Learn Leadership from the Best Leaders

LTC Aaron W. Metz

Professor of Military Science

LTC Metz was commissioned in June of 1991 as an Infantry officer from Central Washington University.  His first assignment was as a Rifle and Scout Platoon Leader at Fort Bragg, NC in the 82d Airborne Division.  He then was assigned as a Rifle Platoon Leader at Fort Benning, GA with the 75th Ranger Regiment.  Upon promotion to Captain, he served as an Assistant Brigade Operations Officer and commanded a mechanized infantry company and a brigade reconnaissance troop at Fort Hood, TX in the 4th Infantry Division.  At the conclusion of his command time, LTC Metz was assigned to Fort Benning, GA as a small group instructor at the Infantry Captain’s Career Course.  When promoted to Major, he attended the Command and General Staff College (CGSC) for a year at Fort Leavenworth, KS with a follow on assignment to the 173d Airborne Brigade in Vicenza, Italy.  While assigned to the 173d Airborne Brigade, he deployed to Northern Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom 1 (OIF 1) as the Brigade Logistics Officer.  A year after the Iraq deployment, he was deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom V (OEF V) as a Battalion Operations Officer.  Following his two combat deployments in support of the Global War on Terror (GWOT) he was assigned to the Australian Land Headquarters in Sydney, Australia as a Joint/Combined Exercise Planner.  Upon promotion to Lieutenant Colonel, LTC Metz was selected to command the Forged Gold Battalion as the Department Chair and the Professor of Military Science (PMS) at the University of California – Davis.

Schooling:  LTC Metz holds a BS in Business Administration, with a specialization in Marketing and a Minor in Military Science from Central Washington University.  He also holds a Masters Degree in Human Resource Management from Troy State University.  In the military, he holds both platform and small group instructor certifications from the U.S. Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia.

Awards and Decorations:  LTC Metz has earned the following military awards:  Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Air Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Army Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal, The Global War on Terror Service Medal, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Army Superior Unit Award, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Expert Infantryman Badge, the Master Parachutist Badge, the Pathfinder Badge, the Ranger Tab, and the Canadian/British/Egyptian parachutist badges

MSG Monnett

Senior Military Science Instructor

Email: smonnett@ucdavis.edu

MAJ Williamson

XO, Assistant Professor of Military Science

MAJ Williamson enlisted in the Army in 1982 as a Military Policeman and graduated from MP school February 1983.  He served with the 61st MP and 980th MP Companies. Upon leaving Active Duty he joined the Army Reserve’s 341st MP Company in San Jose and then attended and graduated from the University of California at Davis, and received his commission as a Second Lieutenant from the UC Davis ROTC program in 1992.  .

MAJ Williamson then joined the California National Guard and served with the 970th MP Company and deployed to Fort Drum, NY with the 670th MP Company in support of the 10th Mountain Division’s operations in Haiti. He then was assigned as the Provost Marshal for Joint Task Force Eureka, in Bocas Del Toro Province in Panama. Afterward MAJ Williamson commanded and deployed the 870th MP Company to Fort Lewis, Washington after the September 11th attacks.

Prior to assignment to UC Davis, MAJ Williamson returned from a tour in Iraq where he served as the Operations Officer for Task Force 49th Military Police near Baqubah, Iraq.

MAJ Williamson has held several other leadership and staff positions to include Squad Leader, Platoon Leader, Rear Detachment Commander 670th MP Company, Assistant Operations Officer Task Force Southwest Border – San Diego, Battalion Personnel Officer, Battalion Intelligence and Battalion Operations Officer. 

Email: dcwilliamson@ucdavis.edu

MAJ Heringer

S-3, Assistant Professional of Military Science

As UC Davis Alumni my wife Sarah and I are delighted to be back in Davis. We both attended UCD as undergrads and we both originally hail from Northern California. We are joined this time around by three additions to our family, our daughters Grace(4 yrs) and Ella (2yrs) and Liberty our Black Lab.

