Learn Leadership from the Best Leaders

LTC James DesJardin

Professor of Military Science

LTC James DesJardin is a native of San Diego, California and enlisted in the Army in 1987. He is a 1988 graduate of the Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Infantry.

After his commissioning in the Infantry, he was assigned to the 3rd Armored Division (Spearhead) and served as Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer and Headquarters and Headquarters Executive Officer for 5th Battalion 5th Cavalry in Kirchgoens, Germany. Redeploying to the United States and prior to the Advance Course he was assigned to A Company 1st Battalion 29th Infantry Regiment as a Company Executive Officer. After the Infantry Advanced Course, he was assigned to Fort Drum, New York and served as the Battalion S4 and as Commander, Headquarters Company, for the 10th Mountain Division’s 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment.

After company command, LTC DesJardin was assigned as an Associate Professor for Military Science at the University of California-Davis.  Upon completion of that assignment he then served as an Observer Controller and Senior Battle Analyst for the Center for Army Lessons Learned at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California. After attendance at the Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, he reported to Fort Benning, Georgia, where he served with the 3rd Infantry Division as the Battalion Operations Officer and Executive Officer for the 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment where he served during Operation Iraqi Freedom I. LTC DesJardin ended his tour with the 3rd Brigade as the Brigade Rear Detachment Commander for the 3rd Brigade Combat Team as they executed operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III. LTC DesJardin is currently the Professor of Military Science at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs.

LTC DesJardin’s military education includes the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, U.S. Army Airborne and Air Assault School, and the Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle Commander’s Course, Jungle Warfare School, the Combined Arms Staff Service School and the Command and General Staff School. LTC DesJardin has a Bachelors of Arts from United States International University and a Masters of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University. LTC DesJardin’s decorations include: the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Global War on Terrorism and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge with star and the Expert Infantry Badge.

LTC DesJardin is married to the former Laurie Moore of Ridgecrest California and they have two boys Mike and Austin.

CPT Linda Lewis

Battalion Executive Officer

Captain Linda Lewis enlisted in the United States Army in 1983 as a helicopter mechanic.  She served at Fort Campbell, Germany, and Fort Rucker.  In 1993, she left active duty and served in the United States Army Reserve at Fort Knox.  She was commissioned through the Officer Candidate School in 1995 and became a Military Police Officer in the Tennessee Army National Guard.

Captain Lewis has served as a platoon leader, a detachment commander, a company commander, and a battalion assistant operations officer in the Tennessee Army National Guard.  She has deployed to Kosovo, served as the Antiterrorism Officer for Camp Able Sentry in Macedonia, and as a company commander, mobilized to Fort Campbell to support the law and order mission during Noble Eagle. Recently, she mobilized in support of Hurricane Katrina Relief along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.  Her civilian job is contracted cadre for Senior Army ROTC.  This is her third university.  Previously, she served as a recruitment officer for Pima Community College, a partnership school to the University of Arizona and as an MSI instructor at Western Kentucky University.

Captain Lewis’s commissioned military education includes Military Police Officer Basic and Advance Course, as well as Combined Arms Staff and Services School.  She holds a Bachelor of Science in Professional Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.  She is currently enrolled in a Master of Arts in Communications program at Austin Peay State University.    Her awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, and several service medals. 

MAJ Gregory Cyr

Battalion Training Officer

Major Gregory J. Cyr earned his commission as a Distinguished Military Graduate from the Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, GA, in 1993 as an Armor officer. He spent nearly nine years of prior service time as an enlisted soldier and noncommissioned officer while assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment and 5th Special Forces Group. Major Cyr holds a B.S. in Human Resource Management from Regis University. His Deployments include OPERATION SAFE PASSAGE, Pakistan; OPERATION DESERT SHEILD/STORM, SWA; OPERATION URBAN FREEDOM, Kuwait; OPERATION JOINT GUARD, Kosovo; OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, Northern Iraq. In addition, he has been on exercises in the following countries: Panama, Honduras, Germany, Jordan, Korea, and Romania.

