Learn Leadership from the Best Leaders

LTC James Fischer

Professor of Military Science

Lieutenant Colonel James Fischer grew up in Jefferson, WI.  He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in Air Defense Artillery as a Distinguished Military Graduate of the Army ROTC at Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI.  He holds Bachelor of Arts Degrees in History and German from Marquette as well as a Doctor of Philosophy in History from the Ohio State University.  His military education includes Airborne School, the Air Defense Officer Basic Course, the Air Defense Officer Advance Course with honors, Ranger School, the Combined Arms and Services Staff School and the Command and General Staff College (CGSC).  LTC Fischer’s initial assignment was to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Air Defense Regiment, 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, CO where he served as a Vulcan Platoon Leader, Stinger Scout Platoon Leader, and Battery Executive Officer (XO).  His was then assigned to 5th Battalion, 3rd Air Defense Regiment, 1st Armored Division, Germany where he was Assistant Operations Officer before taking command of Charlie Battery.  He later commanded the battalion’s Headquarters Battery which he deployed in 1996 to Tuzla, Bosnia-Herzegovina as part of the Implementation Force for the Dayton Peace Accords.  Upon completion of Advanced Civil Schooling in Ohio, he taught History at the United States Military Academy, West Point, NY.  In 2002, he completed CGSC at Fort Leavenworth, KS before joining the 4th Battalion, 5th Air Defense Regiment, First Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, TX.  While with the First Team, he was the Operations Officer for the battalion’s mission to defend Washington, D.C. from airborne terrorist attack as part of Operation Noble Eagle and then was the Battalion XO for his unit’s deployment to Baghdad, Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom II.  LTC Fischer served as the First Cavalry Division Air Defense Officer prior to his current assignment.  Among his awards and decorations are the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Joint Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal,Army Achievement Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Armed Forces Service Medal, and the Army Physical Fitness Badge.  LTC Fischer is married to Christine and they have four children: CJ, Braden, Samuel, and Taite Ying.

LTC John Zeitler

Assistant Professor of Military Science

LTC John P. Zeitler is the Fighting Saints Battalion Operations Officer and MS I (Freshman) Instructor.  LTC Zeitler returned to the Department of Military Science from Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, where he served as Chief of Plans, Orders, and Training Division of the G3, 377th Theater Support Command (Forward). He has held a variety of leadership positions in his 23 years of service to include Armor Platoon Leader, Armor Company Executive Officer, Armor Battalion S-1, Company Commander, ROTC Instructor, Team Chief of a Field Exercise Battalion, Logistics Officer of an Area Support Group, and Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff Force Development to a Regional Readiness Command.  LTC Zeitler is a graduate of Armor Officer Basic Course, Motor Officer Maintenance Course, Quartermaster Officer Advance Course, the Combine Arms Staff Services School, and the Command and General Staff College. His awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters.  LTC Zeitler has two children and resides in Cold Springs, MN.

MSG Thomas Earl R. Biggerstaff

Senior Military Instructor / MS III Advisor

Master Sergeant Thomas Biggerstaff grew up in Pierz, MN.  He joined the Army in 1990 and attended Basic and Advanced Individual Training at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO. His civilian education includes 3 years of college and is a graduate from Healy High School. 
His military education includes Airborne School, Search Advisor Course, Explosive Hazards Trainers Course, Observer Controller Course, Warrior Leaders Course, Basic Non-commissioned Officer Course, Advanced Non-commissioned Officer Course, First Sergeant Course, Air Assault School, Drill Sergeant School, and Sapper Leader Course. 

MSG Biggerstaff’s first assignment was with the 23rd Engineer Battalion 3rd Armored Division, Hanau, Germany where he served as an M-9 Ace Operator and Combat Engineer Vehicle (CEV) Loader.  He was then assigned to the 168th Engineer Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Divisionwhere he served as a CEV Gunner, Sapper Team Leader, and Squad Leader. MSG Biggerstaff was then assigned to 1st Brigade, 134th Infantry Regiment as a Basic Combat Training Drill Sergeant.  He was then assigned to the 82nd Engineer Battalion (BLUEBABE), Bamberg , Germany where he served as a Sapper Platoon Sergeant and deployed to the Balkans in support of K-FOR 4B.  He was then reassigned to the National Training Center, Ft. Irwin, California to serve as a Combat Engineer Company Trainer/Observer Controller.  MSG Biggerstaff Returned to Bamberg, Germany to the 54th Engineer Battalion and deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom in Support (OIF) of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force in Ramadi, Iraq.In November 2006, he assumed responsibilities as the First Sergeant of the 370th Engineer Company (SAPPER) and deployed to OIF in support of Multinational Corps Iraq (MNC-I). 

