligence Officer (S2), 3rd Military Police Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, GA;  Detachment Commander, 179th Military Police Detachment, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, GA.

Operational Experience:  Operation Iraqi Freedom (I) as a Military Police General Support Platoon Leader in 3rd Military Police Company.

Awards and Decorations:  Bronze Star;  Army Commendation Medal (2);  Army Achievement Award (3);  Army Good Conduct Medal;  National Defense Service Medal; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War On Terrorism Service Medal; Armed Forces Service Medal 

CSM (R) Valderrama

Military Science Instructor

CSM Jorge A. Valderrama was born in Bolivia where attended the Bolivian Military Academy and obtained the rank of Second Lieutenant and a degree on Humanities.

He entered the United States to attend the University of Southern California at Los Angeles where he obtained bachelors degree in Sociology.

CSM Valderrama is married with three children. He joined the Sun Devil Battalion in March 2007.

CSM Jorge A. Valderrama is a Special Forces NCO

Military Education:Ranger School, Special Forces Qualification Course, Operations and Intelligence, Jumpmaster, Belgium Commando Course, French Commando Course, Marine Corps Sniper Course, British SAS Sniper Course, Italian Alpini Mountaineering Course, Military Freefall Course, Defense Language Institute (Greek) and the Sergeants Major Academy. 

Assignments:3rd Infantry Division at Aschafemburg, Germany as a Squad Leader of an Armor Reconnaissance Platoon (73-75). Aero Rifle Platoon (Blues Platoon) with the 2nd Armor Division, Fort Hood, Texas (75-77). 5th Special Forces Group, at Ft Bragg NC as a weapons NCO and as the Operations and Intelligence NCO (78-82).

In 1979, he served as a member of a specialized unit that was designed, equipped, and trained to rescue US hostages from the Republic of Iran. Platoon Sergeant for the Reconnaissance Platoon of the 1/509th Airborne Battalion Combat Team, at Vicenza, Italy. (82-85)

Delta Force and Joint Special Operations Command where he took part in many sensitive, and classified missions in Central and South America, the Middle East and Africa (85-89). Team Sergeant for a Special Forces “A” team, 7th Special Forces Group. As a Sergeant Major, he served in Fort Bragg as a company Sergeant Major in the 7th SFGA and as the G-3 Sergeant Major for the Special Forces Command. (89-95). SGM for Special Operations Theater Support Element (SOTSE-PAC) in Fort Shafter, Hawaii. (96-98). In 1998 he was selected to be the CSM for the 2D Battalion, 3D Special Forces Group (Airborne) and in 1999 for the 96th Civil Affairs BN (Airborne). In 2000 as the Group CSM for the 3rd Special Forces Group.

In 2001, he served in a nominative position as the Senior Enlisted Adviser for the Special Operations Command, Pacific (SOCPAC), and for the Commander of the Pacific (CINCPAC). (01-04) 

Operational Experience: World Wide Special Operations Sensitive Special Operations. 

Awards and Decorations: Defense Distinguished Service Medal Defense Meritorious Service Medal. MSM with 7 OLC’s. JSCM with one OLC, ARCOM with 2 OLC, AAM with 2 OLC, AGCM, AHM with one OLC, the Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab, the Master Parachutist Badge, the EIB, Belgium Commando Badge, German Gold Physical Fitness and Marksmanship Badges, Spanish, Italian, Bolivian, Honduran, German, and Thai Airborne Wings.

Mrs. Cynthia Mitchell

University Administrative Assistant

Mrs. Michelle Armenta-Wilcox

Administrative Technician

Ms Nicki Kuhlmann

Administrative Technician

Mr. Garritt Ringenoldus

Supply Technician