CPT Kim Hensel

Enrollment and Scholarship Officer

CPT Kim Hensel entered Active Duty in 2001.  She was commissioned through ROTC at Youngstown State University as an Ordnance Officer.  After commissioning, she went straight to Fort Lewis as the Commander of the APFT Committee for LDAC.  Following this assignment CPT Hensel went to the Ordnance Officer Basic Course at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.

CPT Hensel has served as an Automotive / Armament Platoon Leader, Detachment Commander, and Battalion Adjutant at the 64th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team at Fort Carson, Co.

CPT Hensel’s awards and ribbons include the Army Commendation Medal (3rd award), Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon.

CPT Hensel is currently serving as the Recruiting Operations Officer for southern Colorado.  She is happily married and a mother of two wonderful children.

CPT John E. Price

Enrollment Officer

A native of Colorado Springs, Colorado, CPT Price began his military career by enlisting in the Air Force where he served as a Security Policeman at Bitburg AB, Germany and Hanscom AFB, MA. In 1993, he graduated with honors from the University of Southern Colorado with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science. In 1997, Captain Price graduated from the University of Colorado with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and was commissioned through ROTC.

Prior to becoming an Enrollment and Scholarship Officer at Colorado State University Pueblo, CPT Price was the Battalion S1 for the 743d Military Intelligence Battalion, Fort Carson, CO. Before that assignment, he commanded Delta Detachment, 502nd Personnel Services Battalion, Fort Carson, CO. His Detachment was attached to the 3d Armored Cavalry Regiment in 2003 during the initial stages of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  He also served as the Commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, and the Battalion S3, 4th Personnel Services Battalion, Fort Carson, Colorado. Before that, CPT Price was assigned to the 1st Squadron 4th Cavalry in Schweinfurt, Germany where he served as a Cavalry HQ Platoon Leader, a Tank Platoon Leader, a Scout Platoon Leader, and the HHT executive officer. His military schools include the Airborne school, the Armor Officer’s Basic course, the Scout Platoon Leader’s course, the Adjutant General Advance course, and the Combined Arms and Services Staff school.

His awards include the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (2OLC), the Army Achievement Medal (2OLC), the Air Force Achievement Medal, the Air Force Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal (1OLC), the Kosovo Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service and Expeditionary Medals, the Armed Forces Service medal, the Army Overseas ribbon, the Air Force Overseas ribbon, the United Nations Medal, the NATO Medal, the Valorous Unit Award, the parachute badge and the Combat Action Badge.                 

MSG George C. Vega

Commandant of Cadets

Master Sergeant George C. Vega entered the U.S. Army on November 23, 1984, and attended Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training (AIT) with Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Training Brigade, Fort Benning, Georgia.

Master Sergeant Vega has served in numerous positions, his assignments have included; Team Leader, Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Fort Campbell, Kentucky 1985-1988; Team Leader, Charlie Company, 5th Battalion, 18th Infantry, 3rd Armored Division, Ray Barracks Germany 1988-1989; Platoon Master Gunner, Charlie Company, 5th Battalion, 18th Infantry 3rd Armored Division, Ray Barracks Germany 1990-1991; Platoon Master Gunner Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas 1993-1994; Company Master Gunner, Delta Company 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas 1991-1992; Platoon Master Gunner Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas 1992-1993; Battalion Master Gunner, 1st Battalion 16th Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas.  1994-1995; Platoon Sergeant Fox Troop 2nd SQDN 11th ACR National Training Center (NTC) Fort Irwin, California 1995-1998; Master Gunner Trainer, 1st Battalion, 118th Infantry Training Team, 2nd TSBN (218), 157th Infantry Brigade, Fort Jackson South Carolina 1998-2001; First Sergeant Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment (M), 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Hovey, Korea 2001-2002; Division M2 Master Gunner, G3, TNG, First Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas 2002-2005.