Among his awards and decorations are the Bronze Star 2nd Award, the Meritorious Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with eight Oak Leaf Clusters, NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge, Drill Sergeant Badge, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, and Sapper Tab. MSG Biggerstaff is a Member of the Sergeant Morales Club.  

MSG Biggerstaff is married to the former Manuela Marra of Copertino, Italy and they have three children:  Marra, Thomas, and Lillian.

MAJ Joey Errington

Recruiting Operations Officer

MAJ Errington is the Fighting Saints Battalion Recruiting Operations Officer. He is a Field Artillery Officer and came to the Department of Military Science from Buamholder, Germany.  MAJ Errington, along with Germany, has been stationed at Fort Stewart, GA, Fort Sill, OK, and Fort Riley, KS, in conjunction with one tour in Bosnia and two tours in Iraq.  Over 15 years he has held a variety of leadership positions to include Company Fire Support Officer, Firing Platoon Leader, Battery XO, Task Force Fire Support Officer, Battalion Fire Direction Officer, Battalion Adjutant, and Battery Commander.  His awards include the Bronze Star (2 awards), Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal (3 awards),  Army Achievement Medal (7 awards), National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Ribbon (3 tours), NATO Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, and the Combat Action Badge.  MAJ Errington and his family reside in St. Joseph, Minnesota.

CPT Matthew R. LeBlanc

Assistant Professor of Military Science / Executive Officer

Captain (CPT) Matt LeBlanc is the Fighting Saints Battalion Executive Officer and Assistant Professor of Military Science.  He is a native Minnesotan growing up in Little Falls, and alum of the Fighting Saints Battalion.  He was commissioned a Military Police (MP) Officer of the Army ROTC at St. Cloud State University in 2000. CPT LeBlanc’s initial assignment was the 95th MP Battalion, Manheim, Germany where he deployed his platoon to Kosovo in support of KFOR 4A.   Following the Military Police Captain Career Course, he was assigned to Fort Riley, KS were he commanded the newly formed 116th MP Company and deployed the unit to Iraq.  Upon redeployment CPT LeBlanc was then assigned to Human Resources Command in Alexandria, VA.  CPT LeBlanc graduated on the Commandant’s list from both the Military Police Basic and Captain Career Courses.  He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice from SCSU as well as a Master of Arts in Business and Organization Security Management from Webster University.  CPT LeBlanc’s decorations and awards include the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Action Badge and the Parachutist Badge.  He is married to the former Sarah Valiton, they have two daughters, and the family resides in Sartell, MN. CPT Matt LeBlanc is the Fighting Saints Battalion Executive Officer and Assistant Professor of Military Science.  He is a native Minnesotan growing up in Little Falls, and alum of the Fighting Saints Battalion. CPT LeBlanc is coming to us from Human Resources Command in Alexandria, VA.  He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice from SCSU as well as a Master of Arts in Business and Organization Security Management from Webster University.  He is married to the former Sarah Valiton, they have two daughters, and the family resides in Sartell, MN.

CPT Krenz

Assistant Professor of Military Science

Captain Thomas Krenz is the Fighting Saints Battalion Assistant Professor of Military Science and an Assistant Instructor. As a Field Artillery Officer, he has served on two combat tours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2005-2006 and 2007-2008 to include advising the Iraqi Security Forces on a Division Transition Team as the 8th Iraqi Army Division Fires and Effects Officer, G-1/Personnel, G-5/Civil Affairs, and G-8/finance advisor. Other duties include Firing Platoon Leader, Heavy Equipment Transportation (HET) Company Maintenance Officer, Truck Platoon Leader and Brigade S-1. Awards and decorations include Bronze Star Medal (2 awards), Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon (2 tours), Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal (two stars), National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and Combat Action Badge. CPT Krenz currently resides in Waite Park, MN.