Since leaving Davis, I have traveled extensively, spending time in 9 different states and two tours in Iraq. After a short stint as Goldbar recruiter for the Forged Gold Battalion, I completed; Initial Entry Rotary Wing Course, Aviation Officer Basic Course, OH-58D qualification course and Aviation Captain’s Career Course. I have served in various roles, but with primarily two operational units, 1st Squadron 10th Cavalry and 4th Squadron 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment. I have held positions as Platoon Leader, Executive Officer, Assistant Brigade S-3 and Troop Commander. I have participated in two National Training Center Rotations, four DoD/Border Patrol counter-drug missions, deployed for Operation Iraq Freedom for two separate twelve month tours and racked up over 2000 hrs in the OH-58D. I am excited to have rejoined the cadre and this great program. I am looking forward to a great year ahead as the MS III instructor and as the Battalions Operations Officer.

Email: sfheringer@ucdavis.edu

CPT Apachino

Assistant Professor of Military Science

Email: apachino@saclink.csus.edu

MSG Heple

Senior Military Science Instructor CSUS

SFC Ramon

Military Science Instructor / Operations NCO

SFC Lau

Military Science Instructor / Operations NCO

Mr. Barzo

Management Services Officer

Steve Barzo entered the Army in June 1963.  His assignments where 8th Log Comd, Italy, HQ MACV and 25th Infantry Division in Vietnam, Walter Reed Army Medical Center,  ROTC assignments at UC Davis and Washington State University.  His last assignment was Recruiting First Sergeant for the Sacramento Recruiting Company, retired in April l984.   After retiring from the Army he went to work for ROTC at UC Davis in September 1984 and has been working here since that time as the Management Services Officer.  He is currently a Planning Commissioner for the City of Woodland and has held the position for the past 10 years, 3 as the Chairman.

Mr. Cowan

Supply Tech

I was born in Sacramento and attended Rio Linda High School. I took a job as an aircraft mechanic at McClellan AFB.When I turned 18. I worked on A7, A10, F15, KC 135 and F111 Aircrafts.. My work included working on the fuel tanks and other aircraft systems to include bead blasting and chemically stripping the interiors so that necessary repairs could be conducted. I worked at McClellan AFB in this capacity from 1988 until 1996 when base closures came into effect and jobs began being relocated. In 1996, I moved into supply as a GS7, but still worked at McClellan, working in transportation and basic supply. I held this job until 1999 when increased base closures forced me to once again obtain a new job. During this time I was accepted to the California Correctional Officers Academy with an assignment to Folsom Prison in Folsom, and began my education to work in that field but the same year I was also placed in the Priority Placement Program and offered a job with the Defense Commissary Agency at McClellan. I worked in this capacity from 1999 until 2005, at which time, due to more base closures and force reductions, I came to work at the University of California Davis, Department of Military Science for Army ROTC. I have worked as a Federal government employee for 19 years and plan to retire from my position at retirement age. I live with my wife, Malissa, and three children in Rio Linda.

Ms. Sheehan

Enrollment Coordinator

Stacey Sheehan was born in Petaluma, CA, and is an alumnus of University of California, Davis.  She graduated with a degree in English, emphasizing creative writing and teaching.  She plans to never use this degree to teach.  She has been a member of the staff at UCD Army ROTC for 2 years.

Mr. Les Ramos

Human Resources Assistant UCD

Mrs. Thomas

Security Specialist

Mrs. Robin Thomas attended Woodland High School and Chico State University.  After attending college, Mrs. Thomas entered the United States Army as a Tactical Microwave Satellite Radio Operator for a three year tour.  After her tour with the US Army, Mrs. Thomas worked for FM-102 radio for 7 years working with the media.  Mrs. Thomas has worked for the University of California, Davis going on 20+ years.  She has worked in several departments on campus.  She currently has worked for the Military Science Department for 11+ years.  She enjoys working with the cadets/students at Davis.  Her hobbies include cooking, shopping, golfing and vacationing in Bodega Bay with her family and husband.

Mrs. Kubasak

Department Administrative Assistant CSUS

Mrs. Kubasak was born and raised in Southern California.  She graduated from California State University, Long Beach with a degree in Social Science and later received a California elementary teaching credential.  She taught in elementary schools in both Northern and Southern California until the first of her three children was born.  She, her husband and their children moved to Sacramento from Southern California in 1981 and have been here ever since.  One of her favorite hobbies is quilting.

She has worked at CSUS since 2005 and ROTC since 2007.  She feels honored to follow in her father’s footsteps (WWII veteran) and serve the military in some capacity.

Mr. Olsen

Human Resources Assistant CSUS

Mr. Hamann

Senior Storekeeper