Master Sergeant Vega’s awards and decorations include the following; Bronze Star Medal; Meritorious Service Medal 4OLC; Army Commendation Medal 5OLC; Army Achievement Medal 8OLC; Army Good Conduct Medal 7th award; National Defense Service Medal 1 star; Southwest Asia Service Medal 3 campaign stars; Iraqi Campaign Medal; War on Terrorism Service Medal; Korean Service Medal; Humanitarian Service Medal; Army NCO Development Ribbon Numeral 3; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon; Multinational Force & Observers Medal; Kuwait Liberation Medal (Emirate of Kuwait); Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia); Combat Infantry Badge; Expert Infantryman's Badge; Air Assault Badge; Track Driver’s Badge; Wheel Driver’s Badge; German Army Marksmanship Badge in Sliver; Unit Awards; Joint Meritorious Unit Award; Valorous Unit Award.

Master Sergeant Vega served two combat tours.  He served during Desert Shield/Desert Storm, SWA 1990-1991; Operation Iraqi Freedom II, SWA 2004-2005; He also participated with Task Force 3rd/327th Infantry Regiment; Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) South Camp Sinai, Egypt 1986-1987; Master Sergeant Vega has attended numerous Army Schools and training programs including; PLDC; BNCOC; ANCOC; Bradley Fighting Vehicle Transition Course; M2 Unit Conduct of Fire Trainer Instructor/Operator Course (UCOFT); BFV Master Gunner Course; M2/M3 Unit Conduct of Fire Trainer (UCOFT) Senior Instructor/Operator Course; OC Academy National Training Center (NTC); Bradley-Full Crew Interactive Simulation Trainer (FIST-B) Instructor/Operator Course; Unit Movement Officer Course. He also graduated from Hanford High School, Hanford California, and holds an Associates of Arts Degree from the College of the Sequoias at Visalia, California.

MSG Pedro L. Celestino

Training NCO and MS II Instructor

MSG Celestino's first active duty assignment was with the 3-32 IN, 7ID. Upon being promoted to SFC in 1990 and assuming the responsibility of senior NCO, he was selected as Drill Sergeant of the Year for Fort Knox for two consecutive years in 1990 and 1991. He was selected to train Drill Sergeant Candidates where his expertise and leadership were instrumental in training future Drill Sergeants. 1SG Celestino then served in B/2-54 IN, an initial entry training company which graduated over 2200 infantryman during his 20 months as 1SG. In 1997, MSG Celestino was selected to serve as the Senior Military Science Instructor and Commandant of Cadets for the Army ROTC program at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.

SFC Steven Ruterbories

Training NCO & MS I Instructor

SFC Ruterbories graduated from Mapleton high school upon completion of high school he entered the Army on the Delayed Entry Program and began OSUT at Ft. Bliss TX . On 18 Oct 84 as a Chaparral Missile Crew Member (16P). SFC Ruterbories previous assignments and duty positions were B 4/6 ADA OBC PSG Ft. Bliss Tx. (Project Warrior), Cobra Team (Armor) National Training Center Ft. Irwin Ca. (Observer Controller), ADA Battery 3rd ACR Ft. Carson Co. (Linebacker PSG), B 5/5 ADA Camp Hovey Korea (BSFV SQD LDR), A 1/3 ADA Ft. Carson Co. (BSFV SQD LDR), B 4/3 ADA Kitzingen Germany (Chaparral PSG, BSFV SQD LDR), A 3/2 ADA Ft. Lewis Wa. (Chaparral SQD LDR), A 7/7 ADA and C 1/51 ADA Ft. Ord Ca. (Chaparral Gunner/Crew Member).

SFC Gener Molina

Training NCO & MS II Instructor

SFC Molina enlisted in active duty on May 1982 as a Armor Crewman and trained in M60A1/A3 and M1/M1A1/A2 series tank. His duty assignments included 2-77 Armor in Ft. Lewis, WA in 1982; A Trp 4-7 Cav Camp Garry Owen, Korea in 1986; 2-77 Armor in Ft. Carson, CO in 1987; 2-72 Armor in Camp Casey, Korea in 1991; 3-68 Armor in Ft. Carson, CO in 1992; 2-63 Armor in Vilseck, Germany in 1995: TF Able Sentry in Macedonia; 1-68 Armor in Ft. Carson, CO in 1998 and United States Military Academy in West Point, NY from 2001 to 2004. SFC Molina holds a Masters in Public Administration from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, NY and a Bachelors of Science in Liberal Arts from Excelsior College in Albany, NY.