SFC Sean Tajirian

Military Science Instructor / Training NCO

SFC Sean Tajirian is the Fighting Saints Battalion Training NCO. SFC Tajirian came to the Department of Military Science from Fort Hood, Texas where he was the Platoon Sergeant for Charlie Battery, 2nd Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery. He has held a variety of leadership positions throughout his more than 19 years of service to include PATRIOT Launcher Section Chief, PATRIOT Radar Section Chief, the PATRIOT Electronic Missile Maintenance Officer, US Army Active Duty Recruiter, Launcher Platoon Sergeant, and Headquarters Platoon Sergeant.  He has completed tours in Korea, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Fort Bragg, Fort Bliss and Fort Hood Texas.  SFC Tajirian is a graduate of the Primary Leadership Development Course, the Basic and Advanced Noncommissioned Officer's Courses, and the US Army Airborne School. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Valorous Unit Award, the Army Superior Unit Award, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the NCO Professional Development Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Southwest Asia Kuwait Liberation Medal, the Kuwait Liberation Medal, the Gold Recruiter Badge, and the Parachutist Badge.

Mr. Alberto DeJesus

Adjutant / SCSU Administrator

MSG (R) DeJesus is the Fighting Saints Battalion Administration and Personnel Technician. DJ came to the Department of Military Science from the University of WI-La Crosse where he was the Senior Military Instructor and MSIII Advisor. He has served in every Light Infantry duty position from Riflemen through Platoon Sergeant. He also served as a Field Recruiter, Station Commander and Field First Sergeant for the Minneapolis Recruiting Battalion. He has participated in two combat deployments. He has attended and completed the following military training: PLDC, BNCOC, ANCOC, Sniper, Air Assault, Light Leaders, Master Fitness and Rappel Master. His awards include: Meritorious Service Medal 3rd OCL, Army Commendation Medal 3rd OCL, and the Army Achievement Medal 12th OCL. MSG (R) DeJesus and his family reside in Princeton, Minnesota.

Mr. Joseph W. Peterson

Human Resources Assistant

Mr. Joseph W. Peterson is the Fighting Saints Battalion Human Resource Assistant (HRA).  Joe came to the Department of Military Science from the United States Military Academy at West Point where he served in several positions prior to his retirement after 24 years of active duty with the U.S. Army.  His previous assignments included Fort Campbell, KY, Stuttgart Germany, Fort Benjamin Harrison, IN, Fort Benning, GA, Fort Riley, KS, Heidelberg, Germany, Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, TX, and West Point, NY.  He has attended and completed the following military training: Command & General Staff College, Combined Arms Service Staff School, Finance Officer Career Course, Infantry Officers Basic Course, Officer Candidate School, Airborne, Air Assault and PLDC.  His awards include:  Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal w/3 stars, Expert Infantryman’s Badge, and Combat Infantryman’s Badge.  He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland and a Masters of Science in Education from Long Island University.   Mr. Peterson and his family reside in Buffalo, Minnesota.

Mr. Harland J. Grams

Supply Technician

SFC (R) Grams is the Fighting Saints Battalion Supply Technician. Howie came to the Department of Military Science from the Minnesota Army National Guard (AGR) where he was a member of the Supply Instruction and Assistance Team for the Director of Logistics. In his Military career he served with the supply and transport, Main Support, DISCOM and 1st Brigade duty positions. He has attended and completed the following military training: PLDC, BNCOC and ANCOC. His awards include: Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal 2d OCL, and the Army Achievement Award 7th OCL. SFC (R) Grams and his family reside in Little Falls, Minnesota.

Ms. Molly Wiemann

Admin Assistant / SJU Administrator

Ms. Molly Wiemann is the Administrative Assistant for the Fighting Saints Battalion and is employed by Saint Bens University.  Mrs. Wiemann is a graduate of Saint Cloud Technical College and has received an AAS degree in Credit and Finance.  Mrs. Wiemann resides in Clearwater, MN with her family.